5552. chrusous
Lexical Summary
chrusous: Golden

Original Word: χρυσοῦς
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: chrusous
Pronunciation: khroo-SOOS
Phonetic Spelling: (khroo'-seh-os)
KJV: of gold, golden
NASB: golden, gold
Word Origin: [from G5557 (χρυσός - gold)]

1. made of gold

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
golden

From chrusos; made of gold -- of gold, golden.

see GREEK chrusos

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 5552 xrýseos (an adjective) – golden, or overlaid with gold. See 5553 (xrysion).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from chrusos
Definition
golden
NASB Translation
gold (4), golden (14).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 5552: χρύσεος

χρύσεος, χρυσεα, χρύσεον, contracted χρυσοῦς, χρυσῇ, χρυσοῦν (but accusative singular feminine χρυσᾶν, Revelation 1:13 L T Tr WH; genitive plural χρυσέων, Revelation 2:1 L Tr; (on its inflection cf. Buttmann, 26 (23); Phryn., Lob edition, p. 207; Liddell and Scott, under the word, at the beginning)) (χρυσός), from Homer down, golden; made of gold; also overlaid or covered with gold: 2 Timothy 2:20; Hebrews 9:4; Revelation 1:12f, 20; Revelation 2:1; Revelation 4:4; Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3; Revelation 9:7 Griesbach, ; .

STRONGS NT 5552: χρυσοῦςχρυσοῦς, see χρύσεος.

Topical Lexicon
Scope of Usage in the New Testament

The adjective appears eighteen times, almost entirely in Hebrews and Revelation. Hebrews 9:4 locates it in the earthly sanctuary, while every other occurrence stands in apocalyptic or eschatological settings. The term modifies vessels (Revelation 5:8; Revelation 15:7), lampstands (Revelation 1:12; Revelation 1:20), crowns (Revelation 4:4; Revelation 14:14), censer (Revelation 8:3), girdle (Revelation 1:13), and even the measuring reed used to size the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:15). It is once attached to idols in a scene of judgment (Revelation 9:20) and once to a luxurious cup in the hand of “Babylon the Great” (Revelation 17:4). The prevalence of the adjective in Revelation underlines a dominant Johannine concern: the disclosure of divine glory as well as the exposure of counterfeit glory.

Old Covenant Precursors

Gold was integral to the tabernacle (Exodus 25–40) and later the temple (1 Kings 6–8). By describing the altar and ark as “golden” (Hebrews 9:4), the writer to the Hebrews deliberately echoes Exodus in order to show continuity between the earthly sanctuary and the heavenly reality to which it pointed. The adjective thus becomes a bridge, linking the Mosaic ritual to its fulfillment in Christ’s high-priestly work (Hebrews 8:1–6).

Symbol of Divine Glory and Purity

Gold resists corrosion and retains brilliance; Scripture consistently harnesses these traits to signify holiness, worth, and permanence. Revelation repeatedly places “golden” items in close proximity to the throne of God:
• “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders, dressed in white and wearing golden crowns on their heads.” (Revelation 4:4)
• “When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” (Revelation 5:8)

The adjective does more than describe color; it marks an object as set apart for the worship of the Almighty.

Contrast Between True and False Worship

In Revelation 9:20 the survivors of the trumpet judgments “did not repent of the works of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold…”. The same metal that adorns heaven’s sanctuary becomes an object of idolatry on earth. Revelation 17:4 heightens the contrast: “The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her adultery.” The adjective underscores the sham splendor of Babylon, calling believers to discern between genuine divine majesty and seductive worldly opulence.

Priestly and Royal Associations

When John sees “One like a Son of Man…with a golden sash around His chest” (Revelation 1:13), the adjective signals dignity and investiture. The golden crowns of Revelation 4:4 and 14:14 further tie the word to royal authority. In both cases, authority is exercised under the sovereignty of God, emphasizing that all legitimate rule derives from Him.

Worship and Prayer

Golden bowls of incense (Revelation 5:8; Revelation 15:7) portray prayer as precious. The contents—“the prayers of the saints”—share the adjective’s value, encouraging believers that their petitions are treasured in heaven.

Eschatological Fulfillment

In Revelation 21:15 an angel measures the New Jerusalem with a “golden measuring rod,” indicating that the city itself conforms to the standard of divine glory. Gold no longer decorates isolated furnishings; it characterizes the entire dwelling of God with humanity. What the tabernacle foreshadowed and the temple anticipated is fully realized.

Pastoral Implications

1. Worship: Only what is purified and consecrated may stand in God’s presence. Believers are called to offer lives that reflect the “gold” of tested faith (compare 1 Peter 1:7).
2. Discernment: The same material that adorns heaven can be forged into idols. The adjective warns against confusing external splendor with spiritual authenticity.
3. Hope: The saturation of golden imagery in Revelation assures the church of an eternally secure, glorious inheritance. Earthly trials refine believers for participation in that future.

Summary

In every New Testament occurrence the adjective points to value, purity, and glory—either affirming them in holy service or exposing their counterfeit in idolatry. By tracing its usage from the earthly sanctuary to the New Jerusalem, Scripture weaves a consistent message: God alone bestows true glory, and He intends to share that glory with a purified people who worship Him in spirit and truth.

Forms and Transliterations
χρυσα χρυσά χρυσᾶ χρυσαί χρυσαίς χρυσαν χρυσᾶν χρυσας χρυσάς χρυσᾶς χρύσεον χρυση χρυσή χρυσῆ χρυσήν χρυσής χρυσοί χρυσοίς χρυσου χρυσού χρυσοῦ χρυσουν χρυσούν χρυσοῦν χρυσους χρυσούς χρυσοῦς χρυσων χρυσών χρυσῶν chrusa chrusan chrusas chruse chrusē chruson chrusōn chrusou chrusoun chrusous chrysa chrysâ chrysan chrysân chrysas chrysâs chryse chrysê chrysē chrysē̂ chryson chrysôn chrysōn chrysō̂n chrysou chrysoû chrysoun chrysoûn chrysous chrysoûs
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Englishman's Concordance
2 Timothy 2:20 Adj-NNP
GRK: μόνον σκεύη χρυσᾶ καὶ ἀργυρᾶ
NAS: there are not only gold and silver
KJV: only vessels of gold and of silver,
INT: only vessels golden and silver

Hebrews 9:4 Adj-ANS
GRK: χρυσοῦν ἔχουσα θυμιατήριον
NAS: having a golden altar of incense
KJV: Which had the golden censer, and
INT: a golden having altar of incense

Hebrews 9:4 Adj-NFS
GRK: ᾗ στάμνος χρυσῆ ἔχουσα τὸ
NAS: in which was a golden jar
KJV: wherein [was] the golden pot
INT: which [was the] pot golden having the

Revelation 1:12 Adj-AFP
GRK: ἑπτὰ λυχνίας χρυσᾶς
NAS: I saw seven golden lampstands;
KJV: I saw seven golden candlesticks;
INT: seven lampstands golden

Revelation 1:13 Adj-AFS
GRK: μαστοῖς ζώνην χρυσᾶν
NAS: across His chest with a golden sash.
KJV: about the paps with a golden girdle.
INT: breasts a belt golden

Revelation 1:20 Adj-AFP
GRK: λυχνίας τὰς χρυσᾶς οἱ ἑπτὰ
NAS: and the seven golden lampstands:
KJV: the seven golden candlesticks.
INT: lampstands golden The seven

Revelation 2:1 Adj-GFP
GRK: λυχνιῶν τῶν χρυσῶν
NAS: the seven golden lampstands,
KJV: of the seven golden candlesticks;
INT: lampstands golden

Revelation 4:4 Adj-AMP
GRK: αὐτῶν στεφάνους χρυσοῦς
NAS: garments, and golden crowns
KJV: heads crowns of gold.
INT: of them crowns golden

Revelation 5:8 Adj-AFP
GRK: καὶ φιάλας χρυσᾶς γεμούσας θυμιαμάτων
NAS: holding a harp and golden bowls full
KJV: harps, and golden vials full
INT: and bowls golden full of incenses

Revelation 8:3 Adj-AMS
GRK: ἔχων λιβανωτὸν χρυσοῦν καὶ ἐδόθη
NAS: holding a golden censer;
KJV: the altar, having a golden censer; and
INT: having a altar of incense golden and was given

Revelation 8:3 Adj-ANS
GRK: θυσιαστήριον τὸ χρυσοῦν τὸ ἐνώπιον
NAS: the saints on the golden altar
KJV: saints upon the golden altar which
INT: altar golden which [was] before

Revelation 9:13 Adj-GNS
GRK: θυσιαστηρίου τοῦ χρυσοῦ τοῦ ἐνώπιον
NAS: horns of the golden altar
KJV: horns of the golden altar
INT: altar golden which [is] before

Revelation 9:20 Adj-ANP
GRK: εἴδωλα τὰ χρυσᾶ καὶ τὰ
NAS: and the idols of gold and of silver
KJV: and idols of gold, and silver,
INT: idols golden and

Revelation 14:14 Adj-AMS
GRK: αὐτοῦ στέφανον χρυσοῦν καὶ ἐν
NAS: having a golden crown
KJV: his head a golden crown, and
INT: of him a crown golden and in

Revelation 15:6 Adj-AFP
GRK: στήθη ζώνας χρυσᾶς
NAS: their chests with golden sashes.
KJV: girded with golden girdles.
INT: breasts sashes golden

Revelation 15:7 Adj-AFP
GRK: ἑπτὰ φιάλας χρυσᾶς γεμούσας τοῦ
NAS: angels seven golden bowls full
KJV: angels seven golden vials full
INT: seven bowls golden full of the

Revelation 17:4 Adj-ANS
GRK: ἔχουσα ποτήριον χρυσοῦν ἐν τῇ
NAS: having in her hand a gold cup full
KJV: pearls, having a golden cup in
INT: having a cup golden in the

Revelation 21:15 Adj-AMS
GRK: μέτρον κάλαμον χρυσοῦν ἵνα μετρήσῃ
NAS: with me had a gold measuring rod
KJV: me had a golden reed to
INT: a measuring reed golden that he might measure

Strong's Greek 5552
18 Occurrences


χρυσᾶ — 2 Occ.
χρυσᾶν — 1 Occ.
χρυσᾶς — 5 Occ.
χρυσῆ — 1 Occ.
χρυσῶν — 1 Occ.
χρυσοῦ — 1 Occ.
χρυσοῦν — 6 Occ.
χρυσοῦς — 1 Occ.

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