Greek word · G271

ἀμέθυστος

amethystos

amethyst

Purple quartz. The name means 'not drunk' (ἀ- 'not' + μεθύω 'be drunk'), from the folk belief that it protected against drunkenness.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀμέθυστος, -ου, ἡ

(accusative to Plut., ἀ- μεθύω, being regarded as an antidote against drunkenness) [in LXX: Exodus 28:19 36:19 39:12 Ezekiel 28:13 * ;]

amethyst, a purple quartz: Revelation 21:20.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Revelation 21:20

Range of meaning

Purple quartz. The name means 'not drunk' (ἀ- 'not' + μεθύω 'be drunk'), from the folk belief that it protected against drunkenness.

Against the English

'Amethyst' in every version. The meaning has stayed essentially the same.

Used elsewhere in the period

Exod 28:19 and 39:12 LXX: ninth breastplate stone (for Hebrew 'achlamah). Ezek 28:13 LXX. Pliny 37.121-124 reports, and mocks, the magicians' claim that it prevents drunkenness.

Where it appears

Revelation · 1

  1. Revelation 21:20 ἀμέθυστος. amethyst.

    the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

    Here: Purple quartz. The name means 'not drunk,' from the popular belief that it warded off drunkenness. It is the ninth breastplate stone in the Greek Old Testament (Exod 28:19). Its meaning has stayed fairly stable.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.