Brief Overview of σάπφιρος (Strong’s G4552: sapphiros)

Strong’s G4552: A precious stone of deep blue color, valued in ancient times for its beauty and rarity. In biblical context, it appears as one of the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem, symbolizing divine glory and heavenly splendor in Revelation’s apocalyptic vision.

U- Unveiling the Word

Σάπφιρος represents one of the most precious and significant gemstones in biblical literature. Its deep blue color was associated with heaven and divine glory in both Jewish and Christian traditions. In the New Testament, its appearance in Revelation 21:19 as the second foundation stone of the New Jerusalem carries profound theological significance. The early church saw this stone as symbolizing heavenly purity and divine truth. Today, the sapphire continues to remind believers of the glory and beauty of our eternal dwelling place with God.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: σάπφιρος, sapphiros, /sap’-fee-ros/
• Pronunciation Guide: ‘sap’ as in ‘sapphire’, ‘fee’ as in ‘feet’, ‘ros’ as in ‘ross’
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• Derived from Hebrew סַפִּיר (sappir)
• Related to Sanskrit शनिप्रिय (śanipriya)
• Ultimate root meaning “beloved of Saturn” due to its celestial blue color

D – Defining Meanings

• Primary meaning: Sapphire, a precious stone of deep blue color
• Secondary meaning: Symbol of heaven and divine glory
• Cultural meaning: Representative of royalty and divine authority

Translation Options:

• Sapphire – Most common English translation
• Lapis lazuli – Some scholars suggest this as the ancient stone referenced
• Azure stone – Descriptive translation emphasizing color

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ὑάκινθος (huakinthos) /hoo-ak’-in-thos/ – Jacinth, another blue precious stone. See G5192
• χρυσόλιθος (chrusolithos) /khroo-sol’-ee-thos/ – Chrysolite, another foundation stone. See G5555
• σμάραγδος (smaragdos) /smar’-ag-dos/ – Emerald, green precious stone. See G4665

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological features as a noun:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular and Plural
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: Second declension

Examples:

• Nominative: σάπφιρος
• Genitive: σαπφίρου
• Dative: σαπφίρῳ
• Accusative: σάπφιρον

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG identifies σάπφιρος as a precious stone of deep blue color. Thayer’s notes its significance in biblical imagery. LSJ traces its use in classical literature for luxury items. Vine’s emphasizes its importance in apocalyptic literature. Strong’s connects it to its Hebrew origin. Moulton and Milligan document its use in ancient commercial contexts.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Revelation 21:19: “And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire [σάπφιρος];”

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Σάπφιρος beautifully represents the glory of our eternal home in the New Jerusalem. As one of its foundation stones, it reminds us that our citizenship is in heaven, where Christ has prepared a place of incomparable beauty for His people. The good news is reflected in this precious stone’s enduring beauty – just as the sapphire’s blue depths mirror the heavens, so our eternal dwelling with God will surpass all earthly splendor.

D – Did You Know?

1. Ancient writers often confused sapphire with lapis lazuli due to similar deep blue colors
2. The word appears in the Septuagint describing the pavement under God’s feet in Exodus
3. Medieval Christian mystics associated sapphire with contemplation of heavenly things

Strong’s G4552: A precious stone of deep blue color, historically significant in religious and royal contexts. In biblical usage, particularly notable as a foundation stone of the New Jerusalem, symbolizing divine glory and the eternal kingdom of God.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: precious-stones, new-jerusalem, revelation, foundations, heavenly-city, divine-glory, gemstones, apocalyptic-vision, eternal-kingdom, biblical-symbolism​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​