Understanding βαρύτιμος (barytimos) Strong’s G927: The Precious Treasure of Immeasurable Worth in the Messiah’s Kingdom

Pronunciation Guide: bah-ROO-tee-mos (accent on the second syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G927: βαρύτιμος (barytimos) describes something of great value, extremely costly, or highly precious. It combines the concepts of heaviness (βαρύς) and honor/value (τιμή) to convey the idea of something that carries significant weight in terms of both physical worth and perceived value. In biblical contexts, it refers to items of exceptional quality and considerable price that reflect true treasure in both material and spiritual realms.

Etymology and Morphology

• Adjective
• Compound word: from βαρύς (barys, “heavy”) + τιμή (timē, “price, value, honor”)
• Classical Greek origin
• Primarily appears in narrative contexts
• Used to describe exceptionally valuable possessions

βαρύτιμος Morphology:

• βαρύτιμος (nominative singular masculine/feminine) – very costly
• βαρύτιμον (nominative/accusative singular neuter) – very costly thing
• βαρυτίμου (genitive singular) – of great value
• βαρυτίμῳ (dative singular) – with/by something very costly

Origin & History

The term βαρύτιμος has roots in classical Greek commercial language, where it described merchandise or possessions of exceptional value. The compound nature of the word effectively communicates both physical and metaphorical “weight” – an item that is “heavy” in its significance and “weighty” in its monetary worth.

In pre-biblical Greek literature, this term appears in works like Strabo’s “Geography” when describing exceptionally valuable trade goods from distant lands. The Septuagint rarely employs this specific term, though related words from the τιμή word family appear frequently when discussing valuables, offerings, and ransom payments. By the time of the New Testament, βαρύτιμος had come to represent the pinnacle of material value – something whose worth was so great that it would be difficult for ordinary people to afford.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Something of extraordinary monetary value that would require significant sacrifice to purchase
• An object or substance whose worth is recognized across cultures and time periods
• A possession whose value extends beyond mere financial assessment into cultural or symbolic significance
• A treasure whose worth is objectively established by common consensus

βαρύτιμος Translation Options:

• “Very costly” – Emphasizes the financial sacrifice required to obtain such an item
• “Exceedingly precious” – Highlights both monetary and emotional value
• “Of great value” – Focuses on the objective worth recognized by society
• “Extremely expensive” – Underscores the prohibitive cost that would limit ownership to the wealthy
• “Priceless treasure” – Captures both material worth and irreplaceable nature

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, βαρύτιμος appears just once in Matthew 26:7, where it describes the alabaster flask of perfume used to anoint Yeshua (Jesus). This singular usage is significant, as it occurs at a pivotal moment in the Messiah’s ministry just before His betrayal and crucifixion. The costly nature of the perfume serves as a powerful symbol of devotion and sacrifice, foreshadowing Yeshua’s ultimate sacrifice.

Though the exact term appears only once, related words from the same word family (τίμιος, πολύτιμος) appear throughout Scripture to describe items of exceptional value. These occurrences collectively emphasize how true worth is perceived differently in God’s economy compared to human standards. The usage in Matthew is particularly striking as it highlights how something of immense material value was “wasted” in human terms but highly honored in divine perspective.

• “A woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly [βαρύτιμος] perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table.” Matthew 26:7

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Near East, perfumes and ointments of the quality described in Matthew 26:7 were truly extraordinary luxury items. The alabaster container mentioned was likely carved from Egyptian alabaster, valued for its ability to preserve the fragrance of aromatic oils. These containers were often sealed until the moment of use, requiring the neck to be broken to access the contents – a detail mentioned in Mark’s parallel account. Once opened, the entire contents needed to be used, making this act truly a “all-or-nothing” gesture of devotion.

The perfume itself was likely pure nard (as specified in parallel accounts), imported from the Himalayan regions of India or Nepal – an extraordinary journey of thousands of miles in the ancient world. This distance alone would have contributed to its immense cost, estimated by Judas as worth “three hundred denarii” (John 12:5), equivalent to a year’s wages for an average laborer. Such extravagant items were typically reserved for the most special occasions, such as royal anointings or preparing a body for burial – both symbolically relevant to Yeshua’s identity and imminent death.

Theological Significance

The singular use of βαρύτιμος in Scripture creates a powerful theological statement about value in the Kingdom of God. When the woman pours this incredibly valuable perfume on Yeshua’s head, the disciples object to the “waste,” but the Messiah defends her action as “a beautiful thing” (Matthew 26:10). This contrast illuminates the fundamental difference between worldly and divine economics – what appears wasteful by human standards can be precious in God’s sight when motivated by wholehearted devotion.

This incident also foreshadows Yeshua’s imminent sacrifice, where the most βαρύτιμος gift imaginable – the life of the sinless Son of God – would be “poured out” for humanity’s redemption. Just as the fragrance of the perfume would have filled the entire house (as John’s account mentions), the impact of Yeshua’s sacrifice extends to all who come near. The woman’s costly offering parallels but cannot equal the Messiah’s ultimate offering, demonstrating how our greatest sacrifices merely echo the immeasurable gift יהוה (Yahweh) has provided in His Son.

Personal Application

The concept of βαρύτιμος challenges us to reconsider how we value things in our lives. Like the woman with her alabaster jar, we each possess resources, talents, and treasures that can either be preserved for ourselves or poured out in devotion to the Messiah. The question becomes not “What is this worth in the market?” but rather “What is this worth in light of my love for Yeshua?”

When we grasp the βαρύτιμος nature of what Yeshua has done for us – paying a price beyond calculation to redeem our souls – our perspective on sacrifice changes dramatically. Nothing we could ever give Him would be “too much” or “wasted.” This understanding liberates us from the world’s calculating approach to giving and invites us into extravagant expressions of worship where love, not logic, determines value. As you consider the “costly perfume” of your life – your time, resources, talents, and affections – what portion are you reserving for yourself, and what are you willing to break open and pour out at His feet?

Related Words

• τίμιος (timios, TIM-ee-os) – valuable, precious, honorable; commonly used for items of inherent worth like gold or precious stones. This term emphasizes the recognized value of an object rather than specifically its high cost. See G5093
• πολύτιμος (polytimos, pol-OO-tim-os) – very valuable, of great price; combines “many” (polys) with “value” (timē) to indicate something of exceedingly high worth. This appears in Matthew 13:46 describing the “pearl of great price.” See G4186
• ἔντιμος (entimos, EN-tim-os) – valuable, highly prized, honored; combines “in” (en) with “honor” (timē) to indicate something or someone held in high esteem. Used to describe the centurion’s servant who was “highly valued” in Luke 7:2. See G1784
• τιμή (timē, tee-MAY) – price, value, honor; the root noun from which many of these related terms derive. This word can refer to both monetary value and the honor/esteem given to a person. See G5092
• βαρύς (barys, bar-OOS) – heavy, weighty, burdensome; the first component of βαρύτιμος, this term can refer to physical weight or metaphorical significance/burden. See G926

Did you Know?

• The cost of the perfume mentioned in Matthew 26:7 as βαρύτιμος was estimated at 300 denarii (as noted in parallel accounts) – equivalent to a year’s wages for an average worker. In today’s terms, this single flask of perfume might be valued at $30,000-$50,000, making it an extraordinary sacrifice for a woman of that time to offer in a single act of devotion.
• Ancient perfumes described as βαρύτιμος would have contained ingredients sourced from incredible distances – frankincense from Arabia, myrrh from Africa, nard from the Himalayas, and various spices from India and beyond. The global trade networks required to bring these ingredients together made such perfumes not only luxury items but also symbols of international commerce and cultural sophistication.
• The alabaster containers used for precious perfumes like the βαρύτιμος one in Matthew 26:7 were designed to preserve the aromatic qualities of the perfume. They were typically sealed so thoroughly that breaking the neck of the flask was required to access the contents, meaning that once opened, the entire quantity would need to be used immediately. This detail adds profound symbolism to the woman’s act – there was no holding back or preserving a portion for later use; her gift was complete and irrevocable.

Remember This

βαρύτιμος represents not just extraordinary monetary value, but the profound truth that what is most precious in God’s kingdom is measured not by its market price but by the loving devotion with which it is offered to the Messiah.