Greek word · G5556
χρυσόπρασος
chrysoprasos
chrysoprase
'Gold-leek': a leek-green stone with a golden tinge. Pliny (37.113) describes chrysoprasus as leek-colored shading toward gold. It probably resembles the modern green chalcedony called chrysoprase.
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
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 21:20
- Range of meaning
'Gold-leek': a leek-green stone with a golden tinge. Pliny (37.113) describes chrysoprasus as leek-colored shading toward gold. It probably resembles the modern green chalcedony called chrysoprase.
- Against the English
'Chrysoprase' (BSB, WEB, ESV) or 'chrysoprasus' (KJV, YLT) is a fair match. Some recent versions use more familiar gem names here, which loses the 'gold-green' picture built into the Greek name.
- Used elsewhere in the period
It occurs only here in the Bible and is not part of the LXX breastplate list. Pliny 37.113 and 37.73 discusses it as a green stone.
Similar words
Where it appears
Revelation · 1
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Revelation 21:20 χρυσόπρασος, chrysoprase,
the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
Here: Literally 'gold-leek': a leek-green stone with a golden tint. It probably resembles the apple-green chalcedony called chrysoprase today. It occurs only here in the Bible.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.