נהש

'nehes' is copper. It is often interpreted as “bronze” or sometimes “brass”. Both bronze and brass are metal alloys made mostly of copper, with tin and other metals mixed in, so although there some basis for this interpretation, there are clear indication that at least in some instances the word implies pure copper without such alloys. This is discussed further under metallurgy.

Oddly, in 14% of instances 'nehes' is traditionally translated “snake”. Notably, this is the case in the well-known story of Adam and Eve tempted by the snake in the garden of Eden.¹⁾ The puzzle becomes further muddled in the story of the “bronze snake” that Moses made in the desert of Sinai.²⁾

'nehes' is the root word of the nehesim.