זָהָב385 H2091
Gold; the precious metal, whether raw ore, refined material, currency, or figurative standard of value
Zahav is the standard Hebrew word for gold in all its forms and functions. Nearly 390 occurrences span raw ore from Havilah (Gen 2:11-12), refined metal for the Tabernacle furnishings (Exod 25:11), royal wealth like Solomon's legendary gold of Ophir (1 Kgs 9:28), and figurative imagery where gold represents purity tested by fire (Job 23:10; Zech 13:9). The word's cognates stretch across every Semitic branch: Arabic dhahab, Aramaic dehav, Sabean dhb. Translations are strikingly uniform: Spanish oro, French or, German Gold, reflecting the metal's universal cultural recognition.
Senses
1. gold (the metal) — The precious metal gold in all its biblical roles: as raw ore mined from the earth (Gen 2:11-12; Job 28:1), as refined material for sacred furnishings such as the Ark's overlay and the menorah (Exod 25:11, 31), as a measure of wealth and royal splendor (1 Kgs 10:11), and as a figurative standard of purity and worth (Prov 17:3; Job 23:10). Cognate across the Semitic family -- Arabic dhahab, Aramaic dehav, Sabean dhb -- confirming its deep antiquity as a lexical item. 389×
AR["بِ-ذَهَبٍ", "ذَهَباً", "ذَهَبًا", "ذَهَبٌ", "ذَهَبٍ", "ذَهَبِيَّةً"]·ben["সোনা", "সোনার", "স্বর্ণের"]·DE["Gold", "aus-Gold"]·EN["gold"]·FR["or"]·heb["זהב"]·HI["सोना", "सोने", "सोने-का", "सोने-की", "सोने-के", "सोने-से"]·ID["emas"]·IT["oro"]·jav["emas", "mas", "mas,", "mas.", "émas"]·KO["금", "금과", "금으로", "금을", "금의"]·PT["ouro"]·RU["золота", "золото", "золотое", "золотой", "золотом", "золотые", "золотых"]·ES["oro", "oro?"]·SW["cha-dhahabu", "dhahabu", "nyumba", "vya-dhahabu", "wa-dhahabu", "ya-dhahabu", "za-dhahabu"]·TR["altın", "altınla", "altının"]·urd["سونا", "سونے-سے", "سونے-کا", "سونے-کی", "سونے-کے"]
Gen 24:22, Gen 24:22, Gen 24:53, Gen 44:8, Exod 3:22, Exod 11:2, Exod 12:35, Exod 20:23, Exod 25:3, Exod 25:11, Exod 25:11, Exod 25:12 (+38 more)
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)H1259 1. hail (weather phenomenon) (29×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
זָהָב385 n.m. Gn 2:12 gold (NH id.; Arabic ذَهَبٌ, Sab. דֿהב e.g. Os29 DHMZMG 1883, 338; Aramaic דְּהַב, ܕܗܰܒ, Palm. דהבא VogNo. 23)—ז׳ abs. Gn 2:11 + 364 times; cstr. Gn 2:12 + 6 times; sf. זְהָבִי 1 K 20:7 + 2 times; זְהָֽבְךָ 1 K 20:3, 5; זְהָבֶ֑ךָ Is 30:22; זְהָבוֹ Is 2:20; 31:7; זְהָבָם Ho 8:4 + 4 times;—gold, 1. = gold-ore, gold in a raw state, Gn 2:11, 12 Je 10:9 Pr 17:3; 27:21 Jb 28:1 +;…