Lexical Summary chashmal: Amber, Electrum Original Word: חַשְׁמַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance amber Of uncertain derivation; probably bronze or polished spectrum metal -- amber. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition perhaps amber NASB Translation glowing metal (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs חַשְׁמַל noun [masculine] etymology and exact meaning dubious; evidently some shining substance; AV amber; supposed by Thes (q. v.) and most to be a brilliant amalgam of gold and silver, ᵐ5 ἤλεκτρον (see Liddell & Scott under the word 2), ᵑ9 electrum; see also Dl in BaerEzech. xii; only in the combination ׳כְּעֵין ח like the appearance of ׳ח Ezekiel 1:4,27; בְּעֵין הַחַשְׁמַ֑לָה Ezekiel 8:2 (on ending הָ֯ see Ges§ 90, 2 R a; Co strike out) Topical Lexicon Biblical OccurrencesThe term appears three times, all in Ezekiel’s inaugural and temple visions (Ezekiel 1:4; 1:27; 8:2). Each passage situates the prophet before a theophany in which intense luminosity accompanies the revelation of God’s glory. In the first vision, “within the fire was a glow like amber” (Ezekiel 1:4). Later, the human-like figure atop the throne is described as “gleaming metal with a brilliance all around” (Ezekiel 1:27). In the temple vision, the same radiant substance marks the appearance of the Man whose form mirrors the earlier vision (Ezekiel 8:2). Imagery and Description Hashmal evokes blinding brightness, heat, and purity—imagery drawn from molten or highly polished metal. Ezekiel repeatedly couples it with fire, suggesting something more refined than raw flame, a concentrated brilliance that both reveals and conceals. The prophet thus communicates an impression of overpowering majesty while safeguarding the transcendence of the One who appears. Historical Context Ezekiel’s ministry unfolds in Babylon during the early exilic period (circa 593 BC onward). Ancient metallurgy had advanced to the point of producing stunning bronze alloys; such glowing metal, viewed in a furnace or when newly cast, provided an apt earthly analogy for the ineffable glory Ezekiel witnessed. By employing familiar yet extraordinary imagery, the prophet spoke to an audience that had seen the splendor of Near-Eastern imperial power. Hashmal signals that Yahweh’s glory far exceeds any human regalia. Theological Significance 1. Divine Otherness: Hashmal underscores the holiness of God. The overwhelming radiance prevents casual approach, echoing Sinai’s consuming fire (Exodus 24:17) and foreshadowing Revelation’s vision of One whose face is “like the sun shining in all its brilliance” (Revelation 1:16). Connections to Other Biblical Themes • Throne Imagery: Like Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4, Ezekiel’s throne-room scene features dazzling light and precious materials, linking hashmal to wider canonical portrayals of divine sovereignty. Appearances in Jewish and Christian Exegesis Second-Temple literature and later rabbinic writings treat hashmal with caution, often associating it with the mysteries of the Merkavah (chariot). Early Christian commentators, including Jerome, rendered the word electrum, a gold-silver alloy, emphasizing brilliance. Reformers highlighted the term’s symbolic function rather than seeking precise mineral identification, focusing on the majesty of God revealed in Scripture. Application for Ministry • Worship: Hashmal invites believers to approach God with reverent awe, cultivating a theology of divine holiness that shapes corporate worship. Christological Reflections The convergence of human form and radiant glory in Ezekiel finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, “the radiance of God’s glory” (Hebrews 1:3). Hashmal serves as a prophetic lens through which the incarnation and transfiguration are better understood: the Messiah unveils divine light while bearing human likeness, mediating between holy God and sinful humanity. Eschatological Implications Ezekiel’s closing chapters envision a restored temple where the glory returns permanently (Ezekiel 43:2). Hashmal foreshadows the eschaton when “night will be no more” and “the Lord God will give them light” (Revelation 22:5). The fleeting flashes in the prophet’s visions anticipate the everlasting illumination of the new heavens and new earth. Forms and Transliterations הַחַשְׁמַ֖ל הַחַשְׁמַֽלָה׃ החשמל החשמלה׃ חַשְׁמַ֗ל חשמל chashMal ha·ḥaš·ma·lāh ha·ḥaš·mal hachashMal hachashMalah haḥašmal haḥašmalāh ḥaš·mal ḥašmalLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezekiel 1:4 HEB: וּמִ֨תּוֹכָ֔הּ כְּעֵ֥ין הַחַשְׁמַ֖ל מִתּ֥וֹךְ הָאֵֽשׁ׃ NAS: it, and in its midst something like glowing metal in the midst KJV: thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst INT: midst as the colour glowing the midst of the fire Ezekiel 1:27 Ezekiel 8:2 3 Occurrences |
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