Gr. chalkolibanos, a substance of uncertain identification. It was probably some metal like gold, burnished and radiant. The “brass” of Bible times was actually bronze (see on Ex. 25:3).
Burned.
Rather, “having been burned,” that is, fired in a furnace. Textual evidence favors (cf. p. 10) a reading that refers this phrase to the “brass” rather than to the feet themselves. That is, the brass appeared as if fired in a furnace. The feet looked like brass that had been subjected to intense heat.
Many waters.
In John’s day the roar of the ocean and the crash of thunder were among the loudest and deepest sounds known to man. In their depth and majesty these are still unsurpassed as symbols for the voice of the Creator.