Dictionary of Bible Themes: 4333 gold

4333 gold

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 4000 Creation » 4300 Metals and minerals » 4333 gold

The most valuable of all metals, gold was indicative of wealth and prosperity in biblical times. It had a wide variety of uses and was employed extensively in both the tabernacle and the temple.

Gold was of great value

Isaiah 60:17 See also Joshua 6:18-19,24; 1 Kings 20:1-6; 2 Kings 7:8; Kings 14:14; 2 Chronicles 21:3; Job 28:12-19 Wisdom cannot be bought with gold; Psalm 45:9,13; Psalm 72:15; Psalm 105:37; Proverbs 20:15; Ezekiel 28:13; Daniel 11:8,38; Joel 3:4-5; 2 Timothy 2:20; Revelation 21:18,21 The streets of the new Jerusalem are to be paved with gold.

Gold was indicative of wealth

Genesis 13:2 See also Genesis 24:35; Deuteronomy 8:12-14; Deuteronomy 17:17; Joshua 22:8 Joshua sends the eastern tribes home; 2 Kings 20:13 pp Isaiah 39:2; 2 Chronicles 1:15; 2 C 27; Job 3:15; Job 31:24-28; Ecclesiastes 2:8; Isaiah 2:7; Ezekiel 16:13 the adornments of unfaithful Jerusalem; Ezekiel 28:4; Zephaniah 1:18; Zechariah 9:3; Zechariah 14:14; James 2:2; Revelation 18:16

Gold was relatively rare

Isaiah 13:12

Gold was mined from the earth

Job 28:5-6 See also Genesis 2:11-12

Gold was refined by fire

Revelation 3:18 See also Numbers 31:21-23; Job 28:1; Proverbs 17:3; Proverbs 27:21; Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:3; 1 Peter 1:7

Gold was obtained through trade

1 Kings 10:22 pp 2 Chronicles 9:21 See also 1 Kings 9:26-28 pp 2 Chronicles 8:17-18; 1 Kings 10:11 pp 2 Chronicles 9:9; 1 Kings 22:48; Isaiah 60:6; Jeremiah 10:9; Ezekiel 27:22; Revelation 18:11-13

Gold was worked by goldsmiths

Isaiah 46:6 See also 1 Chronicles 29:4-5; 2 Chronicles 2:7,13-14; Jeremiah 10:9

Gold was presented as offerings to God

Exodus 35:22 See also Exodus 25:1-7; Exodus 35:5; Numbers 7:84-86; Numbers 31:50-54; 2 Samuel 8:11; Ezra 1:1-11; Ezra 2:69; Ezra 7:12-18; Ezra 8:24-34; Nehemiah 7:70-72

Gold was given to rulers as tribute and bribes

1 Kings 10:14-15 pp 2 Chronicles 9:13-14 See also 1 Kings 10:24-25 pp 2 Chronicles 9:23-24; 2 Kings 12:18; Kings 16:7-9; Kings 18:13-16; Kings 23:33-35 pp 2 Chronicles 36:3; 2 Chronicles 16:2-3

Gold was given as gifts

The use of gold in the tabernacle

Exodus 38:21-24 See also Exodus 25:11-13,17-18 the atonement cover and cherubim; Exodus 25:28-29,31,36,38; Exodus 26:6,29,32,37; Exodus 30:1-5 the altar; Exodus 39:37-38; Exodus 40:5; Leviticus 24:4; Numbers 8:4

The use of gold in priestly vestments

Exodus 28:4-5 See also Exodus 28:11-15,22-27,33-38; Exodus 39:15-20,25-26,30-31

The use of gold in the temple

1 Chronicles 22:14 See also 1 Kings 6:28,30,32,35; Kings 7:48-51; 2 Kings 18:16; 1 Chronicles 28:14-18; 1 C 1-7; 2 Chronicles 3:4-10; Corinthians 4:7-8,19-22

Gold symbols of office

Crown

2 Samuel 12:30 pp 1 Chronicles 20:2 See also Esther 8:15; Psalm 21:1-3; Zechariah 6:11; Revelation 4:4; Revelation 14:14

Throne

1 Kings 10:18-20 pp 2 Chronicles 9:17-19

Sceptre

Esther 4:11 See also Esther 5:2; Esther 8:4

Chain

Daniel 5:7 See also Genesis 41:42; Daniel 5:16,29

Other uses of gold

Jewellery

Exodus 35:22 See also Genesis 24:53,22; Exodus 3:22; Exodus 11:2; Exodus 12:35; Exodus 32:2,24 used to make the golden calf; Numbers 31:50; Judges 8:24-26 used to make Gideon's ephod; 2 Samuel 1:24; Proverbs 11:22; Proverbs 25:11; Songs 1:11; Jeremiah 4:30; Daniel 10:5; 1 Peter 3:3

Idols

Exodus 20:23 See also Exodus 32:31; Deuteronomy 7:25; Deuteronomy 29:17; Psalm 115:4; Psalm 135:15; Isaiah 2:20; Isaiah 30:22; Isaiah 31:7; Isaiah 40:19; Isaiah 46:6; Jeremiah 10:3-5; Ezekiel 16:17; Daniel 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar's image of gold; Daniel 3:4-7,14; Daniel 5:4,23; Hosea 8:4; Habakkuk 2:19; Acts 17:29; Revelation 9:20

Currency

Matthew 10:5-10 See also Numbers 22:18; Numbers 24:13; 2 Samuel 21:4; 1 Chronicles 21:25; Psalm 119:72; Ezekiel 7:19; Daniel 11:43; Acts 3:6; Acts 20:33; 1 Peter 1:18

Models

1 Samuel 6:4 See also 1 Samuel 6:8,11,15,17-18

Shields

1 Kings 10:16-17 pp 2 Chronicles 9:15-16 See also 2 Samuel 8:7; 1 Kings 14:26 pp 2 Chronicles 12:9

Goblets

1 Kings 10:21 pp 2 Chronicles 9:20 See also Esther 1:7; Jeremiah 51:7; Daniel 5:2-3,23; Revelation 17:4

Couches

Esther 1:6

Metaphorical and proverbial use of gold

Job 22:23-25 See also Job 23:8-10; Psalm 19:9-10; Psalm 68:13; Proverbs 3:13-14; Proverbs 16:16; Proverbs 22:1; Proverbs 25:11; Songs 5:10-15; Lamentations 4:1-2; Daniel 2:37-38