Lord’s Library editors bring you this comprehensive study on gold and silver in the Bible with key verses and commentary.
Gold and silver have been sought for their beauty and usefulness for thousands of years. In the Bible, these precious metals are mentioned frequently, often in the context of wealth, trade, and spiritual significance. In Genesis 13:2, Abram is described as being “very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.” Similarly, in 2 Chronicles 1:15, the Bible states that King Solomon made “silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones.”
In Exodus 30:13, the Israelites were to give a half-shekel of silver as an offering to the Lord, and in Genesis 23:16, Abraham bought a burial plot for his wife Sarah for “four hundred shekels of silver.” In addition to their use as currency and for trade, gold and silver were used to adorn the Tabernacle and temple.
In Exodus 25:3-7, the Israelites were instructed to bring offerings of gold, silver, and brass to build the Tabernacle, while in 1 Chronicles 29:2, King David prepared gold and silver for the building of the temple. In 1 Kings 10:21, it is described how “all king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.”
Beyond their material worth, gold and silver are also used as symbols of spiritual significance in the Bible. In Psalm 12:6, the words of the Lord are said to be “like silver tried in a furnace, purified seven times over.” Similarly, in Zechariah 13:9, it says that the Lord will “refine them [His people] as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried.” In Proverbs 8:19, wisdom is said to be “better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.”
There are 128 verses in the King James Bible that mention the words “gold” or “silver” separately. Then there are 15 verses that mention gold and silver together, either using the phrase “gold and silver” or “silver and gold.” In total, the word “gold” appears 417 times while the word silver appears 321 times.
Given that you found this resource through a search engine query like “gold and silver in the Bible”, our editors compiled this short Scripture study. Below the fold, you will find the 15 unique verses where gold and silver in the Bible are mentioned together. Whether you are interested in gold and silver in the Bible for investing purposes or just want to learn more, see below.
Gold and Silver in the Bible
The Bible often mentions silver and gold as symbols of material wealth. Gold and silver were commonly used as currencies in ancient times. Gold and silver were also used for trade. Gold and silver are sometimes used in the Bible to symbolize spiritual qualities as well. We can see these four themes come through when we analyze gold and silver in the Bible through the Scriptures:
- Genesis 13:2: “And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.”
- Genesis 24:35: “And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.”
- Genesis 44:2: “And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.”
- Exodus 3:22: “But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.”
- Exodus 11:2: “Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.”
- Exodus 12:35: “And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:”
- Exodus 25:3: “And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,”
- Exodus 35:24: “Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD’s offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it.”
- Numbers 31:22: “Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,”
- Joshua 6:19: “But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.”
- Judges 17:3: “And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.”
- 1 Kings 10:21: “And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.”
- 1 Chronicles 18:10: “And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.”
- 1 Chronicles 22:14: “Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:15: “And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance.”
Despite their value, the Bible also cautions against the love of money and the pursuit of wealth for its own sake. In 1 Timothy 6:10, it says, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Similarly, in Ecclesiastes 5:10, it warns that “he that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.”
The Bible encourages us to use our resources to spread the Gospel to the whole world rather than pursuing material wealth for its own sake. In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
As we can see, the Bible uses gold and silver as an example throughout to help us understand God’s Word. While the Bible does not specifically endorse or prohibit investing in precious metals, studying Scripture enables one to understand the historical context.
Lord's Library is a Christian resource hub. Our editors use a variety of internet research methods like search engines, audio and video, AI, consultations with ministry leaders in the field, and more. Lord's Library should never be a substitute for reading your Bible daily as the Scriptures are to be our final authority on all matters. Lord's Library participates in affiliate programs. We may make a small commission from products purchased through this resource.
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