πολυ-τελής G4185
very expensive, costly, precious; something of great value or requiring great expenditure
This adjective describes what is very expensive or costly, often applied to precious items of great value. A woman anoints Jesus with 'very costly' ointment from an alabaster jar (Mark 14:3). Paul warns against costly attire for women, emphasizing instead the imperishable beauty of a gentle spirit (1 Tim 2:9). Peter likewise commends the 'precious' quality of a gentle and quiet spirit in God's sight (1 Pet 3:4). The word distinguishes between external, expensive adornment and the incomparable value of inner character.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Cross-linguistic evidence emphasizes high cost and value: English 'costly/precious', Spanish 'costosa/de-gran-precio/muy-costoso', French 'grand-prix', German 'kostbar'. The lexicon defines it as 'very expensive, costly' (opposed to εὐτελής 'cheap'), 'valuable', and of persons, 'lavish, extravagant'. Mark 14:3 describes very costly ointment used to anoint Jesus. 1 Tim 2:9 and 1 Pet 3:4 use it for costly/precious adornment, contrasting external expense with the true value of godly character. The word emphasizes great material value or spiritual preciousness. 3×
AR["ثَمِينٍ", "فاخِرَةٍ", "كَثيرُ-الثَّمَنِ"]·ben["অতি-মূল্যবান", "অত্যন্ত-দামী", "দামী,"]·DE["kostbar"]·EN["costly", "precious"]·FR["grand-prix"]·heb["יָקָר", "יָקָר-מְאֹד"]·HI["बहुमूल्य", "मेहनग"]·ID["sangat-berharga", "sangat-mahal", "yang-mahal"]·IT["polutelei", "poluteles", "polutelous"]·jav["awis-sanget", "larang.", "larang;"]·KO["값비싼", "값비싼,", "매우-값진"]·PT["dispendioso", "muito-caro", "precioso."]·RU["дорогого", "дорогой", "многоценное."]·ES["costosa", "de-gran-precio", "muy-costoso"]·SW["ya-bei-kubwa", "ya-thamani-kubwa"]·TR["pahalı", "çok-değerli"]·urd["بہت-قیمتی۔", "قیمتی", "قیمتی۔"]
Related Senses
G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)H8130 1. Qal: to hate, detest (60×)G5479 1. (59×)G1680 1. (53×)H8130 2. Qal ptcp: hater, enemy (53×)H0014 1. be willing, want (51×)H0157 2. lover, friend (Qal participle substantive) (51×)H1945 1. woe (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
πολυ-τελής, ές, (τέλος) very expensive, costly, opposed to εὐτελής, οἰκίη Refs 5th c.BC+; π. νεκρός honoured with a costly funeral, Refs 4th c.BC+; λίθοι, λιθεία, precious stones, Refs 2nd c.BC+: generally, valuable, -εστάτην τὴν τοῦ ὁρᾶν.. δύναμιν ἐδημιούργησεν Refs 5th c.BC+; -έστατον ζῷον, variant for{πολυφρονέστατον}, Refs 5th c.AD+ __II of persons, lavish, extravagant, coupled with ἄσωτος,…