H2830 H2830
gleaming metal, amber, electrum (uncertain identification)
A mysterious shining substance of uncertain identification, appearing only in Ezekiel's throne visions. Traditional interpretations include amber, electrum (gold-silver alloy), or some other brilliant metallic substance. The Greek translated it as 'elektron,' while Latin used 'electrum.' The context always involves divine appearances, where the substance describes the radiance surrounding God's presence. Its brilliance and mysterious nature fit the ineffable glory of theophanic visions. Modern interpreters remain uncertain whether it denotes a specific material or simply represents overwhelming brilliance beyond normal description.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A brilliant shining substance, possibly amber or electrum, appearing in divine visions. Ezekiel 1:4 describes 'the appearance of gleaming metal' within the storm cloud of God's approach. Ezekiel 1:27 uses it twice to describe the brilliant radiance surrounding the enthroned figure. Ezekiel 8:2 employs it for the fiery appearance of the divine figure. The consistent visionary context and the term's rarity suggest it represents transcendent brilliance beyond ordinary materials. Cross-linguistic attempts (Spanish jasmal, French ambre) reflect the translation difficulty. 3×
AR["الـ-نُّحاسِ-اللَّامِعِ", "النُّحاسِ-اللَّامِعِ", "نُحاسٍ-لامِعٍ"]·ben["-উজ্জ্বল-ধাতু", "-চকচকে-ধাতুর", "উজ্জ্বল-ধাতু"]·DE["[החשמל]", "[החשמלה]", "[חשמל]"]·EN["amber", "the-amber"]·FR["[החשמלה]", "[חשמל]", "l'ambre"]·heb["ה-חשמל", "ה-חשמלה", "חשמל"]·HI["अम्बर", "तप्त-धातु", "ता-तप्त-धातु"]·ID["logam-berkilau"]·IT["[החשמל]", "[החשמלה]", "[חשמל]"]·jav["kuningan-manca-warna", "kèlektrum", "kèlektrum-punika"]·KO["그-호박금", "그-호박의", "호박금"]·PT["chashmal", "o-chashmal"]·RU["хашмала", "электрума"]·ES["el-jasmal", "jasmal"]·SW["chuma-cha-umeme", "umeme-wa-dhahabu"]·TR["gözü", "kehribarın", "parlaklığın"]·urd["کہرُبا", "کہرُبا-کی"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)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×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† חַשְׁמַל n.[m.] etym. and exact meaning dub.; evidently some shining substance; AV amber; supposed by Thes (q.v.) and most to be a brilliant amalgam of gold and silver, 𝔊 ἤλεκτρον (v Liddell & Scott s. v. 2), 𝔙 electrum; v. also Dl in BaerEzech. xii; only in the combination כְּעֵין ח׳ like the appearance of ח׳ Ez 1:4, 27; כְּעֵין הַחַשְׁמַ֑לָה Ez 8:2 (on ending ה—ָ v. Ges§ 90 f; Co del.).