ἐλεφάντινος (elephantinos)
elephantinos
made of ivory
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective elephantinos describes something made of ivory. Derived from the word for elephant, it appears only once in the New Testament, in Revelation 18:12. There, it lists ivory among the luxurious goods traded by Babylon, highlighting the immense wealth and global reach of the empire’s commerce.
Its single occurrence underscores the value placed on this material in the ancient world. Ivory was a rare and expensive commodity, often carved into intricate objects for the elite. By including it in a list of precious materials, the text emphasizes the seductive power of earthly riches that ultimately fade away.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word elephantinos appears just once in the New Testament, describing objects crafted from ivory. In Revelation 18:12, it lists these items among the luxury goods of a wealthy empire. This single mention highlights how highly valued such materials were in the ancient world, often used to create intricate and beautiful vessels for the elite.
Reflecting on this helps us consider our own attachments to material wealth. The text uses ivory to illustrate the seductive power of earthly riches that ultimately fade away. It invites us to examine what we value most, encouraging a heart focused on eternal truths rather than temporary treasures.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of ivory1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐλεφάντινον1×
Key Verses
-
Revelation of John 18:12
merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, all expensive wood, every vessel of ivory, every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble;
This verse lists ivory vessels as part of the luxurious merchandise traded by Babylon, illustrating the immense wealth and global reach of its commerce.