χρυσοῦς
golden
Definition
The adjective χρυσοῦς (chrysoys) means 'golden' or 'made of gold.' It describes objects literally fashioned from gold, such as the golden censer and ark of the covenant in Hebrews 9:4. In Revelation, it frequently modifies symbolic items like lampstands (Revelation 1:12, 20) and crowns (Revelation 4:4), emphasizing their divine, glorious, or pure quality. The word can also imply something adorned or overlaid with gold, as seen in the description of vessels in a large house in 2 Timothy 2:20.
Biblical Usage
χρυσοῦς is used 16 times in the New Testament, predominantly in the book of Revelation (9 times), where it describes visionary, heavenly objects to convey splendor and holiness. In Hebrews 9:4, it refers to historical, ceremonial items from the Old Testament tabernacle. The single use in the Pauline epistles (2 Timothy 2:20) employs it metaphorically within a parable about vessels, representing valuable or honorable things. This shows a pattern of usage in symbolic, apocalyptic, and illustrative contexts rather than everyday descriptions.
Etymology
Derived directly from the noun χρυσός (chrysos, G5557), meaning 'gold.' The suffix -οῦς forms an adjective indicating 'made of' or 'pertaining to' the base material. It is a standard Greek formation for materials, similar to λίθινος (lithinos, 'made of stone').
Semantic Range
In biblical symbolism, gold represents divinity, kingship, purity, and incorruptible value. When used in Revelation for items like lampstands (churches, Revelation 1:20) and crowns, χρυσοῦς highlights the heavenly origin, eternal nature, and supreme worth of what God establishes. Its use for tabernacle objects in Hebrews 9:4 connects the old covenant's divinely ordained glory to the superior realities of Christ's new covenant. Understanding this adjective enriches reading by revealing how the biblical authors use material splendor to point to spiritual realities.
In the ancient Greco-Roman and Jewish worlds, gold was the ultimate symbol of wealth, prestige, and sacredness. Objects made of or adorned with gold were reserved for royalty, the gods, and the most important religious artifacts (like the temple furnishings). Its use in the Bible taps into this universal recognition of gold's supreme value and durability, associating God, His dwelling place, and His people with these qualities.
χρυσός (chrysos, G5557) — The noun 'gold,' the material itself, whereas χρυσοῦς is the adjective 'golden.' χρυσόω (chrysoō, G5558) — A verb meaning 'to gild' or 'to adorn with gold.'
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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