χρυσόλιθος (chrusolithos)
chrusolithos
chrysolite
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun chrusolithos refers to a precious stone characterized by its golden hue, often identified in modern translations as chrysolite or topaz. Its name combines words for "gold" and "stone," reflecting the gem’s distinctive yellow coloration rather than its material composition.
This term appears only once in the New Testament, within John’s vision of the New Jerusalem’s foundations (Revelation 21:20). It serves as one of twelve specific minerals that adorn the city’s walls, contributing to the imagery of divine glory and perfection. While ancient scholars debated its exact mineral identity, the text uses it to evoke value and brilliance.
The word connects to Old Testament descriptions of priestly garments and Ezekiel’s vision of Eden, where similar stones symbolize holiness. By placing it in Revelation, John links the new creation to these earlier sacred traditions, using a single gemstone to represent the enduring beauty of God’s presence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chrusolithos appears only once in the New Testament, nestled within John’s breathtaking vision of the New Jerusalem. It describes a precious stone with a golden hue, likely what we now call chrysolite or topaz. In Revelation 21:20, it is listed as the seventh foundation of the holy city, part of a sequence of twelve gems that reflect divine glory.
This single occurrence connects the New Testament to Old Testament imagery, where similar stones adorned priestly garments and symbolized God’s presence in Eden. By including chrusolithos among the foundations, John reminds us that the new creation is built on enduring beauty and holiness. The golden color evokes value and brilliance, pointing to the perfection of God’s kingdom.
For your faith, this word invites you to see beyond material wealth to spiritual richness. The city’s foundations are not made of common rock but of radiant gems, each reflecting a facet of divine truth. This imagery encourages trust in God’s promise to restore all things, offering hope that our future home will be marked by unshakable beauty and peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- chrysolite,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- χρυσόλιθος,1×
Key Verses
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Revelation of John 21:20
the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
This verse lists chrusolithos as the seventh foundation stone, linking it to the twelve tribes and emphasizing its role in the city's divine structure.