χρυσίον (G5553) — Greek Lexicon

χρυσίον

chrysíon

G5553 noun

SILEX Entry

Root χρυσ- gold, made of gold, fashioned from gold

Definition

Refined gold, usually in the form of small objects or ornaments; gold as a material, particularly shaped, worked, or prepared for personal, decorative, or monetary use. In literary and documentary sources, denotes gold in various compact and crafted forms, as opposed to bulk or unrefined gold. Used for jewelry, adornments, household vessels, offerings, and coinage.

Semantic Range

gold object, gold ornament, gold plating, crafted gold item, refined gold, gold coin, gold (generic, esp. in shaped or worked form)

Root / Etymology

Diminutive form of χρυσός (gold), from χρυσ- (gold), with the diminutive suffix -ιον, suggesting 'small gold object' or 'piece of gold.' Cognate with the root found in classical Greek χρυσέος ('golden').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, χρυσίον generally refers to worked or finished gold objects, such as jewelry, small vessels, or ornaments, rather than raw gold. In the Septuagint and the New Testament, it frequently designates gold used for decorative or liturgical purposes (e.g., adornment of religious objects, personal jewelry, or treasures). The emphasis is on tangible items, and sometimes by metonymy may extend to 'gold as wealth' or coins, but it typically contrasts with χρυσός (which can also mean gold as a raw material or substance). English translations often simply render χρυσίον as 'gold,' but this does not always reflect the focus on shaped or crafted objects. The word appears in descriptions of luxury, religious ornamentation, and as a symbol of wealth or preciousness. Distinct from other terms for money or precious objects such as ἀργύριον (silver, money) and νόμισμα (coin). Rare in classical literature, but frequent in the Septuagint and New Testament.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

diminutive of χρυσός; a golden article, i.e. gold plating, ornament, or coin:--gold.

Root Family

χρυσίον (chrysion) — refined gold, crafted gold object, gold ornament, gold piece

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`G5553-02`	χρυσίον	chrusion	`N NOM N SG`	gold	crafted gold piece	5
`G5553-01`	χρυσίῳ	chrusio	`N DAT N SG`	gold	to crafted gold	3
`G5553-03`	χρυσίου	chrusiou	`N GEN N SG`	gold	of refined gold	2

Occurrences in Scripture

10 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`G5553-02`	Acts 3:6	χρυσίον	chrusion	`N NOM N SG`	gold	crafted gold piece
`G5553-03`	Acts 20:33	χρυσίου	chrusiou	`N GEN N SG`	gold	of refined gold
`G5553-01`	Hebrews 9:4	χρυσίῳ	chrusio	`N DAT N SG`		to crafted gold
`G5553-03`	1 Peter 1:7	χρυσίου	chrusiou	`N GEN N SG`	than gold	of refined gold
`G5553-01`	1 Peter 1:18	χρυσίῳ	chrusio	`N DAT N SG`	gold	to crafted gold
`G5553-02`	1 Peter 3:3	χρυσίων	chrusion	`N GEN N PL`	of gold	crafted gold piece
`G5553-02`	Revelation 3:18	χρυσίον	chrusion	`N ACC N SG`		crafted gold piece
`G5553-01`	Revelation 18:16	χρυσίῳ	chrusio	`N DAT N SG`	gold	to crafted gold
`G5553-02`	Revelation 21:18	χρυσίον	chrusion	`N NOM N SG`	gold	crafted gold piece
`G5553-02`	Revelation 21:21	χρυσίον	chrusion	`N NOM N SG`	gold	crafted gold piece

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