5474. chalkolibanon
Lexical Summary
chalkolibanon: Burnished bronze

Original Word: χαλκολίβανον
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: chalkolibanon
Pronunciation: khal-ko-LEE-ban-on
Phonetic Spelling: (khal-kol-ib'-an-on)
KJV: fine brass
NASB: burnished bronze
Word Origin: [neuter of a compound of G5475 (χαλκός - money) and G3030 (λίβανος - frankincense) (in the implied mean of whiteness or brilliancy)]

1. burnished copper, an alloy of copper (or gold) and silver having a brilliant lustre

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
fine brass.

Neuter of a compound of chalkos and libanos (in the implied mean of whiteness or brilliancy); burnished copper, an alloy of copper (or gold) and silver having a brilliant lustre -- fine brass.

see GREEK chalkos

see GREEK libanos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from chalkos and libanos
Definition
chalcolibanus (fine copper, bronze or brass)
NASB Translation
burnished bronze (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 5474: χαλκολίβανον

χαλκολίβανον (so Suidas (but see Gaisf. edition under the word)), χαλκολιβανου, τό, more correctly χαλκολιβανος, χαλκολιβανου, (according to the reading as it ought to be restored ((but see the editions)) in Revelation 1:15 ὡς ἐν καμίνῳ πεπυρωμενη; cf. Düsterdieck's critical note (see Buttmann, 80 (69) note)), a word of doubtful meaning found only in Revelation 1:15, and , chalcolibanus, Vulg. aurichalcum or orichalcum (so manuscript Arafat. (al. aeric.); Luther Messing (R. V. burnished brass)); according to the testimony of an ancient Greek (Ansonius) in Salmasius (Exercitt. ad Solin., p. 810 a.: λίβανος ἔχει τρία εἴδη δένδρων, καί μέν ἄρρην ὀνομάζεται χαλκολιβανος, ἡλιοειδής καί πυρρός ἤγουν ξανθός), a certain kind of (yellow) frankincense; but both the sense of the passages in Rev and a comparison of Daniel 10:6 and Ezekiel 1:7, which seem to have been in the writer's thought, compel us to understand some metal, like gold if not more precious (cf. Hebrew חַשְׁמָל, a metal composed of gold and silver, Sept ἤλεκτρον, Vulg.electrum, Ezekiel 1:4, 27; Ezekiel 8:2); this interpretation is confirmed by the gloss of Suidas: εἶδος ἠλέκτρου τιμιώτερον χρυσοῦ, ἐστι δέ τό ἤλεκτρον ἀλλοτυπον χρυσίον μεμιγμένον ὕελω καί λιθεία. The word is compounded, no doubt, of χαλκός and λίβανος, not of χαλκός and לָבָן, 'white.' Cf. Winer's RWB, under the word Metalle; Wetzel in the Zeitschr. f. d. luth. Theol. for 1869, p. 92ff; cf. Ewald, Johann. Schriften, ii., p. 117f; (Lee in the 'Speaker's Commentary' at the passage).

Topical Lexicon
Occurrences in Scripture

χαλκολίβανον appears twice, both in the opening vision cycle of Revelation (Revelation 1:15; 2:18). In each instance the term describes the feet of the exalted Christ, linking His presence to brilliant, furnace-refined metal.

Background and Metallurgical Considerations

Ancient writers used similar compound words for highly polished bronze or a copper-gold alloy valued for its brightness and durability. Its glowing appearance after refinement made it a fitting image for purified strength. The metal’s resilience under intense heat underscores the idea of purity that withstands testing—an attribute explicitly connected to Christ in Revelation’s prologue.

Old Testament Resonances

Revelation’s imagery is deeply indebted to Daniel’s visionary description of “the gleam of polished bronze” (Daniel 10:6) and to the bronze furnishings of the Tabernacle and Temple (Exodus 27:1-8; 1 Kings 7:13-16). Bronze in the sanctuary was associated with both judgment (the altar of burnt offering) and mediation (the laver for priestly cleansing). By choosing bronze rather than gold or silver, the apocalyptic portrait recalls the altar where sin was dealt with and links the glorified Messiah to His once-for-all sacrificial work.

Apocalyptic Portrait in Revelation

Revelation 1:15: “His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters.”

Revelation 2:18: “These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like polished bronze.”

The vision unfolds in three escalating dimensions: (1) Christ’s priest-kingly identity amid the seven lampstands, (2) His authority over the churches, and (3) His future judgment of the nations. The burnished bronze of His feet underlines stability—He stands immovable—and fiery holiness—He treads sin underfoot.

Judgment and Purity

Feet of glowing metal evoke the smelting process in which impurities rise to the surface and are removed. Christ, therefore, approaches the churches as One whose own purity is proven and who now examines their works (Revelation 2:23). Thyatira, famous for metalworking guilds, would grasp the metaphor: the Lord who walks among them is of a higher, purer alloy than any earthly craftsmanship.

Christological Implications

1. Incorruptibility: The risen Christ is not subject to decay (Acts 2:31).
2. Warrior-Judge: Like the bronze serpent lifted in Numbers 21, He becomes both remedy and evaluator. His polished feet signal forthcoming judgment upon unrepentant evil (Revelation 19:15).
3. Mediatorial Sufficiency: The bronze altar prefigured full atonement; the bronze-shining Christ embodies it completed (Hebrews 9:12).

Ministerial Application

• Church leaders, called to “walk as He walked” (1 John 2:6), are reminded that ministry is forged in the furnace of testing; genuine service emerges refined, not tarnished.
• Congregations are exhorted to embrace sanctification, knowing their Redeemer discerns every impurity (Revelation 2:19-20).
• The missionary task derives confidence from Christ’s immovable footing; His gospel advance is not hindered by the shifting sands of culture.

Historical Reception

Early commentators such as Irenaeus and Hippolytus saw in the glowing metal a prophecy of Christ’s pre-advent judgment. Medieval artists depicted the ascended Lord with radiant feet to contrast His earlier earthly sojourn, emphasizing victory over death. Reformers highlighted the alloy’s strength to assure persecuted believers of Christ’s unassailable rule.

Theological Summary

χαλκολίβανον gathers multiple biblical threads—bronze altar, prophetic vision, furnace imagery—into one concentrated picture of the risen Jesus: pure, powerful, and prepared to judge and cleanse His people. The term’s rarity heightens its significance, ensuring that whenever the church reads Revelation, it beholds the Lord whose steadfast, shining feet guarantee the consummation of His redemptive purposes.

Forms and Transliterations
χαλκολιβανω χαλκολιβάνω χαλκολιβάνῳ chalkolibano chalkolibanō chalkolibánoi chalkolibánōi
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Revelation 1:15 N-DNS
GRK: αὐτοῦ ὅμοιοι χαλκολιβάνῳ ὡς ἐν
NAS: [were] like burnished bronze, when
KJV: like unto fine brass, as
INT: of him like fine brass as in

Revelation 2:18 N-DNS
GRK: αὐτοῦ ὅμοιοι χαλκολιβάνῳ
NAS: are like burnished bronze, says
KJV: feet [are] like fine brass;
INT: of him like fine brass

Strong's Greek 5474
2 Occurrences


χαλκολιβάνῳ — 2 Occ.

5473
Top of Page
Top of Page