← H5600 H5602 →

סַפִּיר

𐤎𐤐𐤉𐤓

çappîyr

H5601 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ספר to count, to recount, to inscribe, to scratch

Definition

A precious stone, characterized by its deep blue color, regarded in the Hebrew Bible as an object of immense beauty and value. The word denotes a valuable gem, most commonly understood as 'sapphire' based on ancient descriptions, but may refer more generally to a brilliant blue stone.

Semantic Range

blue precious stone, sapphire (probable), lapis lazuli (possible), valuable gem, brilliant jewel

Root / Etymology

Root סָפַר (s-f-r), 'to count, recount, inscribe, scratch or record.' The connection between the root and סַפִּיר may relate to the stone’s ability to be engraved or its sharpness, though the precise semantic pathway is debated. The term 'sapphire' is a traditional rendering, but its identification with the modern sapphire (corundum) is uncertain, as in antiquity it may have referred to lapis lazuli or another blue gemstone.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical contexts, סַפִּיר is consistently associated with intense blue color and great value, mentioned in poetic descriptions of preciousness (Job 28:6, 28:16) and in visions such as the divine throne (Ex. 24:10; Ezek. 1:26 cf. 10:1), where its visual qualities highlight transcendence and splendor. Ancient translations, including the Septuagint and Vulgate, use 'sappheiros' or 'sapphirus', but it is likely that in the ancient Near East, this referred to lapis lazuli rather than corundum-based sapphire, as true sapphires were unknown or exceedingly rare in that period. The semantic overlap with other words for precious stones (e.g., יָהֲלֹם or פִּטְדָה) is generally avoided in Hebrew, with סַפִּיר reserved for blue stones. Later rabbinic tradition continued to understand סַפִּיר as a blue gem but occasionally debated its exact mineralogical identity. English Bible translations have traditionally rendered סַפִּיר as 'sapphire', which may inadvertently suggest a stone different from what was understood in the ancient context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from סָפַר; a gem (perhaps used for scratching other substances), probably the sapphire; sapphire.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

ספר (s-p-r) — to count, to recount, to inscribe, to scratch

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4557 מִסְפָּר in counted number of
H4558 מִסְפָּר counted total
H4559 מִסְפֶּרֶת Mispereth
H5608 סָפַר I will recount
H5609 סְפַר in a written-record of

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5601-03 סַפִּ֖יר sapir HNcmsa sapphire blue precious stone 7
H5601-02 הַ/סַּפִּ֔יר hasapir HTd/Ncmsa of sapphire the blue precious stone 1
H5601-04 סַפִּירִֽים sapirim HNcmpa sapphires blue precious stones 1
H5601-01 בַּ/סַּפִּירִֽים basapirim HRd/Ncmpa with-sapphires in the blue precious stones 1
H5601-05 וְ/סַפִּֽיר vesapir HC/Ncmsa or-sapphire blue sapphire stone 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5601-02 Exodus 24:10 הַ/סַּפִּ֔יר hasapir HTd/Ncmsa of sapphire the blue precious stone
H5601-03 Exodus 28:18 סַפִּ֖יר sapir HNcmsa sapphire blue precious stone
H5601-03 Exodus 39:11 סַפִּ֖יר sapir HNcmsa sapphire blue precious stone
H5601-01 Isaiah 54:11 בַּ/סַּפִּירִֽים basapirim HRd/Ncmpa with-sapphires in the blue precious stones
H5601-03 Ezekiel 1:26 סַפִּ֖יר sapir HNcmsa sapphire blue precious stone
H5601-03 Ezekiel 10:1 סַפִּ֔יר sapir HNcmsa of sapphire blue precious stone
H5601-03 Ezekiel 28:13 סַפִּ֣יר sapir HNcmsa sapphire blue precious stone
H5601-03 Job 28:6 סַפִּ֥יר sapir HNcmsa sapphires blue precious stone
H5601-05 Job 28:16 וְ/סַפִּֽיר vesapir HC/Ncmsa or-sapphire blue sapphire stone
H5601-04 Song of Songs 5:14 סַפִּירִֽים sapirim HNcmpa sapphires blue precious stones
← H5600 Hebrew Lexicon H5602 →