WORD STUDY – GOLD (ORNDAMENTAL GOLD)
Gold – Hebrew Pazaz: refining, purifying, refined gold, refined gold used for jewelry or ornamental purposes
Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is quick, powerful, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
The Apostle Paul was a Pharisee, who would have been an expert in the Classical Hebrew and the meanings behind the Hebrew letters. He most likely had the Hebrew word pazaz in his mind when he wrote Hebrews 4:12. Pazaz which refers both to refined gold and the refining, cleansing, or purifying process itself is spelled Pei, Zayin, Zayin. The Pei represents the mouth or the spoken word. The Apostle Paul used the Greek word logos here for Word which we know as Jesus. We also interpret logos as the spoken or written word of God. This has the power to divide asunder as a refining process divides the pure from the impurities of gold. The Word divides the soul, which carries our lust, sorrows, selfishness etc.; from the spirit to purify the spirit. With a pure spirit the Word can then be a discerner of our thoughts and hearts intentions.
Once that is accomplished, once that two edge sword separates us from our impurities God has made us into purified gold. I am sure Paul had the word pazaz in mind which is where we get our modern word pizzazz. Webster defines pizzazz as vigorous spirit. Once the hindrances of the soul are separated from our spirit we have a vigorous spirit, flamboyant, dazzling, exciting with flair. For you see pazaz gold is not just refined gold like zahav which is refined to use for monetary purposed, but pazaz gold is refined then fashioned into flamboyant, dazzling, exciting jewelry that has flair. We become not only refined gold, but jewelry or gold for ornamentation. It was pazaz that was used in the temple. Thus the Word of God is a two edge sword used to make us pazaz, dazzling jewelry to be used by God.
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1Peter3:3-4….Now that’s Pizaz! Esoterically this word is spelled Pei, Zayin, Zayin. The Zayin, like the English Z is rarely used. What’s interesting is that it is used two out of three times in this word. For me it would suggest that this process is to “rare” among Believers because before God puts us through this process we must “say” yes to all His will (say=Pei)