Kethem is one of several Hebrew words for gold, but it specifically denotes pure or refined gold of the highest quality — likely named after the gold-producing region of Ophir or derived from a root meaning "to set" (as in set gems). It appears 9 times, always in poetic contexts emphasizing unmatched purity, value, and beauty.
Gold in Scripture symbolizes divine glory, purity, and eternal value. The most holy objects — the Ark, the mercy seat, the lampstand — were all overlaid with or made of pure gold. Kethem specifically represents the finest tier of this purity. In Lamentations 4:1-2, the "precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in fine gold [kethem]" are mourned — using gold to describe the dignity of human life made in God's image. Peter echoes this theology: faith refined by trial is "of greater worth than gold" (1 Peter 1:7).