Greek word · G5553

χρυσίον

chrysion

gold

Gold as a material, often worked gold: ornaments, coin, plating. It is used interchangeably with χρυσός in Koine Greek.

Appears 12 times in 12 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

χρυσίον, -ου, τό

(dimin. of χρυσός, which see), [in LXX chiefly for זָהָב ;]

a piece of gold, gold: 1 Corinthians 3:12, Hebrews 9:4, 1 Peter 1:7, Revelation 3:18 21:18, 21; of golden ornaments, 1 Timothy 2:9 (WH, txt., RV), 1 Peter 3:3, Revelation 17:4 18:16 (WH, txt., R); of gold coin, money, Acts 3:6 20:33, 1 Peter 1:18.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Revelation 21:18

Range of meaning

Gold as a material, often worked gold: ornaments, coin, plating. It is used interchangeably with χρυσός in Koine Greek.

Against the English

'Gold' is accurate. Modern readers tend to hear wealth or luxury, while first hearers who knew the Scriptures would also hear the sanctuary.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Greek Old Testament repeatedly calls for 'pure gold' (χρυσίου καθαροῦ) for the ark, mercy seat, table and lampstand (Exod 25:11, 17, 24, 31). In Solomon's temple the inner sanctuary, a perfect cube of 20 cubits, was overlaid with pure gold (1 Kgs 6:20). Josephus describes Herod's temple as plated with gold so heavy that at sunrise it blazed until people had to look away (Jewish War 5.222–223). Tobit 13:16–17 already pictured a restored Jerusalem with towers and battlements of pure gold.

From the study of Revelation 21:21

Range of meaning

Chrysion is gold, especially worked gold or gold objects. Katharos means clean or pure: unmixed, refined, and in religious use ritually clean.

Against the English

'Pure gold' is accurate. The risk is that English readers hear only wealth, while a Jewish reader would hear the sanctuary.

How it drifted

Popular pictures of heaven as a place of luxury or reward lose the temple overtones.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Greek Old Testament uses chrysion katharon for the gold of the ark, the mercy seat, the table and the lampstand (Exod 25:11, 17, 24, 31). Solomon overlaid the inner sanctuary, a perfect cube, with gold (1 Kgs 6:20–22). Revelation 21:16 makes the city a cube and 21:18 says the city itself is 'pure gold like pure glass'. The harlot, by contrast, is only 'gilded' (17:4; 18:16).

From the study of Sirach 7:19

Range of meaning

Gold, as metal, coin or ornament. Formally a diminutive of chrysos, but in Hellenistic Greek it simply means gold, often gold as money.

Against the English

Every Greek-based version says 'gold'. Versions that follow the Hebrew (e.g. NABRE) have 'corals' or 'pearls' instead.

Used elsewhere in the period

Verse 18 just before: 'nor a true brother for the gold of Sophir (Ophir)'. Proverbs 3:14–15, 8:10–11 and 31:10 rank wisdom and the capable wife above gold, silver and peninim (corals/pearls).

Where it appears

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 3:6 χρυσίον gold

    But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”

    Here: Gold, often gold coins or gold objects. “Silver and gold” together stands for wealth and money of any kind.

  2. Acts 20:33 χρυσίου gold

    I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.

    Here: Gold, as coin, jewellery or bullion. Paired with silver it is the stock way of saying 'money and valuables'.

1 Timothy · 1

  1. 1 Timothy 2:9 χρυσίῳ with gold

    Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,

    Here: Gold jewelry or gold worked into the hair (gold hairnets, pins, chains).

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 9:4 χρυσίῳ, with gold,

    containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

    Here: 'With gold', the material of the overlay.

1 Peter · 3

  1. 1 Peter 1:7 χρυσίου than gold

    so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

    Here: Gold as a metal and as money: the standard of value in the ancient world. The comparison starts from the most precious thing the hearers knew.

  2. 1 Peter 1:18 χρυσίῳ, by gold —

    For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,

    Here: The most durable and valuable metal known. Even gold is classed as 'perishable' when set beside the price actually paid.

  3. 1 Peter 3:3 χρυσίων of gold

    Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes,

    Here: "Of gold things". The plural means gold jewellery and ornaments, not the metal in general. Gold was the most obvious mark of family wealth that a woman could wear.

Revelation · 5

  1. Revelation 3:18 χρυσίον gold

    I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

    Here: Gold as wealth and money. Its first point answers the boast 'I am rich' (v.17).

  2. Revelation 17:4 χρυσίῳ with gold

    The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.

    Here: Literally 'gilded with gold'. The repetition stresses how much gold she wears.

  3. Revelation 18:16 χρυσίῳ gold [things]

    saying: “Woe, woe to the great city, clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!

    Here: Gold as jewellery or worked metal. “Gilded with gold” is a deliberate doubling that stacks up the excess.

  4. Revelation 21:18 χρυσίον gold

    The wall was made of jasper, and the city itself of pure gold, as pure as glass.

    Here: Gold, as metal or as worked gold. In the Greek Old Testament it is the word used for the gold of the tabernacle furniture. The whole city is made of the material that once covered only the holiest objects and rooms.

  5. Revelation 21:21 χρυσίον gold

    And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, with each gate consisting of a single pearl. The main street of the city was pure gold, as clear as glass.

    Here: Gold as worked metal, the material of the sanctuary's furnishings. Again there is no verb: the street *is* gold.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.