μάρμαρος (marmaros)
marmaros
marble
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun marmaros refers specifically to marble, a crystalline stone prized for its smooth texture and polished surface. Its meaning derives from the verb marmairo, which means "to glisten" or "to shine." This etymological root highlights the material’s most distinctive physical quality: its ability to reflect light with a bright, shimmering appearance.
In Scripture, this word appears only once, in Revelation 18:12. The text lists marble among the luxury goods traded by Babylon, describing it as part of the city's immense wealth and architectural splendor. Here, the term evokes images of grand structures built with precious, gleaming stone, symbolizing earthly power and opulence.
While modern readers might associate marble primarily with sculpture or flooring, its biblical usage emphasizes visual impact. The glistening nature of the stone serves as a metaphor for worldly beauty that is both attractive and temporary. By including it in a list of commercial goods, the text underscores how even the most radiant materials are subject to economic cycles and eventual decline.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word marmaros appears just once in the New Testament, listing marble among the luxury goods of Babylon in Revelation 18:12. This stone was prized for its brightness and smooth surface, reflecting light in a way that caught the eye. In this context, it represents the height of earthly wealth and architectural splendor.
For your faith journey, this image reminds us that worldly beauty is often fleeting. The same materials that build great empires can be traded away or destroyed. We are invited to find our security not in shining stones or temporary riches, but in the eternal hope found in Christ. This perspective helps us value what truly lasts.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of marble1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μαρμάρου1×
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;
Marble is listed among the luxury goods of Babylon, highlighting its role as a symbol of immense earthly wealth and architectural splendor.