1220. betser
Lexical Summary
betser: Ore, precious metal, fortress

Original Word: בֶּצֶרּ
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: betser
Pronunciation: beh'-tser
Phonetic Spelling: (beh'-tser)
KJV: gold defence
NASB: gold
Word Origin: [from H1219 (בָּצַר - fortified)]

1. (strictly) a clipping
2. gold (as dug out)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
gold defense

From batsar; strictly a clipping, i.e. Gold (as dug out) -- gold defence.

see HEBREW batsar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from batsar
Definition
precious ore, an ingot
NASB Translation
gold (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. [בֶּ֫צֶר] noun [masculine] precious ore (A&W105 Thes), > gold, ring-gold HoffmZA 1887, 48 f. Hiob 70 (A W Thes ore as that broken off; Hoffm compare Arabic ring, Hebrew בָּצְרָה enclosure, Talmud בטרא finger-measure, etc.; a √ II. בצר must then be assumed, = ) — בָּצֶ֑ר Job 22:24 ("" אוֺפִיר q. v.); בְּצָרֶיךָ Job 22:25 ("" כֶּסֶף) possibly also בִּצְרֵי כֶּסֶף Psalm 68:31 for ᵑ0 ׳בְּרַצֵּיכֿ, compare Checritical note NeJBL, 1891, 151.

Topical Lexicon
Literal and Figurative Sense

בֶּצֶר (beṯser) denotes precious metal in its raw state—ore that later becomes refined gold. Both occurrences are confined to Job 22, where the term stands parallel to “gold of Ophir,” the legendary standard of purity and value. The literal sense points to tangible wealth; the figurative sense elevates the discussion to spiritual riches, contrasting fleeting earthly treasure with enduring fellowship with the Almighty.

Context in Job 22

Eliphaz exhorts Job:

“and consign your gold to the dust, the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines, then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you” (Job 22:24-25).

His argument is that relinquishing material security in humble repentance will pave the way for God Himself to become Job’s true treasure. The rare word בֶּצֶר intensifies the image: even the most coveted ore must be cast aside if it hinders full reliance on the Lord.

Historical and Cultural Insights

1. Mining and trade. Ancient Near-Eastern societies extracted gold from wadis and quartz veins; Ophir’s gold was imported by Solomon (1 Kings 9:28), symbolizing unparalleled quality. By invoking בֶּצֶר, Eliphaz references a commodity familiar to an audience whose wealth often lay literally beneath their feet.
2. Economic security. Raw ore represented potential—wealth not yet realized but eagerly anticipated. Laying that ore “in the dust” demanded radical trust that God could supply more than any hidden vein.

Theological Significance

• Divine sufficiency. Job 22 anticipates the biblical theme that God Himself is the believer’s inheritance (Psalm 16:5; Lamentations 3:24).
• Repentance and reordering of values. The call to abandon בֶּצֶר parallels New Testament teaching: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
• Refinement motif. Throughout Scripture, gold imagery underscores purification (Malachi 3:3; 1 Peter 1:7). By using the term for unrefined ore, Job 22 hints at the process God undertakes in purifying hearts.

Application for Ministry and Christian Life

1. Stewardship. Wealth in its raw or refined form must remain subordinate to devotion to Christ (Proverbs 3:9; 1 Timothy 6:17-19).
2. Discipleship counseling. When counseling believers tempted by materialism, Job 22:24-25 offers a diagnostic: has בֶּצֶר become an idol?
3. Worship focus. Corporate worship can incorporate the imagery of laying earthly treasure at God’s feet, echoing Revelation 4:10.

Related Themes in Scripture

• Treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20).
• God as portion and inheritance (Numbers 18:20; Psalm 73:26).
• Refining fire (Zechariah 13:9; 1 Peter 1:7).

By appearing only twice, בֶּצֶר serves as a concentrated reminder: even the finest earthly resources pale beside the surpassing worth of knowing the living God.

Forms and Transliterations
בְּצָרֶ֑יךָ בָּ֑צֶר בצר בצריך bā·ṣer bāṣer Batzer bə·ṣā·re·ḵā bəṣāreḵā betzaReicha
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Job 22:24
HEB: עָפָ֥ר בָּ֑צֶר וּבְצ֖וּר נְחָלִ֣ים
NAS: And place [your] gold in the dust,
KJV: Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust,
INT: the dust gold the stones of the brooks

Job 22:25
HEB: וְהָיָ֣ה שַׁדַּ֣י בְּצָרֶ֑יךָ וְכֶ֖סֶף תּוֹעָפ֣וֹת
NAS: Then the Almighty will be your gold And choice
KJV: Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty
INT: Then the Almighty will be your gold silver and choice

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1220
2 Occurrences


bā·ṣer — 1 Occ.
bə·ṣā·re·ḵā — 1 Occ.

1219
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