Precious Stones: χρυσόπρασος (Strong’s G5556: chrysoprasos) Reveals Heaven’s Beauty

Strong’s G5556: A rare gemstone combining gold and green hues, chrysoprasos appears in Revelation’s description of the New Jerusalem’s foundations. This precious stone, known for its apple-green color with golden undertones, symbolizes divine beauty and eternal glory in apocalyptic literature.

U – Unveiling the Word

Chrysoprasos, a compound of “gold” (chrysos) and “leek-green” (prason), represents a unique gemstone that combines the qualities of both elements. This semi-precious variety of chalcedony exhibits an apple-green color with golden undertones, making it particularly valuable in ancient times. Its inclusion in the New Jerusalem’s foundation walls symbolizes the magnificent splendor of God’s eternal kingdom. The stone’s dual nature – combining the precious quality of gold with the life-giving green of nature – speaks to the perfect harmony of divine glory and created beauty in God’s eternal plan. Early church fathers often interpreted this stone as representing the balance between heavenly glory and earthly ministry.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: χρυσόπρασος, chrysoprasos, /khroo-SOP-ra-sos/
• Detailed pronunciation: krü-ˈsō-prä-sos
• Part of Speech: Noun (Masculine)

Etymology:

• χρυσός (chrysos) – gold
• πράσον (prason) – leek
• -ος (os) – nominative masculine singular ending

D – Defining Meanings

• A precious stone of golden-green color
• Apple-green variety of chalcedony
• Golden-tinted beryl

For compound words:
χρυσός contributes the golden quality while πράσον provides the greenish hue, creating a term that precisely describes this unique gemstone’s appearance

Translation Options:

• Chrysoprase – Most accurate technical term
• Golden-green stone – Descriptive translation highlighting both colors
• Apple-green chalcedony – Geological classification

E – Exploring Similar Words

• χρυσόλιθος (chrysolithos) /khroo-SO-lee-thos/ – golden stone – See G5555
• χρυσός (chrysos) /khroo-SOS/ – gold – See G5557
• σμάραγδος (smaragdos) /SMAR-ag-dos/ – emerald – See G4665

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

• Case: Nominative
• Number: Singular
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: Second

The word follows standard second declension patterns:
Nominative: χρυσόπρασος
Genitive: χρυσοπράσου
Dative: χρυσοπράσῳ
Accusative: χρυσόπρασον

Related forms:

• Adjective: χρυσοπράσινος (golden-green)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

Consulting major lexicons reveals fascinating details about chrysoprasos. BDAG identifies it as a precious stone specifically valued for its unique color combination. Thayer’s emphasizes its connection to both gold and the leek plant, while LSJ provides evidence of its use in secular Greek literature. Vine’s notes its singular appearance in the New Testament as part of the New Jerusalem’s foundation. Strong’s confirms its compound nature, while Moulton and Milligan provide papyrological evidence of its use in trade documents. LEH adds context from Septuagint-era Greek, though the word doesn’t appear in the LXX itself. This collective insight paints a picture of a highly valued stone that bridges both practical and symbolic significance.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
Revelation 21:20 “The fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase [χρυσόπρασος], the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.”

Additional References:
As a hapax legomenon, χρυσόπρασος appears only once in Revelation 21:20

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The chrysoprasos serves as a beautiful metaphor for God’s perfect creation and redemption. Its unique combination of gold and green represents the marriage of heavenly glory with earthly life, pointing to the Messiah’s role in bringing heaven to earth. In the New Jerusalem, this stone takes its place among other precious gems, declaring the magnificence of God’s eternal kingdom. It reminds us that in His presence, everything becomes precious and beautiful, transformed by His glory. This stone proclaims that in the new creation, even the foundations beneath our feet will reflect the splendor of our King.

D – Did You Know?

• Chrysoprase remains one of the most valuable varieties of chalcedony in modern gemology
• Ancient Romans believed chrysoprase could bring joy and emotional balance to its wearer
• The stone’s unique color comes from traces of nickel within its mineral structure

Strong’s G5556: A precious stone combining the golden brilliance of chrysos with the leek-green color of prason, found exclusively in Revelation’s description of the New Jerusalem’s foundations, symbolizing the perfect union of heavenly glory with created beauty in God’s eternal kingdom.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: gemstones, revelation, new jerusalem, precious stones, foundation stones, apocalyptic literature, heaven, eternal kingdom, divine glory, creation​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​