ἐλεφάντ-ῐνος G1661
of ivory, made from ivory; describing material from elephant tusks
This adjective means made of ivory, describing objects crafted from elephant tusks. In Revelation 18:12, it appears in the list of luxury goods traded in "Babylon"—expensive commodities whose loss merchants mourn. Ivory was a prized material in the ancient world, used for decorative inlays, furniture, and ornaments. The term evokes wealth and luxury, part of the portrait of Babylon's opulence and the judgment that destroys her commerce.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Made of ivory, describing objects crafted from this valuable material. In Revelation 18:12, ivory articles appear among Babylon's luxury goods, symbolizing wealth and excess. The merchants weep over the loss of such trade when judgment falls. Ivory's inclusion underscores the city's materialism and the emptiness of riches when divine wrath comes—all the beautiful, costly things perish in an hour. 1×
AR["عاجِيٍّ"]·ben["হাতিদাঁতের"]·DE["elfenbeinern"]·EN["of-ivory"]·FR["elfenbeinern"]·heb["שֶׁן"]·HI["हाथीदाँत-का"]·ID["gading"]·IT["elephantinon"]·jav["gading"]·KO["상아의"]·PT["de-marfim"]·RU["из-слоновой-кости"]·ES["de-marfil"]·SW["cha-pembe,"]·TR["fildişinin"]·urd["ہاتھی-دانت-کا"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐλεφάντ-ῐνος, η, ον, of ivory, Refs 7th c.BC+; δίφρος ἐ.,= Latin sella curulis, Refs 2nd c.BC+; οἶκοι ἐ. LXX; τὸ ἐ. the substance of ivory, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 white as ivory, μέτωπον Refs; τάριχος Crates 29.