Gold is used to symbolize earthly riches (
Job 3:15;
22:24;
Isa 2:7;
Mt 10:9;
Ac 3:6;
20:33;
Re 18:12). Finer than gold, which, physically speaking, is considered non-perishable, typifies incorruptibility (
Ac 17:29;
1Pe 1:7,
18;
3:3;
Jas 5:3). Refining of gold is a figure for great purity or a test of (
Job 23:10;
Pr 17:3;
Isa 1:25;
Mal 3:2;
1Pe 1:7;
Re 3:18). Gold was the most valuable of metals. It stood for anything of great value (
Pr 3:14;
8:10,
19;
16:16,
22;
25:12), hence was most worthy for use in worshipping Yahweh (
Ex 25 ff;
Re 1:12,
13,
10, etc.), and the adornment of angels (
Re 15:6) or saints (
Ps 45:13). The head was called golden as being the most precious part of the body (
So 5:11;
Da 2:38; compare "the golden bowl,"
Ec 12:6). "The golden city" meant Babylon (
Isa 14:4), as did also "the golden cup," sensuality (
Jer 51:7). A crown of gold was synonymous with royal honor (
Es 2:17;
6:8;
Job 19:9;
Re 4:4;
14:14). Wearing of gold typified lavish adornment and worldly luxury (
Jer 4:30;
10:4;
1Ti 2:9;
1Pe 3:3;
Re 17:4). Comparing men to gold suggested their nobility (
La 4:1,
2;
2Ti 2:20).