Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the term "crystal" is used to describe something that is clear, pure, and precious. The imagery of crystal is often employed to convey the beauty and perfection of divine creation and heavenly realms. The use of crystal in the Bible is symbolic, representing purity, clarity, and the unblemished nature of God's presence.
Biblical References:1.
Revelation 4:6 : "Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal." This passage describes the heavenly throne room, where the sea of glass symbolizes the purity and holiness of God's presence. The crystal-clear sea reflects the unapproachable light and majesty of God, emphasizing His transcendence and the perfection of His heavenly domain.
2.
Revelation 21:11 : "The city shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal." Here, the New Jerusalem is depicted with a radiance akin to crystal, highlighting the divine glory and the untainted beauty of the eternal city. The imagery underscores the purity and splendor of the place where God dwells with His people.
3.
Revelation 22:1 : "Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb." The river of life, described as crystal-clear, signifies the purity and life-giving nature of God's provision. It flows from the throne, indicating that true life and sustenance come from God alone.
Symbolism and Interpretation:In biblical symbolism, crystal is often associated with clarity and purity. Its use in the Book of Revelation serves to illustrate the perfection and holiness of God's kingdom. The transparency of crystal allows light to pass through without obstruction, symbolizing the unobstructed truth and righteousness of God. This imagery is consistent with the biblical theme of light representing truth and divine revelation.
The references to crystal in Revelation are part of the apocalyptic vision given to the Apostle John, which uses vivid imagery to convey spiritual truths. The use of crystal in these visions serves to communicate the indescribable beauty and purity of the heavenly realm, offering believers a glimpse of the glory that awaits them in eternity.
Theological Significance:From a theological perspective, the use of crystal in the Bible emphasizes the holiness and perfection of God and His creation. It serves as a reminder of the purity that believers are called to pursue in their own lives, reflecting the character of God. The crystal-clear imagery also points to the ultimate restoration and renewal of creation, where all things will be made new and free from the corruption of sin.
In summary, crystal in the Bible is a powerful symbol of divine purity, clarity, and beauty. It is used to describe the heavenly realm and the presence of God, offering believers a vision of the perfect and holy future that awaits them in God's eternal kingdom.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Crystalthe representative in the Authorized Version of two Hebrew words.
- Zecucith occurs only in (Job 28:17) where "glass" probably is intended.
- kerach occurs in numerous passages in the Old Testament to denote "ice," "frost," etc.; but once only (Ezekiel 1:22) as is generally understood, to signify "crystal." The ancients supposed rock-crystal to be merely ice congealed by intense cold. The similarity of appearance between ice and crystal caused no doubt the identity of the terms to express these substances. The Greek word occurs in (Revelation 4:6;21:1) It may mean either "ice" or "crystal."
ATS Bible Dictionary
CrystalThe same Hebrew word is rendered by our translators, crystal,Ezekiel 1:22; frost,Genesis 31:40; and ice,Job 6:16. The word primarily denotes ice; and the name is given to a perfectly transparent and glass-like gem, from its resemblance,Job 28:17;Revelation 4:6; 21:11.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(
Ezek. 1:22, with the epithet "terrible, " as dazzling the spectators with its brightness). The word occurs in
Revelation 4:6;
21:11;
22:1. It is a stone of the flint order, the most refined kind of quartz. The Greek word here used means also literally "ice." The ancients regarded the crystal as only pure water congealed into extreme hardness by great length of time.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The regular form which a substance tends to assume in solidifying, through the inherent power of cohesive attraction. It is bounded by plane surfaces, symmetrically arranged, and each species of crystal has fixed axial ratios. See Crystallization.
2. (n.) The material of quartz, in crystallization transparent or nearly so, and either colorless or slightly tinged with gray, or the like; -- called also rock crystal. Ornamental vessels are made of it. Cf. Smoky quartz, Pebble; also Brazilian pebble, under Brazilian.
3. (n.) A species of glass, more perfect in its composition and manufacture than common glass, and often cut into ornamental forms. See Flint glass.
4. (n.) The glass over the dial of a watch case.
5. (n.) Anything resembling crystal, as clear water, etc.
6. (a.) Consisting of, or like, crystal; clear; transparent; lucid; pellucid; crystalline.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
CRYSTALkris'-tal: In English Versions of the Bible the word is probably intended to signify rock-crystal, crystallized quartz. This the Greeks called krustallos, "ice," believing it to have been formed from water by intense cold. Thus inRevelation 4:6;Revelation 21:11;Revelation 22:1, either "crystal" (EV) or "ice" (Greek, krustallos) suits the context. The word rendered "crystal" inEzekiel 1:22 (qerach) is ambiguous in precisely the same way (the Revised Version, margin "ice"). InJob 28:17 the context favors the King James Version "crystal," rather than the Revised Version (British and American) "glass" (zekhukhith). Finally, inJob 28:18 the Revised Version (British and American) reads "crystal" for the King James Version "pearls" (Hebrew gabhish; the weight of evidence favors the Revised Version (British and American) in spite of the parallelism suggested by the King James Version).
See alsoSTONES, PRECIOUS. F. K. Farr
Greek
2929. krustallizo -- to shine likecrystal... to shine like
crystal. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: krustallizo Phonetic
Spelling: (kroos-tal-lid'-zo) Short Definition: I am clear as
crystal...2930. krustallos --crystal
...crystal. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: krustallos Phonetic Spelling:
(kroos'-tal-los) Short Definition:crystal Definition:crystal....
5194. hualos -- a clear transparent stone, glass
... Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: hualos Phonetic Spelling:
(hoo'-al-os) Short Definition: glass Definition: glass,crystal, clear transparent...
271. amethustos -- amethyst
... Feminine Transliteration: amethustos Phonetic Spelling: (am-eth'-oos-tos) Short
Definition: amethyst Definition: amethyst (a kind of rockcrystal: the best...
Strong's Hebrew
1378. gabish --crystal... 1377, 1378. gabish. 1379 .
crystal. Transliteration: gabish Phonetic Spelling:
(gaw-beesh') Short Definition:
crystal. Word Origin
...7140. qerach -- frost, ice
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition frost, ice NASB Word Usage
crystal (1), frost (2), ice (4).crystal, frost, ice. Or...
2137. zekokith -- glass
... Word Origin from zakak Definition glass NASB Word Usage glass (1).crystal. From
zakah; properly, transparency, ie Glass --crystal. see HEBREW zakah....
688. eqdach -- a fiery glow, sparkle
... 687, 688. eqdach. 689 . a fiery glow, sparkle. Transliteration: eqdach
Phonetic Spelling: (ek-dawkh') Short Definition:crystal....
Library
Whether Clarity is Becoming to the Glorified Body?
... But the glorified bodies will not hide that which is within them, for as Gregory
says on Job 28:17, "Gold orcrystal cannot equal it" (Moral. xviii, 48)....
Describes the Hideous Appearance of a Soul in Mortal Sin as...
... of the soul, which gave it such splendour and beauty, is totally eclipsed, though
the spirit is as fitted to enjoy God's presence as is thecrystal to reflect...
Purity.
... purity. What tender, mellow light beams out from its depths through its
crystal clearness! what a halo of glory encircles it! what...
Growth
... Now this, according to modern biology, is the fundamental distinction between the
living and the not living, between an organism and acrystal....
Hymn for the Lighting of the Lamps
... Before that steadfast march the billows fall, Then raise on either hand theircrystal
mass, While through the sundered deep Thy people pass And ocean guards...
Preface to the First Edition.
... of God! Her wails are built of jasper-stone; but the City itself is of pure
and shining gold, like to clearcrystal glass. And the...
From the Fourth Chapter.
... 6. "And before the throne there was, as it were, a sea of glass like tocrystal."]
That is the gift of baptism which He sheds forth through His Son in time of...
Meditations of the Blessed State of a Regenerate Man in Heaven.
... God and his people who are saved, and written in the Lamb's book (ver.24 & 27),
do inhabit; all built of pure gold, like unto clear glass orcrystal (ver.11, 18...
The New Jerusalem.
... Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear ascrystal;
having a wall vast and high, and having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve...
The Poets
... Than when Thy sheep passed through the deep. Bycrystal walls protected,. reminds
us of the lines: As on dry land, between twocrystal walls,....
Thesaurus
Crystal (7 Occurrences)... The Greek word here used means also literally "ice." The ancients regarded the
crystal as only pure water congealed into extreme hardness by great length of
...Crystal-clear (1 Occurrence)
Crystal-clear.Crystal,Crystal-clear.Crystal-like . Multi-Version
ConcordanceCrystal-clear (1 Occurrence). Revelation 21:11 having...
Crystal-like (1 Occurrence)
Crystal-like.Crystal-clear,Crystal-like. Cub . Multi-Version Concordance
Crystal-like (1 Occurrence). Revelation 21:11 having the glory of God....
Jasper (8 Occurrences)
... It was "most precious," "clear ascrystal" (21:11). It was emblematic of the glory
of God (4:3).... Job 28:18 No mention shall be made of coral or ofcrystal....
Coral (3 Occurrences)
... kethem, "gold of Ophir"; shoham, "onyx" (the Revised Version, margin "beryl"); cappir,
"sapphire"; zahabh, "gold"; zekhukhith, "crystal" (the Revised Version...
Glass (12 Occurrences)
... The Hebrew word zekukith (Job 28:17), rendered in the Authorized Version "crystal,"
is rightly rendered in the Revised Version "glass." This is the only...
Jewel (12 Occurrences)
... a precious thing. 4. (n.) A bearing for a pivot a pivot in a watch, formed
of acrystal or precious stone, as a ruby. 5. (vt) To...
Cyprus (12 Occurrences)
... alum, gypsum, mica, unguents, laudanum, storax, resin and precious stones, including
agate, jasper, amethyst, lapis lazuli and several species of rock-crystal....
Cub (4 Occurrences)
Creatures (83 Occurrences)
... in these things. (WEB ASV). Revelation 4:6 Before the throne was something
like a sea of glass, similar tocrystal. In the midst...
Resources
What does the Bible say about crystals? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the river of life? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are indigo children? | GotQuestions.orgCrystal: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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