βαρύτιμος
barýtimos
G927 attributive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Highly valuable, very costly or precious; denoting something of great worth or extraordinary price in material or figurative sense. Used primarily to characterize objects or substances that are esteemed greatly, particularly for rarity or intrinsic value. Can also refer to items or qualities that are of exceptional desirability.
Semantic Range
highly valuable, very precious, very costly, expensive, of great worth; (figurative) of exceptional desirability
Root / Etymology
From the compound of βαρύς (heavy, weighty) and τιμή (honor, value, price), literally meaning 'of heavy value.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
βαρύτιμος is a late and rare compound, predominantly found in Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament. Its literal sense (‘weighty in value’) reflects the common Greek metaphor of 'weight' for worth, paralleling expressions in Hebrew (kābēd) and other ancient currencies that valued items by weight. In the New Testament (e.g., Mark 14:3, John 12:3), it describes costly ointments or perfumes reserved for special occasions or anointing, signifying extreme material value due to rarity and expense. In the Septuagint, it may describe valuable materials (e.g., precious stones). English translations often render the term as 'very precious,' 'costly,' or 'of great value,' but the original compound underscores both material heaviness and figurative worth. The term is not attested in classical Greek prior to the Hellenistic period, and its usage appears shaped by the sociolinguistic environment of the Eastern Mediterranean where Aramaic and Hebrew cultural concepts of honor and weightiness for value influenced Greek vocabulary. Related adjectives include πολύτιμος (of much value), but βαρύτιμος heightens the sense to connote an emphatic, sometimes even excessive, preciousness.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from βαρύς and τιμή; highly valuable:--very precious.
Root Family
βαρύ- (barýtimos) — heavy, weighty, valuable, of worth
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G927-01 |
βαρυτίμου | barutimou | ADJ.A GEN N SG |
very precious | of great worth | of great worth | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G927-01 |
Matthew 26:7 | βαρυτίμου | barutimou | ADJ.A GEN N SG |
very precious | of great worth | of great worth |