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

Isa 60:17 See also Jos 6:18-19,24; 1Ki 20:1-6; 2Ki 7:8; 2Ki 14:14; 2Ch 21:3; Job 28:12-19 Wisdom cannot be bought with gold; Ps 45:9,13; Ps 72:15; Ps 105:37; Pr 20:15; Eze 28:13; Da 11:8,38; Joel 3:4-5; 2Ti 2:20; Rev 21:18,21 The streets of the new Jerusalem are to be paved with gold.

Gold was indicative of wealth

Ge 13:2 See also Ge 24:35; Dt 8:12-14; Dt 17:17; Jos 22:8 Joshua sends the eastern tribes home; 2Ki 20:13 pp Isa 39:2; 2Ch 1:15; 2Ch 32:27; Job 3:15; Job 31:24-28; Ecc 2:8; Isa 2:7; Eze 16:13 the adornments of unfaithful Jerusalem; Eze 28:4; Zep 1:18; Zec 9:3; Zec 14:14; Jas 2:2; Rev 18:16

Gold was relatively rare

Isa 13:12

Gold was mined from the earth

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

Gold was refined by fire

Rev 3:18 See also Nu 31:21-23; Job 28:1; Pr 17:3; Pr 27:21; Zec 13:9; Mal 3:3; 1Pe 1:7

Gold was obtained through trade

1Ki 10:22 pp 2Ch 9:21 See also 1Ki 9:26-28 pp 2Ch 8:17-18; 1Ki 10:11 pp 2Ch 9:9; 1Ki 22:48; Isa 60:6; Jer 10:9; Eze 27:22; Rev 18:11-13

Gold was worked by goldsmiths

Isa 46:6 See also 1Ch 29:4-5; 2Ch 2:7,13-14; Jer 10:9

Gold was presented as offerings to God

Ex 35:22 See also Ex 25:1-7; Ex 35:5; Nu 7:84-86; Nu 31:50-54; 2Sa 8:11; Ezr 1:1-11; Ezr 2:69; Ezr 7:12-18; Ezr 8:24-34; Ne 7:70-72

Gold was given to rulers as tribute and bribes

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

Gold was given as gifts

Job 42:11 See also Ge 24:53; 2Sa 8:9-10 pp 1Ch 18:9-10; 1Ki 10:10 pp 2Ch 9:9; 2Ki 5:5; Mt 2:11

The use of gold in the tabernacle

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

The use of gold in priestly vestments

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

The use of gold in the temple

1Ch 22:14 See also 1Ki 6:28,30,32,35; 1Ki 7:48-51; 2Ki 18:16; 1Ch 28:14-18; 1Ch 29:1-7; 2Ch 3:4-10; 2Ch 4:7-8,19-22

Gold symbols of office

Crown 2Sa 12:30 pp 1Ch 20:2 See also Est 8:15; Ps 21:1-3; Zec 6:11; Rev 4:4; Rev 14:14

Throne 1Ki 10:18-20 pp 2Ch 9:17-19

Sceptre Est 4:11 See also Est 5:2; Est 8:4

Chain Da 5:7 See also Ge 41:42; Da 5:16,29

Other uses of gold

Jewellery Ex 35:22 See also Ge 24:53,22; Ex 3:22; Ex 11:2; Ex 12:35; Ex 32:2,24 used to make the golden calf; Nu 31:50; Jdg 8:24-26 used to make Gideon’s ephod; 2Sa 1:24; Pr 11:22; Pr 25:11; SS 1:11; Jer 4:30; Da 10:5; 1Pe 3:3

Idols Ex 20:23 See also Ex 32:31; Dt 7:25; Dt 29:17; Ps 115:4; Ps 135:15; Isa 2:20; Isa 30:22; Isa 31:7; Isa 40:19; Isa 46:6; Jer 10:3-5; Eze 16:17; Da 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar’s image of gold; Da 3:4-7,14; Da 5:4,23; Hos 8:4; Hab 2:19; Ac 17:29; Rev 9:20

Currency Mt 10:5-10 See also Nu 22:18; Nu 24:13; 2Sa 21:4; 1Ch 21:25; Ps 119:72; Eze 7:19; Da 11:43; Ac 3:6; Ac 20:33; 1Pe 1:18

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

Shields 1Ki 10:16-17 pp 2Ch 9:15-16 See also 2Sa 8:7; 1Ki 14:26 pp 2Ch 12:9

Goblets 1Ki 10:21 pp 2Ch 9:20 See also Est 1:7; Jer 51:7; Da 5:2-3,23; Rev 17:4

Couches Est 1:6

Metaphorical and proverbial use of gold

Job 22:23-25 See also Job 23:8-10; Ps 19:9-10; Ps 68:13; Pr 3:13-14; Pr 16:16; Pr 22:1; Pr 25:11; SS 5:10-15; La 4:1-2; Da 2:37-38

See also