Electrum

Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia

(Ezek. 1:4, 27; 8:2)—a traditional rendering of Ezekiel’s enigmatic term hashmal: a glowing metal, brilliant alloy, or fire-like radiance. The Septuagint used elektron, a word that could denote amber or a gold-and-silver alloy. Ezekiel saw something like gleaming metal, with fire enclosed all around, and a radiance like the rainbow in a cloud after rain (Ezek. 1:27-28). In another vision the appearance was fiery below the waist and radiant like gleaming metal above it (Ezek. 8:2).

The image belongs to the prophet’s vision of the glory of the Lord enthroned above the living creatures; it signifies inaccessible majesty and divine glory rather than identifying a modern chemical substance.

Scripture cited

Jezekiel 1:4 Jezekiel 1:27 Jezekiel 8:2

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