פַּז (paz)
paz
pure gold
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun paz refers to pure, refined gold. It appears seven times in the Old Testament, most frequently in poetic books like Psalms and Proverbs, as well as in Song of Solomon. Unlike common terms for metal, this word emphasizes the highest quality of gold that has been purified and freed from impurities.
Its usage often highlights value and beauty. For instance, Proverbs 25:12 compares a wise rebuke to "golden apples in a setting of silver," using paz to convey preciousness and refinement. Similarly, Psalm 19:10 describes God’s laws as more desirable than gold, even the finest pure gold (paz), linking moral truth with the highest material standard.
The word likely derives from a root meaning "to shine" or "to be bright," reflecting the luster of refined metal. Translators typically render it as "pure gold" or "refined gold," capturing both its physical purity and symbolic weight. In biblical poetry, paz serves not just as currency but as a metaphor for excellence, wisdom, and divine glory.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word paz describes gold that has been stripped of all dross, leaving only its true, shining essence. In the ancient world, refining gold was a costly and careful process, requiring fire to burn away every trace of impurity. When Scripture uses this term, it points to something of unmatched value and purity. It is not just wealth; it is beauty refined through trial.
For your faith, this offers a comforting picture of God’s work in you. Just as gold must pass through the fire to become paz, our lives are often shaped by seasons that test our character. These moments do not destroy us but reveal the genuine metal beneath. The Psalms remind us that God’s commands are more desirable than this finest gold, suggesting that spiritual truth holds a weight and luster that earthly riches can never match.
When you feel worn down or uncertain, remember that your value is not defined by external shine but by inner purity. God sees the refined heart, the wisdom that has been tested, and the love that remains steady. This promise of refinement invites you to trust that even in the heat of difficulty, you are being prepared for something precious.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- pure gold3×
- and/ more than/ pure gold2×
- with <the>/ pure gold1×
- more than/ pure gold1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פָּ֑ז1×
- פָֽז\׃1×
- פָ֑ז1×
- מִ/פָּ֑ז1×
- וּ/מִ/פָּֽז\׃1×
- וּ/מִ/פָּ֑ז1×
- בַּ/פָּ֑ז1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 119:127
Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more than pure gold.
This verse establishes the supreme value of God's laws by comparing them to the highest standard of material wealth, pure gold.
-
Job 28:17
Gold and glass can’t equal it, neither will it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
Here the text uses paz to show that even the most refined metal cannot be exchanged for the wisdom it describes.
-
Isaiah 13:12
I will make people more rare than fine gold, even a person than the pure gold of Ophir.
The prophet uses this term to emphasize the extreme rarity and preciousness of human life in God's eyes.