Silver ingots. Copyright 2025, Paul S. Taylor.

Answers about
silver in the Bible

Silver was used for a great variety of purposes in Biblical times. It is frequently referenced to in Scripture.

It first appears in commerce in Genesis 13:2; 23:15-16.

It was largely used for making vessels for the holy sanctuary in the wilderness (Exodus 26:19; 27:17; Numbers 7:13; 7:19; 10:2).

Historical and geological records show no evidence of silver mining operations within Israel's ancient or modern territories. Silver was imported in large quantities through foreign merchants

Silver artifacts in Israel date back to the Middle Bronze Age (around 2000–1500 BCE), and silver was used extensively in the Bible for Temple furnishings, coins, and trade—such as Solomon importing it from Tarshish and Arabia (II Chronicles 9:14, 21).

Extraction processes, like smelting ore with bellows to separate lead slag (Jeremiah 6:29–30; Ezekiel 22:18–22), are described metaphorically, but these likely drew from imported silver rather than local sources.

Ancient silver mines were known in regions like Spain, Egypt, Anatolia (modern Turkey), Arabia, and India, with no documented sites in the Levant.

Comprehensive reviews of Israel's current mineral deposits, including phosphorites, potash, copper at Timna Valley, and recent gems in the north, confirm no viable silver ores or sulfides.

Modern USGS data lists only 12 mines in Israel, focused on uranium, phosphates, fluorite, copper, and magnesite, with no silver production or prospects.

Israel's mineral wealth has historically relied on imports and Dead Sea brines for industrial chemicals, not precious metal mining. While gold rushes near Eilat (2012) and gem discoveries (2019) highlight exploration, silver remains absent.

Hebrew and Greek words

Hebrew: כֶּסֶף —transliteration: keseph —meaning: silver; or sometimes money —occurrences: 403 times in Scripture —origin: from the word kasaph refers to something that is longed for

Greek:

ἄργυρος —transliteration: arguros or árgyros —meaning: the metal silver —origin: from argos meaning shining —occurrences: 5

ἀργυροῦς —transliteration: argurous —meaning: made of silver —occurrences: 3

ἀργύριον —transliteration: argurion —meaning: a piece of silver; or something silvery —usage: silver, a piece of silver, a shekel, or money in general —occurrences: 20

δραχμή —transliteration: drachmé (drachme) —meaning: a Greek coin made of silver —occurrences: 3

ἀργυροκόπος —transliteration: argurokopos —meaning: a silversmith; a beater of silver —occurrences: 1 (see: Demetrius)

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Article Version: October 23, 2025