Word Study for G2930 (κρύσταλλος)

krýstallos /kroos'-tal-los/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom a derivative of κρύος (frost)

Meaningice, i.e. (by analogy) rock "crystal"

KJV usagecrystal.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of krýstallos — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word krýstallos, represented by G2930, is defined as ice, or by analogy, rock "crystal". It appears only 2 times in 2 unique verses in the Bible, both within the book of Revelation. Its usage exclusively describes elements of immense purity and clarity found in the direct presence of God.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G2930 is used to convey the magnificent and untainted nature of God's throne room. John's vision includes "a sea of glass like unto crystal" before the throne Revelation 4:6. Later, he is shown a "pure river of water of life, clear as crystal," which proceeds directly from the throne of God and the Lamb Revelation 22:1. In both instances, the word illustrates a perfect, transparent, and radiant quality associated with the divine realm.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help illustrate the concept of divine clarity and perfection:

G5193 hyálinos (of glass): This word, meaning "glassy, i.e. transparent," is used to describe the "sea of glass" that is like crystal, emphasizing its transparent nature before the throne Revelation 4:6.
G2986 lamprós (bright, clear): This adjective describes the river of life as "clear as crystal," highlighting a radiant and limpid quality Revelation 22:1.
G2513 katharós (clean, clear, pure): The river of life is described as pure, directly linking the crystal-like quality to a state of being clean and undefiled Revelation 22:1.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G2930 is centered on its depiction of the heavenly environment.

Purity of God's Presence: The imagery of a sea of glass and a river clear as crystal before the throne signifies the absolute holiness and purity of God's dwelling place (Revelation 4:6, Revelation 22:1).
Divine Transparency: The crystal-like sea suggests a realm of perfect truth and transparency, where everything is open and visible in the sight of God Revelation 4:6.
Source of Life: The "river of water of life" is described as clear as crystal, indicating that the life which flows from the throne of God and the Lamb is perfectly pure, undefiled, and life-giving Revelation 22:1.

Summary

In summary, G2930 is a specific and powerful term used to illustrate the perfection of the divine. Though it appears only twice, its use in describing the sea of glass and the river of life establishes crystal as a symbol of the untainted purity, radiant clarity, and magnificent nature of God's presence and the eternal life that flows from Him.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists one rendering for this word. It is counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the number is how many of them use it. Select it to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it. These are this word’s own inflections, not words built from it — for those, see Related Words.

κρύσταλλον
κρυστάλλῳ

Related Words

1 entry in Strong’s name this word as its origin. These are its derivatives — a different relationship from the inflected forms above, which are this same word bent by grammar.

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

2 verses, all in Revelation — and none of the other 26 New Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.