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“Precious Metals In Scripture – Gold (Positive Application)” – Part 6 – Paz and Betser

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Gold (Positive Application) – Part 6, Paz and Betser

Introduction

I have been telling you that there are seven Hebrew words translated ‘gold.’ I have been saying that based upon the fact that Strong’s Concordance tells us that seven Hebrew words are all translated as ‘gold’. We will see today that Mr. Strong has misinformed us on this subject, and I will have to simply share this lesson with you and apologize for saying there are seven Hebrew words translated as ‘gold.’ In Truth there are only six, and the last two of these six are our words for this study.

Our Fifth of Six Words Translated Gold Is ‘Paz’

The first of these last two words is the word ‘paz.’ Paz appears nine times in the Old Testament.

It is found once in Job, three times in Psalms, once in Proverbs, twice in Song of Solomon, once in Isaiah, and once in Lamentations.

Why is this word ‘paz’ used in these nine verses, instead of any of the other six words translated gold? To understand why ‘paz’ is used in these verses let’s look at all nine entries:

Job 28:12  But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
Job 28:13  Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
Job 28:14  The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.
Job 28:15  It cannot be gotten for gold [zahab], neither shall silver be weighed [for] the price thereof.
Job 28:16  It cannot be valued with the gold [kethem] of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
Job 28:17  The gold [zahab] and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold [paz].

Psa 19:9  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Psa 19:10  More to be desired are they than gold [zahab], yea, than much fine gold [paz]: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Psa 21:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
Psa 21:2  Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.
Psa 21:3  For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold [ paz] on his head.
Psa 21:4  He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.
Psa 21:5  His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.
Psa 21:6  For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.

Psa 119:125  I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.
Psa 119:126  It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.
Psa 119:127  Therefore I love thy commandments above gold [zahab]; yea, above fine gold [paz]
Psa 119:128  Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

Pro 8:11  For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
Pro 8:12  I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
Pro 8:13 The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Pro 8:14  Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
Pro 8:15  By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
Pro 8:16  By me princes rule, and nobles, eve all the judges of the earth.
Pro 8:17  I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Pro 8:18  Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
Pro 8:19  My fruit is better than gold [charuts], yea, than fine gold [paz]; and my revenue than choice silver.

Son 5:9  What is thy beloved more than [another] beloved, thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than [another] beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
Son 5:10  My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
Son 5:11  His head is as the most [kethem] fine gold [paz], his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
Son 5:12  His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, [and] fitly set.
Son 5:13  His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips [like] lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.
Son 5:14  His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.
Son 5:15  His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold [paz]: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

Verse 5 tells us that Christ’s “head is as kethem paz,” that is Christ’s head is “as most (kethem) fine gold (paz).” ‘Kethem’ here is a noun used as an adjective to express a superlative. ‘Kethem’ is ‘most’ fine gold (paz).

Continuing with our verses containing ‘paz:’

Isa 13:9  Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
Isa 13:10  For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
Isa 13:11  And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
Isa 13:12  I will make a man more precious than fine gold [paz]; even a man than the golden wedge [kethem] of Ophir.

Lam 4:1  How is the gold [zahab] become dim! how is the most fine gold [kethem] changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
Lam 4:2  The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold [paz], how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of thepotter!

Eight times ‘paz’ is translated “fine gold.” It is likened in these verses to Christ’s “head,” it is likened to His feet, which are referred to here as “sockets”, and once it is used with ‘kethem’ as the ultimate gold, the superlative in golden jewels and valuables. So ‘Paz’ is called “a crown of pure gold”.  It is generally preceded by the word ‘zahab’, and is closely associated in these verses as gold having been formed into that which glorifies God. It certainly overlaps with ‘kethem’ in this application, but it is always translated as fine or pure gold, and ‘kethem’ is used as a superlative of ‘paz.’

Betser, the sixth of six words translated ‘gold’

The sixth of our six Hebrew words translated ‘gold’ is ‘betser.’ This word appears only in Job 22:24-25. In verse 24 it is translated as ‘gold’, and in verse 25 it is translated ‘defense’. It appears that ‘betser’ should have been translated as ‘gold’ in both verses.

Job 22:24  Then shalt thou lay up gold [betser] as dust, and the [gold] of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
Job 22:25  Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence [betser], and thou shalt have plenty of silver.

‘Betser’ here in Job is followed by mentioning both “plenty of silver” and the “pureness” of the “humble person.”

Job 22:26  For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
Job 22:27  Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.
Job 22:28  Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.
Job 22:29  When [men] are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
Job 22:30  He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.

Humility is gained only after pride is burned out of us. ‘Pureness of our hands’ is also achieved only after a purifying, purging process. It appears thus that verse 25 would be a more consistent translation if it read:

Job 22:25  Yea, the Almighty shall be thy gold [betser], and thou shalt have plenty of silver.

God is both our wealth and our defence, but When this same word is translated as ‘gold’ in the preceding verse, it is best to be consistent and translate it the same in verse 25.

Segor – A necessary correction

As I said at the beginning about today’s study my assertions that there are seven words translated as gold was mistaken. I have been saying that because that is what Dr. James Strong’s Concordance told me. Now that we have come to our supposed seventh and last word ‘segor’, I want to share with you how even scholars like James Strong must be verified against God’s Word. Strong’s Concordance told me that this ‘segor’ was found only twice, once in Job 28:15 and once in Hosea 13:8. Here is what Strong’s says about this word ‘segor:’

Now that we are here at this word and we see these two entries, here is what we really find:

Hos 13:8  I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul [segor], Strong’s H5458] of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

When we get to Job 28, we find that Mr. Strong has made a mistake.

Job 28:15  It cannot be gotten for gold [zahab with another word included in the interlinear, the word ‘sagar’, Strong’s H5462], neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.

This word here in Job 28:15, which is translated gold, is ‘zahab.’ It is not the word ‘segor’ as Strong’s Concordance affirms, and I again cut and paste:

It is not ‘segor (“Total KJV Occurrences: 2”); it is rather ‘sagar’ and while it is apparently in the Hebrew, it is not even translated into English in Job 28:25. It is simply left out and ignored in this verse.

The Hebrew word ‘sagar’ appears 92 times and is most often translated ‘shut’ or ‘shut up’. Here is what Strong says of this word:

H5462
sa gar
saw- gar’
A primitive root; to shut up; figuratively to surrender: – close up, deliver (up), give over (up), inclose, X pure, repair, shut (in, self, out, up, up together), stop, X straitly.

‘Sagar’ is the root word from which ‘segor’ is derived, but look again at what Strong’s Concordance says of ‘segor’ the word taken from the root ‘sagar’.

It is not “also gold” and it is not “caul, gold.” It is rather, ‘caul, shut up, or caul, closely guarded.’

So the word translated ‘gold in Job 28:15 is the Hebrew word ‘zahab’, Not the word ‘segor,’ as it is listed in Strong’s Concordance under the number H5458. The word ‘sagar’ H5462 is not the word ‘gold’ at all in this verse, but should apparently be translated as ‘shut up’ or ‘closely guarded’, ‘sagar’, gold, ‘zahab’. Neither ‘sagar’, H5462 nor its derivative ‘segor’H5458 have anything to do with the six Hebrew words for ‘gold’ except as an adjective describing how gold is shut up or guarded because it is so valuable.
Both Strong’s Concordance and the Interlinear say the word ‘sagar’ not ‘segor’ appears in Job 28:15. I do not read Hebrew so I assume they are right, but if that is the case then it has been left out of the King James Version.

In review

In review gold’s negative application is its association with the color yellow, a type for sin in our flesh.

Psa 68:13 Though ye have lien among the pots, [yet shall ye be as] the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow [yeraqraq] gold [charuts].

Gold’s primary negative application in scripture is its misuse as a covering of our “idols of the heart.” We are all guilty of twisting God’s golden doctrines into the “doctrines of men.”

Eze 16:17 Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

2Pe 3:16 As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Col 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Col 2:21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Col 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Gold in its positive application has all the physical properties which reveal to us what God considers to be useful, valuable, rare, and beautiful. Gold alone has all the qualities of being extremely rare, extremely beautiful, extremely ductile, and extremely malleable. Gold alone does not tarnish or rust, and seems to be virtually indestructible. Gold will melt only under the most extreme temperatures of any of the metals mentioned in God’s Word. Gold is the only metal to be seen in the holy place or in the holy of holies.

Gold is so versatile that the holy spirit has seen fit to use six different Hebrew words to express its value and usefulness to our Lord. Here is a summary of those six words. While the use of these words overlap each other, there are definite uses which are more emphasized in the various words.

1) The first and most prevalent is ‘zahab.’ This is pure refined gold in its all inclusive application. Gold which has been tried and purified in the fire, the extreme heat needed to melt and refine gold from the earth:

Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold [zahab].

2) ‘Dehab,’ the Aramaic form of ‘zahab,’ is found only in Ezra and Daniel and has the same overall and all inclusive application as ‘zahab’.
3) ‘Charuts’ is gold as malleable and ductile for its many uses. ‘Charuts’ is gold as “the hand of the diligent… (Pro 12:24), the valley of decision… (Joe 3:14), a threshing instrument…(Isa 28:27 and Mic 4:13), and the wall of God’s city (Dan 9:25 and Rev 21:12).
4) ‘Kethem’ is gold as being as rare and precious as “the golden wedge [kethem] of Ophir” (Isa 13:12). It is used to describe just how precious to our God is wisdom and understanding:

Job 28:12 But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
Job 28:13 Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
Job 28:14 The depth saith, It [is] not in me: and the sea saith, [It is] not with me.
Job 28:15 It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed [for] the price thereof.
Job 28:16 It cannot be valued with the gold [kethem] of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

5) ‘Paz,’ is always preceded by ‘zahab,’ the all inclusive word for purified gold. ‘Paz’ overlaps but differs from ‘kethem’ in that it is always called fine gold, or pure gold and is mentioned as formed into a crown and as being fine jewels. Paz is used as a description of Christ Himself.

Job 28:17 The gold [zahab] and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold [paz].

Psa 21:3 For You meet him with the blessings of good things; You set a crown of fine gold [paz] on his head. (NASB)

Psa 119:127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold [zahab]; yea, above fine gold [paz].

Son 5:10 My beloved [is] white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
Son 5:11 His head [is as] the most [kethem] fine gold [paz], his locks [are] bushy, [and] black as a raven.

6) ‘Betser’ appears only in two adjacent verses in Job:

Job 22:24 Then shalt thou lay up gold [betser] as dust, and the [gold] of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
Job 22:25 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence [betser], and thou shalt have plenty of silver.

It appears that a consistent reading of ‘gold’ would better show ‘betser’ as a word describing great wealth as opposed to “defence.” This is especially true in light of the verses which follow, speaking of the strength and accomplishments of the humble person with pure hands.

Job 22:26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
Job 22:27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.
Job 22:28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.
Job 22:29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
Job 22:30 He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.

The man who was spiritually the richest man who ever lived “had no place to lay His head,” and yet He had great riches in heaven:

Mat 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Conclusion

This concludes our study of God’s gold. It also concludes our study of the spiritual significance of all the metals mentioned in scripture.

Metals in scripture reveal where we have progressed in our walk. Of course we will see this only as we “look behind us to see the voice speaking with us.”

Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

The base metals represent our walk as carnal Christians, the best of whom are but common copper; the best of the base metals. Gold and silver, on the other hand, represent our walk as converted Christians, God’s elect who are whole hearted, and are driven by, and filled with, a strong desire [silver] to become God’s most usable, beautiful, diligent, and uncorruptible treasure [gold].

We must all travel through and “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Mat 4:4). We must all start out as lead refined from lead ore, out of the ground, and progress upward through the tin, iron and copper into the strong desire to serve and please God until we come to be God’s beautiful, glorious gold, covering Him and in His house.

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