Greek word · G5093

τίμιος

timios

precious

From timē, 'value, honor, price'. It means (1) costly or precious, as with precious stones (1 Cor 3:12; Rev 17:4) and the 'precious blood' of Christ (1 Pet 1:19); and (2) held in honor or respected, as with Gamaliel, 'honored by all the people' (Acts 5:34).

Appears 13 times in 12 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

τίμιος, -α, -ον

(τιμή), [in LXX chiefly for יָקָר ;]

valued, hence,

(a) precious, costly, highly valued: primarily, of money value, λίθος, Revelation 17:4 18:12, 16 21:19; pl., 1 Corinthians 3:12; compar., -ώτεφος, 1 Peter 1:7, Rec.; superl., -ώτατος, Revelation 18:12 21:11; in extended sense, καρπός, James 5:7; αἷμα, 1 Peter 1:19; ἐπαγγέλματα, 2 Peter 1:4;

(b) held in honour, honoured, esteemed worthy: with dative, Acts 5:34; ὁ γάμος, Hebrews 13:4; ψυχή, Acts 20:24 (where τ. is pleonastic, see Page, in l).†

(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 Hebrews 13:4

Range of meaning

From timē, 'value, honor, price'. It means (1) costly or precious, as with precious stones (1 Cor 3:12; Rev 17:4) and the 'precious blood' of Christ (1 Pet 1:19); and (2) held in honor or respected, as with Gamaliel, 'honored by all the people' (Acts 5:34).

Against the English

'Honourable' (KJV) can sound like 'respectable' or 'legitimate', as if marriage were simply acceptable. The Greek is warmer and stronger: something of great worth that people treat accordingly.

Used elsewhere in the period

Acts 5:34 (τίμιος παντὶ τῷ λαῷ, 'honored by all the people') is a close parallel to 'honored among all'. In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) the word is used of precious stones and of things valued in God's sight (e.g. Ps 116:15 [LXX 115:6], 'precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints').

From the study of 1 Peter 1:19

Range of meaning

From timē ('price, value, honor'). It means (1) costly, of great price (precious stones, metals, goods); (2) held in honor, esteemed, dear (persons, marriage in Hebrews 13:4). The ideas of monetary value and honor run together in it.

Against the English

'Precious' (KJV, BSB, NIV, ESV and others) is correct and comes, by way of Latin pretiosus (from pretium, 'price'), from the same price idea. In modern English, though, 'precious' often means dear, sweet or sentimental ('a precious moment'). The Greek is closer to 'of great price'.

How it drifted

Hymn and devotional use ('the precious blood') has given the word a warm, devotional tone. The original ear heard the language of the market and the ransom, set directly against 'silver or gold' in verse 18.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament timios translates Hebrew yaqar ('costly, precious'): precious stones (2 Samuel 12:30), wisdom 'more precious than jewels' (Proverbs 3:15), and 'precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones' (Psalm 116:15, LXX 115:6). Psalm 72:14 in Hebrew says of the oppressed, 'precious is their blood in his sight.' Within 1 Peter the word family is a running theme: faith 'more precious than gold that perishes' (1:7), and Christ the 'precious' (entimos) cornerstone, whose timē belongs to believers (2:4, 6–7). Paul uses the same price idea: 'you were bought with a price (timēs)' (1 Corinthians 6:20).

From the study of Revelation 21:11

Range of meaning

Costly, valuable; also honoured or respected. It comes from timē, 'price, honour'.

Against the English

'Most precious' (KJV, BSB, WEB), 'very costly' (NASB), 'most rare' (ESV). These are all fair. The superlative is probably 'elative', meaning 'extremely precious' rather than literally 'the single most precious'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Rev 17:4 and 18:12, 16: Babylon the prostitute is decked with 'precious stone' (lithos timios).

Where it appears

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 5:34 τίμιος honored

    But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time.

  2. Acts 20:24 τιμίαν dear

    But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

    Here: 'Precious, dear.' Comes from the word for price and honour: something you will not part with. Paul says his life is not something he clutches as precious.

1 Corinthians · 1

  1. 1 Corinthians 3:12 τιμίους, precious,

    If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,

    Here: 'Of high price'. It ends the first group of three costly materials that survive fire. The Greek Old Testament uses the same phrase for the great costly stones of Solomon's temple foundations.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 13:4 Τίμιος Honorable [let]

    Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

    Here: Stands first for emphasis, with no verb: 'Honored, marriage!' It describes something people treat as valuable and respect, the way you would handle something precious, not just something legally allowed.

James · 1

  1. James 5:7 τίμιον precious

    Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.

    Here: The harvest is worth a great deal because the household's life depends on it. That value is why the farmer is willing to wait for it.

1 Peter · 1

  1. 1 Peter 1:19 τιμίῳ by [the] precious

    but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

    Here: A word about price and worth. It is set directly against silver and gold, the standard price of a ransom. Christ's blood is the payment that is worth more than any money and does not perish. It comes first in the Greek phrase, which puts the stress on it.

2 Peter · 1

  1. 2 Peter 1:4 τίμια precious

    Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

    Here: Of great worth, costly, held in honour. The same word appears in 1 Peter 1:19 for the 'precious blood' of Christ.

Revelation · 6

  1. Revelation 17:4 τιμίῳ precious

    The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.

    Here: 'Costly, valued'. The same phrase appears in the merchants' cargo list (18:12) and in the foundations of the New Jerusalem (21:19).

  2. Revelation 18:12 τιμίου τιμιωτάτου precious, most precious

    cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble;

    Here: 'Precious, high-priced': gemstones as luxury goods. The same phrase describes the harlot (17:4) and, later, the New Jerusalem (21:11, 19).

  3. Revelation 18:16 τιμίῳ precious

    saying: “Woe, woe to the great city, clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!

    Here: “Of great price”, from τιμή, “price, value”. The focus is market value, which suits a lament spoken by merchants.

  4. Revelation 21:11 τιμιωτάτῳ most precious

    shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper, as clear as crystal.

    Here: The superlative of 'valuable, costly, honoured'. It can mean 'the most precious' or simply 'extremely precious'. Value and honour are both in view: the city is a treasure.

  5. Revelation 21:19 τιμίῳ precious

    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: 'Of great value'. The same root means honour. Together with 'stone' it is the standard Greek term for gems. In Revelation it was last used of the jewels of Babylon the prostitute (17:4; 18:12, 16).

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