Lexical Summary
tsorephi: Refiner, smelter
Original Word:צֹרְפִי
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:Tsorphiy
Pronunciation:tso-reh-fee
Phonetic Spelling:(tso-ref-ee')
KJV: goldsmith's
NASB:goldsmiths
Word Origin:[fromH6884 (צָּרַף - goldsmith)]
1. refiner
2. Tsorephi (with the article), an Israelite
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
goldsmith's
Fromtsaraph; refiner; Tsorephi (with the article), an Israelite -- goldsmith's.
see HEBREWtsaraph
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
tsaraphDefinitiongoldsmiths
NASB Translationgoldsmiths (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
; — only
Nehemiah 3:31 i.e.
belonging to the goldsmiths, a member of their guild.
Topical Lexicon
Designation and ScopeTsorephi refers to a goldsmith or metal-refiner and appears once in Scripture atNehemiah 3:31. Although a single occurrence, the term illuminates both the social fabric of post-exilic Jerusalem and the rich biblical imagery of refining.
Historical Setting in Nehemiah
InNehemiah 3 skilled artisans, priests, merchants, rulers, and ordinary citizens unite to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall. Verse 31 notes, “Next to him, Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs …” (Berean Standard Bible). Tsorephi identifies Malchijah’s profession. His participation highlights at least three historical truths:
1. Trade guilds already existed in the fifth century B.C., and goldsmiths formed an identifiable group in Jerusalem.
2. The reconstruction effort drew every segment of society, demonstrating covenant solidarity after the exile.
3. Specialized craftsmen were willing to leave lucrative work to labor for the security and worship life of the community.
Goldsmiths in Israelite Economy and Worship
Gold played a central role in Israel’s economy and cultus. From the craftsmanship of Bezaleel and Oholiab in constructing the Tabernacle’s golden furnishings (Exodus 31:1-11; 37:1-29) to Solomon’s Temple overlaid with “pure gold” (2 Chronicles 3:4-10), skilled goldsmiths enabled corporate worship. Their work funded royal treasuries (1 Kings 10:14-22) and supplied weights for commerce (Proverbs 11:1). The presence of Tsorephi in post-exilic Jerusalem signals restoration not only of walls but also of economic and liturgical infrastructure.
Symbolic Resonance of Refining
Because gold must be heated, melted, and purged of dross, the craftsman’s forge became an enduring biblical metaphor for divine testing:
• “For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.”Psalm 66:10
• “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”Malachi 3:3
• “The proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire.”1 Peter 1:7
Tsorephi therefore serves as a concrete reminder that God uses trials to produce purity, authenticity, and value in His people.
Ministry Insights
1. Vocational Calling: Malchijah’s identity as a goldsmith underscores that every occupation can be consecrated to the Lord’s work. Modern believers may likewise offer professional skills—business, technology, art—in service of the gospel.
2. Cooperative Service: The wall project demonstrates that spiritual renewal thrives when diverse gifts converge around a shared mission (compare1 Corinthians 12:4-11).
3. Refining Grace: Pastors and teachers may draw on the goldsmith image to encourage perseverance in sanctification, assuring believers that God’s refining fire aims at beauty, not destruction.
Christological and Eschatological Echoes
Jesus Christ fulfills the refining motif both as the tested and spotless Lamb (Hebrews 4:15) and as the Refiner who will purge impurity at His return (Revelation 3:18; 19:12). Tsorephi thus points forward to the day when the New Jerusalem will shine with “the glory of God, and its brilliance was like a very precious jewel” (Revelation 21:11).
Related Themes and Passages
•Proverbs 17:3; 27:21 — furnaces and crucibles as analogies for divine scrutiny
•Zechariah 13:9 — refining a remnant nation
•Isaiah 1:25 — removal of dross from Zion
•Job 23:10 — personal testimony of purification
Summary
Tsorephi, though a minor term in the biblical text, embodies the intersection of skilled labor, covenant community, and spiritual metaphor. The solitary goldsmith ofNehemiah 3:31 stands with hammer in hand beside priests and nobles, a living testament that God refines both metal and hearts, forging a people fit for His eternal city.
Forms and Transliterations
הַצֹּ֣רְפִ֔י הצרפי haṣ·ṣō·rə·p̄î haṣṣōrəp̄î hatzTzoreFi
Links
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Englishman's Greek Concordance •
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