5474. chalkolibanon
Strong's Lexicon
chalkolibanon: Burnished bronze

Original Word: χαλκολίβανον
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: chalkolibanon
Pronunciation: khal-ko-LEE-ban-on
Phonetic Spelling: (khal-kol-ib'-an-on)
Definition: Burnished bronze
Meaning: orichalcum, a fine metal, or frankincense of a yellow color.

Word Origin: Likely a compound of χαλκός (chalkos, meaning "copper" or "bronze") and λίβανος (libanos, meaning "frankincense" or possibly related to "Lebanon," known for its incense and aromatic qualities).

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "chalkolibanon," the concept of refined metals can be related to Hebrew terms such as נְחֹשֶׁת (nechosheth, Strong's H5178), meaning "bronze" or "copper," often used in the context of the Tabernacle and Temple furnishings.

Usage: The term "chalkolibanon" is used in the New Testament to describe a metal of exceptional brilliance and purity, often translated as "burnished bronze." It conveys the idea of a refined, glowing metal, suggesting strength, durability, and beauty.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient world, bronze was a significant metal used for various purposes, including weaponry, tools, and decorative items. The process of burnishing involved polishing the metal to achieve a bright, reflective surface. This imagery would have been familiar to the original audience, symbolizing strength and divine purity. The combination of copper and frankincense in the word may also suggest a blend of strength and sacredness.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from chalkos and libanos
Definition
chalcolibanus (fine copper, bronze or brass)
NASB Translation
burnished bronze (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 5474: χαλκολίβανον

χαλκολίβανον (so Suidas (but see Gaisf. edition under the word)), χαλκολιβανου, τό, more correctly χαλκολιβανος, χαλκολιβανου, (according to the reading as it ought to be restored ((but see the editions)) in Revelation 1:15 ὡς ἐν καμίνῳ πεπυρωμενη; cf. Düsterdieck's critical note (see Buttmann, 80 (69) note)), a word of doubtful meaning found only in Revelation 1:15, and , chalcolibanus, Vulg. aurichalcum or orichalcum (so manuscript Arafat. (al. aeric.); Luther Messing (R. V. burnished brass)); according to the testimony of an ancient Greek (Ansonius) in Salmasius (Exercitt. ad Solin., p. 810 a.: λίβανος ἔχει τρία εἴδη δένδρων, καί μέν ἄρρην ὀνομάζεται χαλκολιβανος, ἡλιοειδής καί πυρρός ἤγουν ξανθός), a certain kind of (yellow) frankincense; but both the sense of the passages in Rev and a comparison of Daniel 10:6 and Ezekiel 1:7, which seem to have been in the writer's thought, compel us to understand some metal, like gold if not more precious (cf. Hebrew חַשְׁמָל, a metal composed of gold and silver, Sept ἤλεκτρον, Vulg.electrum, Ezekiel 1:4, 27; Ezekiel 8:2); this interpretation is confirmed by the gloss of Suidas: εἶδος ἠλέκτρου τιμιώτερον χρυσοῦ, ἐστι δέ τό ἤλεκτρον ἀλλοτυπον χρυσίον μεμιγμένον ὕελω καί λιθεία. The word is compounded, no doubt, of χαλκός and λίβανος, not of χαλκός and לָבָן, 'white.' Cf. Winer's RWB, under the word Metalle; Wetzel in the Zeitschr. f. d. luth. Theol. for 1869, p. 92ff; cf. Ewald, Johann. Schriften, ii., p. 117f; (Lee in the 'Speaker's Commentary' at the passage).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
fine brass.

Neuter of a compound of chalkos and libanos (in the implied mean of whiteness or brilliancy); burnished copper, an alloy of copper (or gold) and silver having a brilliant lustre -- fine brass.

see GREEK chalkos

see GREEK libanos

Forms and Transliterations
χαλκολιβανω χαλκολιβάνω χαλκολιβάνῳ chalkolibano chalkolibanō chalkolibánoi chalkolibánōi
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Revelation 1:15 N-DNS
GRK: αὐτοῦ ὅμοιοι χαλκολιβάνῳ ὡς ἐν
NAS: [were] like burnished bronze, when
KJV: like unto fine brass, as
INT: of him like fine brass as in

Revelation 2:18 N-DNS
GRK: αὐτοῦ ὅμοιοι χαλκολιβάνῳ
NAS: are like burnished bronze, says
KJV: feet [are] like fine brass;
INT: of him like fine brass

Strong's Greek 5474
2 Occurrences


χαλκολιβάνῳ — 2 Occ.















5473
Top of Page
Top of Page