The Chosen Jewels of God

As I have been reading through the Minor Prophets in my devotions, I found two verses which were particularly striking:

“The Lord their God will save them in that day, as the flock of His people. For they shall be like jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over His land.” Zechariah 9:16

“'They shall be Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘On the day that I make them my jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Malachi 3:17.


Jewels themselves are only mentioned in the Bible nine times – and all in the Old Testament (NKJV). Each time, either the jewels are a sign of royalty/honour or they are adorning a virtuous wife. Mull over that, for awhile. What does that say about God claiming us as His jewels?

As I marked these two verses, I wrote a small note next to both of them about God claiming His people as His treasure. This made me curious about how the word “treasure” is used in the Bible. I was amazed at what I found. In the Old Testament, six times the word is used to refer to God claiming His people as a treasure. All the other times refer to the riches of pharaohs and kings. In the New Testament, every time treasure is mentioned (sixteen times), it is mentioned in reference to the reward that Christians gain in Heaven. All of the sudden, we are claiming the treasure – we who have no inborn righteousness or right of authority. Is this, perhaps, in conjunction with Paul’s letter to the Romans when he refers to us as coheirs with Christ?

So, that means we’re royalty, right? Prompted by the Zechariah verse, I also looked up the word “crown.” In Psalms, it is a symbol of blessing and goodness. In Proverbs, the crown is a sign of honour between two people: husband and wife, a man and Wisdom, a father and his children. The prophets give it a new role – a sign of God’s people. In the New Testament, the crown is mentioned both as a physical and metaphorical object. Metaphorically, to the people, it is a crown of rejoicing, righteousness, glory, and Life (thrice!). As a physical crown, it is mentioned three times – each in reference to Christ’s crown of thorns.

At this point, my heart grew heavy. I cannot explain exactly why, but when the crown of God is His people, and then becomes a crown which only causes pain, what does that say to us? Perhaps nothing… I will have to study, more. The crown of God is either His people or a band of thorns. To imagine the similarities between these to crowns… the pain they brought to their Creator… the promise of something better. Bittersweet.

These are my thoughts. I would love to hear what other people think!


Tidbit A: the crown in conjunction with the colour purple is in the Bible four times – the three mentions of the crown of thorns and when Haman paraded Mordecai. Hm... :).

Tidbit B: Pearls are only mentioned in the New Testament - and always with negative connotations except for the end of Revelations, when describing the gates of Heaven.