βήρυλλος
bḗryllos
G969 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A precious stone, typically of a greenish-blue or sea-green color; refers specifically to a beryl gem, which is a type of crystalline mineral used in jewelry and as an ornamental stone. In some contexts, represents a particular gemstone among lists of precious stones.
Semantic Range
beryl (precious stone), green or blue-green gemstone, ornamental crystal
Root / Etymology
Borrowed from a Semitic source, most likely Hebrew בְּרִלּוּשׁ (berillu) or from similar Akkadian or Sanskrit terms; ultimately of uncertain etymology but widely attested in ancient gemological vocabularies and trade.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Koine Greek, βήρυλλος denotes a recognized category of precious stone, sometimes difficult to identify with modern mineralogy, but commonly linked with beryl, a silicate mineral that can appear green, blue, yellow, or colorless. In the Septuagint and the New Testament (e.g., Revelation 21:20), it is one of the foundational stones of the New Jerusalem. The term appears in various ancient sources, indicating a gemstone used in luxury and ornamentation, but the precise color and type may have differed in ancient understanding compared to the modern mineral beryl. English Bible translations often render βήρυλλος as 'beryl'; however, mineral identification was imprecise in the ancient world, and the ancient 'beryl' might not correspond exactly to the modern gemstone of that name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain derivation; a "beryl":--beryl.
Root Family
βήρυλλος (bēryllos) — precious stone, beryl, crystal
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G969-01 |
βήρυλλος | berullos | N NOM M SG |
beryl | beryl | beryl | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G969-01 |
Revelation 21:20 | βήρυλλος | berullos | N NOM M SG |
beryl | beryl | beryl |