Biblical Lexicon

H5601 H5601

Conj-w | N-ms | 11× in 1 sense

Sapphire, lapis lazuli — a brilliant blue precious stone prized in ancient Near Eastern art and worship

The noun סַפִּיר (sappir) denotes a brilliant blue gemstone, most likely lapis lazuli rather than modern sapphire (corundum), since true sapphire was rare in the ancient Near East while lapis lazuli was imported from Afghanistan and treasured throughout Mesopotamia and Egypt. Under God's feet at Sinai there appeared 'something like a pavement of sapphire, clear as the sky itself' (Exod 24:10), and the divine throne in Ezekiel's vision rests on what appears to be sapphire (Ezek 1:26; 10:1). The stone appears in the high priest's breastplate (Exod 28:18; 39:11), in Job's meditation on wisdom's incomparable value (Job 28:6, 16), and in the eschatological city's foundations (Isa 54:11). Spanish 'zafiro' and French 'saphir' both derive from the same Semitic root.

Read in Bible → Strong's / BibleHub Blue Letter Bible

Senses

1. sapphire (precious stone) — A precious blue stone — almost certainly lapis lazuli in most biblical contexts — valued for its deep azure color and used in theophanic descriptions, priestly vestments, and poetic imagery of worth and beauty. The pavement beneath God's feet at Sinai is 'like sapphire' (Exod 24:10), Ezekiel's throne-vision features sapphire (Ezek 1:26; 10:1), and the stone occupies a place in the high priest's breastplate (Exod 28:18). Song of Songs 5:14 compares the beloved's body to sapphire-studded ivory, while Lamentations 4:7 describes Zion's nobles as having once been purer than sapphire. Ezekiel 28:13 places it among Eden's covering stones. 11×

NATURAL_WORLD › Natural Substances › Gemstones and Tarshish

AR["الياقوتِ", "الْيَاقُوتِ", "بِـ-اليَاقُوتِ", "سَفيرٌ", "سَفِيرٌ", "سَفِّيرِيم", "صَفِيرٌ", "وَ-الياقوتِ", "ياقوتٍ", "يَاقُوتٌ"]·ben["-নীলমণিতে।", "এবং-নীলমণি", "নীলকান্তমণি", "নীলকান্তমণি-দিয়ে", "নীলকান্তমণির", "নীলমণি", "নীলমণির"]·DE["Saphir", "[בספירים]", "[וספיר]", "[ספיר]", "[ספירים]", "der-Saphir"]·EN["and-sapphire", "sapphire", "sapphires", "the-sapphire", "with-the-sapphires"]·FR["[בספירים]", "[ספיר]", "de-saphirs.", "et-וספיר", "le-saphir", "saphir", "ספיר"]·heb["ב-ספירים", "ה-ספיר", "ו-ספיר", "ספיר", "ספירים"]·HI["और-नीलम", "नीलम", "नीलम-पत्थरोंपर", "नीलम-से", "नीलमणि"]·ID["batu-nilam", "dan-safir", "dengan-batu-nilam", "safir", "safir,"]·IT["[בספירים]", "[ספיר]", "e-e-sapphire", "il-zaffiro", "sapphire", "sapphires", "zaffiro"]·jav["kanthi-nilam", "lan-nilam", "mawi-sèla-nilam", "nilam", "nilam,", "safir"]·KO["그-사파이어의", "그리고-청옥으로", "사파이어", "사파이어로-", "사파이어와", "청옥-이었네", "청옥과", "청옥들-로", "청옥의"]·PT["a-safira", "com-safiras", "e-safira.", "safira", "safiras"]·RU["и-сапфиром", "на-сапфирах", "сапфир", "сапфира", "сапфирами."]·ES["con-zafiros", "de-zafiros", "el-zafiro", "y-zafiro", "zafiro"]·SW["kwa-yakuti", "kwa-yakuti-samawi", "la-yakuti-samawi", "na-yakuti-samawi", "ya-yakuti-samawi", "yakuti", "yakuti-samawi"]·TR["lacivert-taşı", "safir", "safirin", "safirlerle", "taş", "ve-safir"]·urd["اور-نیلم-سے", "نیلم", "نیلم-سے", "نیلم-کا", "نیلم-کی", "نیلم-کے", "نیلموں-سے", "یاقوت"]

Exod 24:10, Exod 28:18, Exod 39:11, Job 28:6, Job 28:16, Song 5:14, Isa 54:11, Lam 4:7, Ezek 1:26, Ezek 10:1, Ezek 28:13

BDB / Lexicon Reference

† סַפִּיר n.[m.] sapphire, perhaps also lapis lazuli (cf. Di Ex 24:10 NowArch. i. 131) (NH id., and סַמְפִּירִינוֹן; 𝔗 סַפִרִינוֹן; 𝔖 ܣܰܦܺܝܠܴܐ; loan-word from Skr. çanipriya according to LagGes. Abh. 72 LewyFremdw. 56 cf. Gk. σάπφειρος);—abs. ס׳ Ex 24:10 + 8 times; pl. סַפִּירִים Is 54:11 Ct 5:14;—with other jewels as ornaments of prince Ez 28:13; in high priest’s breastplate Ex 28:18; 39:11;…