GOLD
Old Testament
Noun: זָהָב (zāhāb), GK 2298 (S 2091), 392×. zāhāb denotes the precious metal “gold.” Its first reference occurs in Gen 2:11–12, prior to the fall, where we read of “gold in the land of Havilah.” While not much is known about how gold was mined or crafted in the OT, we do know it was hammered (Exod 25:18; 39:3) and cast (37:13). Presumably much of the hammered gold was a form of gold leaf. Gold shekels were used as currency (see 1 Chr. 21:25).
(1) Gold is considered a precious metal and symbol of wealth (see Gen 13:2; 24:35; Num 22:18; 24:13; Prov 22:1; Eccl 2:8; Isa 2:7; 60:9). A finely adorned person would wear gold jewelry (Gen 41:42; Prov 25:12; Jer 4:30). It was used in the manufacture of symbols of royal power, including a scepter (Est 4:11), a crown (2 Sam. 12:30), and overlay for the throne (1 Ki. 10:18). Many of the references to gold in the OT occur in the stories of the building of the tabernacle (Exod 25–40) and the temple (1 Ki. 6–7; 2 Chr. 3–4) and the accoutrements for Israel’s worship. Even the high priest’s turban had a gold plate affixed to it, engraved with the words “HOLY TO THE LORD” (Exod 28:36). Unfortunately, gold could also be used in the manufacture of idol gods, such as the golden calf (32:31; cf. Deut 29:17). Gold could also used to seal an alliance with a more powerful king, in order to keep that enemy nation from invading (e.g., 1 Ki. 15:18). Gold items were, of course, a frequent element in the spoils of war (2 Sam. 8:7; 1 Ki. 14:26).
(2) Gold has metaphorical uses in the OT. A good reputation is far more valuable than silver or gold (Prov 22:1). Devotion to the God’s law, which bestows life and joy, is more precious than the finest gold (Ps 19:10; 119:72, 127). Yet gold cannot buy wisdom (Job 28:17; cf. 28:28). And gold can easily become the object of one’s misplaced confidence (Job 31:24). Gold has the power to corrupt (e.g., Achan’s sin in Jos 7). No amount of gold can protect us if we are out of sorts with God (Lam 4:1; Ezek 7:19; Zeph 1:18). In another metaphorical use, the process of refining gold becomes a symbol of God’s testing of the human heart (Prov 17:3) and his purifying power in our lives (Mal 3:2–3).
New Testament
Verb: χρυσοῦς (chrysous), GK 5997 (S 5552), 18×. chrysous means “gold, golden.” Except for one use in 2 Tim. 2:20 and two in Heb 9:4 (referring to the “golden” altar of incense and the “golden” jar of manna), all uses of chrysous are in Revelation. There are references to “golden” lampstands (Rev 1:12, 20), crowns “of gold” (4:4; 14:14), “golden” bowls of incense (5:8) or of wrath (15:7), and a “golden” altar (8:3; 9:13). Gold is frequently noted in this book to emphasize the preciousness of heaven.
Noun: χρυσός (chrysos), GK 5996 (S 5557), 10×.
Noun: χρυσίον (chrysion), GK 5992 (S 5553), 12×. The two words chrysos and chrysion are used interchangeably in the NT. They denote the precious metal “gold,” which is often associated with other materials of great value, such as incense and myrrh (Mt 2:11) or silver and costly stones (1 Cor. 3:12; Rev 18:16). Gold was used as a currency (Acts 3:6) and made into idols (Acts 17:29), jewelry (1 Tim. 2:9), and other articles of value. Gold symbolizes great value and is used in 1 Pet. 1:7 as a standard of comparison to show the surpassing value of the Christian faith. In fact, salvation cannot be purchased by silver or gold but can only be accomplished through the sacrifice of Christ (1:18). Also p 300 symbolically, the heavenly, new Jerusalem will be a city of gold, to show both its beauty and its incredible value (Rev 21:18, 21). See NIDNTT-A, 614.
GOLD
zahab (זָהָב, 2091), “gold.” This word has cognates in Arabic and Aramaic. It occurs about 385 times in biblical Hebrew and in every period.
Zahab can refer to “gold ore,” or “gold in its raw state.” This is its meaning in its first biblical appearance: “The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold” (Gen. 2:11). The word can also be used of “gold” which has already been refined: “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth V 1, p 99 as gold” (Job 23:10). “Gold” could be beaten (1 Kings 10:16) and purified (Exod. 25:11). One can also speak of the best “gold” (2 Chron. 3:5).
Zahab can be conceived of as an “object of wealth”: “And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold” (Gen. 13:2). As such, the emphasis is on “gold” as a valuable or precious commodity. Consequently, the word is used in comparisons: “The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold” (Job 28:17).
“Gold” was often one of the spoils of war: “But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord” (Josh. 6:19).
“Gold” was bought and sold as an object of merchandise: “The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they were thy merchants: they [paid for your wares] with chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold” (Ezek. 27:22).
Zahab was used as a costly gift: “And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I [could not do anything] …” (Num. 22:18).
This metal was used as a material to make jewelry and other valuable items: “And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold …” (Gen. 24:22). Solomon’s temple was adorned with “gold” (1 Kings 6:20–28).
Gold was used as money, being exchanged in various weights and values (according to its weight): “And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield …” (1 Kings 10:17; cf. 2 Sam. 12:30). “Gold” even existed in the form of “coins” (Ezra 2:69).
Zahab is used for the color “gold”: “What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?” (Zech. 4:12).
W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1996), 98–99.
GOLD, GOLDEN
A. Nouns.
1. chrusos (χρυσός, 5557) is used (a) of “coin,” Matt. 10:9; Jas. 5:3; (b) of “ornaments,” Matt. 23:16, 17; Jas. 5:3 (perhaps both coin and ornaments); Rev. 18:12; some mss. have it instead of No. 2 in 1 Cor. 3:12; (c) of “images,” Acts 17:29; (d) of “the metal in general,” Matt. 2:11; Rev. 9:7 (some mss. have it in Rev. 18:16).¶
2. chrusion (χρυσίον, 5553), a diminutive of No. 1, is used (a) of “coin,” primarily smaller than those in No. 1 (a), Acts 3:6; 20:33; 1 Pet. 1:18; (b) of “ornaments,” 1 Pet. 3:3, and the following (in which some mss. have No. 1), 1 Tim. 2:9; Rev. 17:4; 18:16; (c) of “the metal in general,” Heb. 9:4; 1 Pet. 1:7; Rev. 21:18, 21; metaphorically, (d) of “sound doctrine and its effects,” 1 Cor. 3:12; (e) of “righteousness of life and conduct,” Rev. 3:18.¶
B. Adjective.
chruseos (χρύσεος, 5552) denotes “golden,” i.e., made of, or overlaid with, gold, 2 Tim. 2:20; Heb. 9:4, and fifteen times in the Apocalypse.
¶ Indicates that all the NT occurrences of the Greek word under consideration are mentioned under the heading or sub-heading.
¶ Indicates that all the NT occurrences of the Greek word under consideration are mentioned under the heading or sub-heading.
W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1996), 273.
זָהָב Brown-Driver-Briggs 262.2, 263.1–2
זָהָב n.m. gold — gold, 1. = gold-ore, gold in a raw state; gold dust. 2. gold as wealth; in gen. as precious. 3. gold as spoil of war. 3. gold as spoil of war. 4. gold as merchandise. 5. gold as costly gift. 6. gold as material. 7. gold described by its source, esp. gold from Ophir. 8. gold defined by var. adj. and pts. 9. ˊז as measure of weight and value: a. = gold-shekel. b. ˊשְׁלֹשֶׁת מָנִם ז three minas of gold (v. מָנֶה). c. ˊכִּכַּר ז talent of gold. d. 10. ˊז = golden oil, from colour. 11. ˊז often named with כֶּסֶף, and then, in earlier and sts. in later writings, follows it; in later writings ˊז oft. precedes. 12. the chief vbs. used with ˊז are: a. עָשָׂה make; also sq. בְּ work in gold; b. יָצַק; c. צִפָּה overlay with (c. 2 acc.); in same sense d. ˊוַיְחַפֵּהוּ ז and e. וָכֶסֶף ˊתָּפוּשׂ ז encased in gold and silver; also f. g. רדד; further בָּחַן try., cf. i. זִקַּק.
n. nomen, noun
f. feminine
n. nomen, noun
m. masculine
adj. adjective
v. vide, see
sts. sometimes
sq. followed by
acc. accusative (direct obj. etc.)
Richard Whitaker et al., The Abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament: From A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament by Francis Brown, S.R. Driver and Charles Briggs, Based on the Lexicon of Wilhelm Gesenius (Boston; New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1906).
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