Greek word · G4664

σμαράγδινος

smaragdinos

emerald

'Of emerald, emerald-colored'. It comes from smaragdos, which in antiquity covered bright green stones in general: true emerald and green beryl, and sometimes other green minerals.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament.

What it means

σμαράγδινος

(σμάραγδος, which see),

1. of emerald (Luc., V.H., ii, 11).

2. As in π. (Deiss., BS, 267), emerald-green: Revelation 4:3 (for the construction, see Swete, in l; Zorell, see word).†

(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 4:3

Range of meaning

'Of emerald, emerald-colored'. It comes from smaragdos, which in antiquity covered bright green stones in general: true emerald and green beryl, and sometimes other green minerals. Pliny (Natural History 37.62–63) says no color is more pleasing to the eye than the smaragdus and that looking at it refreshes tired eyes.

Against the English

'Emerald' is a fair rendering. The main point is the color: a vivid, glowing green.

Used elsewhere in the period

Smaragdos is on the high priest's breastpiece (Exod 28:17 LXX) and among the Eden stones (Ezek 28:13 LXX). It is the fourth foundation of the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:19). Some older commentators suggested a clear crystal that splits light into a rainbow. Ancient usage does not support this: smaragdos means green.

Similar words

Where it appears

Revelation · 1

  1. Revelation 4:3 σμαραγδίνῳ. an emerald.

    The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne.

    Here: An adjective, 'emerald-like' or 'of emerald'. The ring of light glows a vivid gem-green, the color ancient writers called the most restful and delightful to the eye.

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