Gold

The first and most frequently mentioned metal in the Bible. (Ge 2:11) From the beginning it has been a noble metal highly valued for its weight, rarity, durable nontarnishing luster, shimmering beauty, ductility, and malleability. A number of Hebrew terms refer to gold; included are za·havʹ (Ex 25:11), cha·rutsʹ (Zec 9:3), keʹthem (Ps 45:9), paz (“refined gold”; Ps 19:10), seghohrʹ (“pure gold”; Job 28:15), and ʼoh·phirʹ (“gold of Ophir”; Job 22:24). The Greek terms khry·sosʹ and khry·siʹon of the Christian Greek Scriptures are used with reference to coins, ornaments, and the metal in general; they are also used in a metaphoric sense.​—Mt 10:9; 1Pe 3:3; Mt 2:11; 1Co 3:12.
Gold’s rarity gave it a monetary value that made it useful as a commercial medium of exchange and as a measure of wealth and prominence. (Ge 13:2; 1Ch 21:25; Es 8:15) Gold coinage was a late invention, however. The color and luster of gold and its resistance to oxidation, or tarnishing, make it especially valuable for jewelry and ornamentation of all kinds.​—Ge 24:22; 41:42; Jg 8:24-26; Ps 45:9, 13.
When found in its native purity in gravel deposits and riverbeds, gold can easily be separated and recovered, because of its great weight. The book of Job mentions mining and refining operations.​—Job 28:1, 2, 6.
Category:Gold