Gold in Scripture!

1. Seven Hebrew words used in scripture refer to gold

a. Zahab (Strong’s Concordance H2091): Root word to shimmer, shine
b. Paz (Strong’s Concordance H6337): Refined or pure gold
c. Betser (Strong’s Concordance H1220): A clipping (of gold)
d. Charuts (Strong’s Concordance H1220):
e. Kethem (Strong’s Concordance H3800): As mined gold
f. Sagar (Strong’s Concordance H5462): Gold as a solid
g. Dehab (Strong’s Concordance H17221): Gold

2. Occurrences: Gold – 361; Golden – 61

a. First mention – Genesis 2:10-12 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.

Rule of first mention – gold is good!

b. Last mention – Revelation 21:18&21
And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass…and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

3. Where gold is found

a. Havila (Genesis 2:11-12)
b. Ophir (1 Kings 9:28; et al)
c. Parvaim (2 Chronicles 3:6)
d. Sheba (1 Kings 10:10 et al)
e. Tarshish (2 Chronicles 9:21)
f. Uphaz (Jeremiah 10:9)

4. Gold for a King!

Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

5. Shadows

a. Rebekah
Genesis 24:53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.

Isaac is a type of Christ, Rebekah a type of the church (the Bride of Christ adorned with finery, as the church is adorned with the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness – see Isaiah 61:10)

b. Joseph
Genesis 41:42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

Joseph is a type of Christ

c. Table in the tabernacle
Exodus 25:23-24 Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.

This table is a type of Jesus’ table in His kingdom; See Luke 22:29

6. Teaching

a. Gold is neither satisfying nor reliable for salvation
Ezekiel 7:19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumbling block of their iniquity.

Contrast Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have I give to thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

b. God’s word is more valuable than gold
Psalm 19:9-10 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Psalm 119:72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

c. Golden works survive the refining fire
1 Corinthians 3:12-14 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

‘Gold’ or ‘Golden’ appear 21 times in the book of Revelation alone – the best really is yet to come!

Note: All references KJV

Doug Holland. 2016.

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