crystal Summary and Overview

(Ezek. 1:22, with the epithet "terrible," as dazzling the spectators with its brightness). The word occurs in Rev. 4:6; 21:11; 22:1. It is a stone of the flint order, the most refined kind of quartz. The Greek word here used means also literally "ice." The ancients regarded the crystal as only pure water congealed into extreme hardness by great length of time.

the representative in the Authorized Version of two Hebrew words. 1. Zecucith occurs only in #Job 28:17| where "glass" probably is intended. 2. kerach occurs in numerous passages in the Old Testament to denote "ice," "frost," etc.; but once only #Eze 1:22| as is generally understood, to signify "crystal." The ancients supposed rock-crystal to be merely ice congealed by intense cold. The similarity of appearance between ice and crystal caused no doubt the identity of the terms to express these substances. The Greek word occurs in #Re 4:6; 21:1| It may mean either "ice" or "crystal."

CRYS'TAL . Job 28:17. The word here rendered "crystal" is used nowhere else, and is believed to mean "glass," which was made by the ancient Egyptians and highly valued. Elsewhere the subject of this paragraph usually denotes ice or frost, and the original term is often so translated, as "frost," Gen 31:40; Job 37:10; Jer 36:30; and "ice." Job 6:16; Job 38:29; Ps 147:17. In Eze 1:22, rock-crystal, a stone perfectly transparent and resembling the purest glass, was plainly meant, and there may be reference to the peculiarly dazzling effect of light reflected from its surface. The ancients supposed that this mineral was only "ice congealed by intense cold," and valued it highly for its great beauty. Its transparency is alluded to in Rev 4:6; Rev 21:11; Rev 22:1. CU'BIT. See Measures.

zekukith, from zaakak, "to be pure." Job 28:17; "the gold and the crystal cannot equal wisdom." Glass is meant, some costly goblet composed of glass and gold, such as Wilkinson says the Egyptians made (Ancient Egyptians 2:61). Kerach, literally, ice, the ancients believing rock crystal to be ice intensely congealed. In Ezekiel 1:22, "the likeness of the firmament was as the terrible (rather Splendid, dazzling) crystal" (Revelation 4:6; Revelation 21:11).