Job 28:2

Verse 2

Iron is taken out of the earth - This most useful metal is hidden under the earth, and men have found out the method of separating it from its ore.

Brass is molten out of the stone - As brass is a factitious metal, copper must be the meaning of the Hebrew word נחושה nechusah: literally, the stone is poured out for brass. If we retain the common translation, perhaps the process of making brass may be that to which Job refers; for this metal is formed from copper melted with the stone calamine; and thus the stone is poured out to make brass.