Greek word · G4552
σάπφειρος
sappheiros
sapphire
In the ancient world, almost certainly lapis lazuli: an opaque, deep blue stone with golden flecks (pyrite). The name comes from Semitic (Hebrew sappir). It was used for the clear blue corundum we call sapphire only later.
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
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 21:19
- Range of meaning
In the ancient world, almost certainly lapis lazuli: an opaque, deep blue stone with golden flecks (pyrite). The name comes from Semitic (Hebrew sappir). It was used for the clear blue corundum we call sapphire only later.
- Against the English
'Sapphire' in every English version suggests the clear faceted blue gem of modern jewellery. The original suggests a deep, night-sky blue speckled with gold.
- How it drifted
Medieval and modern gem naming moved the name 'sapphire' to blue corundum.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Theophrastus, On Stones 23, and Pliny, Natural History 37.120 describe sappheiros/sapphirus as 'spotted with gold' and not transparent, which is lapis lazuli. Exodus 24:10: under God's feet 'a pavement of sapphire'. Ezekiel 1:26: the throne looks like sapphire. Isaiah 54:11 LXX: 'your foundations of sapphire'. Exodus 28:18 LXX: a breastplate stone.
Similar words
Where it appears
Revelation · 1
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Revelation 21:19 σάπφιρος, sapphire,
The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
Here: Almost certainly the deep blue, gold-flecked lapis lazuli, not the clear blue gem we call sapphire today. It recalls Isaiah 54:11, 'I will lay your foundations with sapphires', and the sapphire pavement under God's feet in Exodus 24:10.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.