χρυσοδακτύλιος
chrysodaktýlios
G5554 attributive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Wearing a gold ring, or adorned with a gold ring(s) on the finger; used to describe someone who displays wealth or social status by wearing jewelry made of gold on their finger(s). The term primarily identifies a person marked by such ornamentation, whether as a visible sign of affluence, honor, or distinction.
Semantic Range
wearing a gold ring, adorned with a gold ring, marked by gold jewelry on the finger, displaying gold jewelry (on the hand)
Root / Etymology
From χρυσός (gold) and δακτύλιος (finger-ring, also a diminutive or related to δάκτυλος, finger). The compound directly describes something 'golden-ringed'—one adorned on the finger with gold.
Historical & Contextual Notes
χρυσοδακτύλιος is a rare, descriptive compound found notably in James 2:2, where it identifies a social distinction among people entering an assembly (συναγωγή). The compound construction is attested primarily in Koine and later Greek; classical texts do not appear to use this compound, but similar forms (e.g., descriptors of ring-wearers) are attested for those displaying wealth. In the New Testament context, the term characterizes someone whose outward appearance signals wealth or higher status, contrasting with the 'poor man in shabby clothing' in the same passage. The English rendering 'with a gold ring' may obscure the full social implication, which in Hellenistic and Roman culture marked someone as possibly elite or of special significance. The underlying concept also appears in Greco-Roman literature, where gold rings served as social markers. The translation 'with a gold ring' is functionally accurate but may not capture nuances of status and public display.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from χρυσός and δακτύλιος; gold-ringed, i.e. wearing a golden finger-ring or similar jewelry:--with a gold ring.
Root Family
χρυσοδακτύλιος (chrysodaktylios) — gold, finger, ring, adorned with gold ring
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5554-01 |
χρυσοδακτύλιος | chrusodaktulios | ADJ.A NOM M SG |
gold-ringed | gold-ringed man | gold-ringed man | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5554-01 |
James 2:2 | χρυσοδακτύλιος | chrusodaktulios | ADJ.A NOM M SG |
gold-ringed | gold-ringed man | gold-ringed man |