Crystal

קרח . This word is translated “crystal” in Eze 1:22; and “frost,” Gen 31:40; Job 37:10; Jer 36:30; and “ice,” Job 6:16; Job 38:29; Psa 147:17; κρυσταλλος, Rev 4:6; Rev 22:1. Crystal is supposed to have its name from its resemblance to ice.

The Greek word, κρυσταλλος, is formed from κρυος, ice, and σταλασσομαι, to concrete. The word, זכוכית , is translated crystal, in Job 28:17. Dr. Good observes, “We are not certain of the exact signification, farther than that it denotes some perfectly transparent and hyaline gem.”

There seems to be no doubt that crystal is intended by the Greek word in Rev 21:11, as indeed the phrase of comparison ’clear as crystal’ would seem naturally to suggest. In Eze 1:22 the Hebrew word kerach, which literally denotes ice, is employed with a similar signification. This is the more apparent when we recollect that crystal was anciently held to be only pure water, congealed by great length of time into ice harder than the common, and hence the Greek word for it, in its more proper signification, also signifies ice. From this it necessarily followed that crystal could only be produced in the regions of perpetual ice; and this was accordingly the ancient belief; but we now know that it is found in the warmest regions. Theophrastus (54) reckons crystal among the pellucid stones used for engraved seals. In common parlance we apply the term crystal (as the ancients apparently did) to a glass-like transparent stone, commonly of a hexagonal form, which, from being found in rocks, is called by mineralogists rock-crystal. It is a stone of the flint family, the most refined kind of quartz.

The same Hebrew word is rendered by our translators, crystal, Eze 1:22 ; frost, Gen 31:40 ; and ice, Job 6:16 . The word primarily denotes ice; and the name is given to a perfectly transparent and glass-like gem, from its resemblance, Job 28:17 ; Jer 4:6 ; 21:11.\par

Crystal. The representative, in the Authorized Version, of two Hebrew words.

1. Zecucith occurs only in Job 28:17, where "glass" is probably intended.

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 krustallizo occurs in Rev 4:6; Rev 21:11. It may mean either "ice" or "crystal."

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 Eze 1:22, "the likeness of the firmament was as the terrible (rather Splendid, dazzling) crystal" (Rev 4:6; Rev 21:11).

There are several words which appear to have this meaning in the Bible. SEE ICE; SEE PEARL.

1. קֶרִח, ke’rach (properly ice, as it is rendered Job 6:16; Job 38:29; “frost,” Gen 31:40; Job 37:10; Jer 36:30; Sept. κρύσταλλος), occurs in Eze 1:22, where the epithet “terrible” seems to be added by way of distinction from the ordinary signification of the word.

2. גָּבַישׁ, gabish’ (properly ice; Sept. γαβίς), occurs only in Job 28:18, where it is rendered “pearls” in our version.

3. זְכוּכַית, zekukith’ (lit. what is pure or transparent; Sept. ὕαλος), occurs only in Job 18:17, where some regard it as denoting glass.

4. Κρύσταλλος (prop. ice) occurs in Rev 4:6; Rev 21:11; Rev 22:1, evidently in the sense of crystal, and in such connections as to identify it in a good degree with the preceding terms.

“ Crystal was anciently held to be only pure water, congealed by great length of time into ice harder than the common (Diod. Sic. 2:52; Pliny Hist. Nat. 37:2), and hence the Greek word for it, in its more proper signification, also signifies ice. From this it necessarily followed that crystal could only be produced in the regions of perpetual ice, and this was accordingly the ancient belief; but we now know that it is founding the warmest regions. Theophrastus (54) reckons crystal among the pellucid stones used for engraved seals. In common parlance we apply the term crystal (as the ancients apparently did) to a glass-like transparent stone, commonly of a hexagonal form, which, from being found in rocks, is called by mineralogists rock-crystal. It is a stone of the flint family, the most refined kind of quartz.” SEE GLASS.

Crystal. This word occurs in the Common English Version of Job 28:17. The R. V. reads "glass." The original term signifies something of exceeding purity. The Egyptians had the secret of introducing gold between two surfaces of glass, together with various colors. They could also enamel upon gold. It is very likely that a reference to some such work of art is intended. The word rendered "crystal" in Eze 1:22, is elsewhere "ice" or "frost." The margin of the B. V. reads "ice" here also. It is probably called "terrible" because of the bright shining of such a substance in the rays of the sun, dazzling and blinding the eye that looks on it. We further find "crystal," the rock crystal, in Rev 4:6; Rev 22:1; also the epithet crystal-clear is given to jasper. Rev 21:11.

1. zekukith, Job 28:17: probably glass highly ornamented, such as was made in Egypt: it is here classed with gold; but wisdom, the gift of God, far exceeds such things in value.

2. qerach, ice, and so frequently translated. The firmament over the living creature was "as the colour of the terrible crystal." Eze 1:22.

3. κρύσταλλος John saw a sea of glass like unto crystal, Rev 4:6; the water of life and the jasper stone were seen ’clear as crystal.’ Rev 22:1. The ancient glass may have been ’clear’ in the sense of not having spots and blemishes, without its being wholly transparent.

See GLASS:

CRYSTAL.—See Jewels and Precious Stones.

kris´tal: In English Versions of the Bible the word is probably intended to signify rock-crystal, crystallized quartz. This the Greeks called κρύσταλλος, krústallos, “ice,” believing it to have been formed from water by intense cold. Thus in Rev 4:6; Rev 21:11; Rev 22:1, either “crystal” (EV) or “ice” (Greek, krustallos) suits the context. The word rendered “crystal” in Eze 1:22 (קרח, ḳeraḥ) is ambiguous in precisely the same way (the Revised Version, margin “ice”). In Job 28:17 the context favors the King James Version “crystal,” rather than the Revised Version (British and American) “glass” (זכוּכית, z^ekhūkhı̄th). Finally, in Job 28:18 the Revised Version (British and American) reads “crystal” for the King James Version “pearls” (Hebrew gābhı̄sh; the weight of evidence favors the Revised Version (British and American) in spite of the parallelism suggested by the King James Version). See also STONES, PRECIOUS.