Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the concept of "valuable" extends beyond mere material wealth to encompass spiritual, moral, and relational dimensions. The Scriptures provide a multifaceted understanding of what is truly valuable in the eyes of God and His people.
Material Wealth and PossessionsWhile the Bible acknowledges the existence and utility of material wealth, it consistently warns against placing ultimate value on riches.
Proverbs 11:4 states, "Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." This highlights the transient nature of material wealth compared to the enduring value of righteousness. Similarly, Jesus teaches in
Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Here, the emphasis is on the eternal value of heavenly treasures over earthly possessions.
Wisdom and UnderstandingThe Bible places a high value on wisdom and understanding, often equating them with precious jewels.
Proverbs 3:13-15 declares, "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding, for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her." Wisdom, as a gift from God, is portrayed as invaluable, guiding individuals in righteous living and decision-making.
Righteousness and IntegrityRighteousness and integrity are consistently portrayed as valuable attributes in Scripture.
Proverbs 22:1 states, "A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold." This underscores the importance of character and reputation over material wealth. The value of living a life of integrity is further emphasized in passages like
Psalm 15:1-2, which describes the person who may dwell in God's sanctuary as one "who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart."
Relationships and CommunityThe Bible also highlights the value of relationships and community.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 notes, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. For if one falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!" This passage illustrates the importance of companionship and mutual support, which are seen as valuable assets in the journey of life.
The Kingdom of GodUltimately, the most valuable pursuit according to Scripture is the Kingdom of God. Jesus emphasizes this in
Matthew 13:44-46 with the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price. "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy, he went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it." These parables illustrate the incomparable value of the Kingdom, for which one should be willing to sacrifice all earthly possessions.
ConclusionIn summary, the Bible presents a comprehensive view of what is truly valuable, urging believers to prioritize spiritual wealth, wisdom, righteousness, relationships, and the pursuit of God's Kingdom over temporal and material gains.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Having value or worth; possessing qualities which are useful and esteemed; precious; costly; as, a valuable horse; valuable land; a valuable cargo.
2. (a.) Worthy; estimable; deserving esteem; as, a valuable friend; a valuable companion.
3. (n.) A precious possession; a thing of value, especially a small thing, as an article of jewelry; -- used mostly in the plural.
Greek
1308. diaphero -- to carry through, carry about, to differ, make a...... surpass NASB Word Usage carry (1), differ (1), differs (1), driven about (1), essential
(1), excellent (1), makes...difference (1), more
valuable (3), spread (1
...5093. timios -- valued, precious
... great price, precious, honored. Cognate: 5093 (an adjective) -- properly,
valuable as having in . See 5092 (). Word Origin from...
4149. ploutos -- wealth
... the base of pletho; wealth (as fulness), ie (literally) money, possessions, or
(figuratively) abundance, richness, (specially),valuable bestowment -- riches....
2570. kalos -- beautiful, good
... Of uncertain affinity; properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally
or morally), ieValuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus...
1567. ekzeteo -- to seek out, demand, inquire
... by the seeker. This seeking is only asvaluable (viable) as the motive
which drives it. enquire, seek after diligently. From ek...
370. anaxios -- unworthy
... value") -- properly, tested and , ie not equal to the task; unworthy (unfit,
inappropriate), falling short of what says isvaluable -- (literally) "lacking a...
4186. polutimos -- very precious
... very costly, of great price. From polus and time; extremelyvaluable -- very costly,
of great price. see GREEK polus. see GREEK time. (polutimon) -- 1 Occurrence...
5096. Timon -- Timon, a Christian
... Word Origin from time Definition Timon, a Christian NASB Word Usage Timon (1). Timon.
From time;valuable; Timon, a Christian -- Timon. see GREEK time....
927. barutimos -- of great value
... very precious. From barus and time; highlyvaluable -- very precious. see GREEK
barus. see GREEK time. (barutimou) -- 1 Occurrence. 926, 927. barutimos. 928...
Strong's Hebrew
6276. atheq --valuable, advanced, eminent, surpassing... 6275, 6276. atheq. 6277 .
valuable, advanced, eminent, surpassing. Transliteration:
atheq Phonetic Spelling: (aw-thake') Short Definition: enduring.
...3368. yaqar -- precious, rare, splendid, weighty
... 1), weightier (1).valuable. From yaqar;valuable (obj. Or subj.): see HEBREW
yaqar. 3367, 3368. yaqar. 3369 . Strong's Numbers.
4022. meged -- excellence
... From an unused root probably meaning to be eminent; properly, a distinguished thing;
hence somethingvaluable, as a product or fruit -- pleasant, precious...
3972. meumah -- anything
... the same as mum Definition anything NASB Word Usage any sort (1), anything (13),
anything* (1), fault (1), nothing* (11), something (1), thing (1),valuable (2...
2532. chemdah -- desire, delight
... Definition desire, delight NASB Word Usage beautiful (1), choice (1), desirable
(2), desire (1), pleasant (5), precious (2), regret (1),valuable (2), wealth (1...
4301. matmon -- hidden treasure, treasure
... Or matmon {mat-mone'}; or matmun {mat-moon'}; from taman; a secret storehouse; hence,
a secretedvaluable (buried); generally money -- hidden riches, (hid...
8226. saphan -- treasure
... Word Origin the same as saphan, qv. treasure A primitive root; to conceal (as a
valuable) -- treasure. 8225, 8226. saphan. 8227 . Strong's Numbers.
3276. yaal -- to confer or gain profit or benefit
... A primitive root; properly, to ascend; figuratively, to bevaluable (objectively:
useful, subjectively: benefited) -- X at all, set forward, can do good, (be...
2536b. chamudah -- desirableness, preciousness
... preciousness NASB Word Usage best (1), high esteem (2), highly esteemed (1), precious
(1), precious things (1), tasty (1), treasures (1),valuable (1)....
4261. machmad -- desire, desirable thing
... thing NASB Word Usage desirable (2), desire (3), pleasant (1), precious ones (1),
precious things (2), precious treasures (1), treasures (1),valuable (1)....
Library
AValuable Legacy.
... AVALUABLE LEGACY.... Some have left great sums of money to others and to institutions,
and these bequests have been calledvaluable legacies....
HowValuable to the Perfect is the Forgetfulness of Sin.
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter IX. Howvaluable to the perfect
is the forgetfulness of sin. But with regard to this that...
The BodyValuable in God's Sight.
... Chapter VII."The bodyvaluable in God's sight. But the proof of the possibility
of the resurrection of the flesh I have sufficiently...
The New Testament Has Preserved for us the MostValuable Portion...
... THE ORIGIN OF THE NEW TESTAMENT 4. The New Testament has preserved for us the most
valuable portion of primitive Christian literature; yet at the same time it...
That Christ was Before the Incarnation God from Everlasting. As we...
... Chapter I. That Christ was before the Incarnation God from everlasting. As we have
finished three books with the most certain and the mostvaluable witnesses....
Rarity the Only Cause which Makes Such ThingsValuable.
... Book I. Chapter VII."Rarity the Only Cause Which Makes Such ThingsValuable.
It is only from their rarity and outlandishness that...
The Gods are Despised when they are Made; but BecomeValuable when...
... Theophilus to Autolycus: Book II. Chapter II."The Gods are Despised When
They are Made; But BecomeValuable When Bought. And in...
The First Epistle to the Thessalonians the Shorter Epistles...
... Paul's epistles... Chapter XV."The First Epistle to the Thessalonians The
Shorter Epistles Pungent in Sense and VeryValuable. St....
Books on Introduction, Bible Dictionaries and Related Works.
... A conservative andvaluable work.... DEISSMANN, Light from the Ancient East, London
1911. Veryvaluable for the new light it sheds on the language of the NT....
Moral Obligation.
... powers of a moral agent. He has also the idea of thevaluable, of right
and of wrong; of this he is conscious. But nothing else is...
Thesaurus
Valuable (17 Occurrences)... 1. (a.) Having value or worth; possessing qualities which are useful and esteemed;
precious; costly; as, a
valuable horse;
valuable land; a
valuable cargo.
...Treasure (66 Occurrences)
... Treasure houses. The houses or magazines built for the safe keeping of treasure
andvaluable articles of any kind (Ezra 5:17; 7:20; Nehemiah 10:38; Dan. 1:2)....
Worth (36 Occurrences)
... Woe be to the day, woe be to the man, etc., are equivalent phrases. 2.
(a.)Valuable; of worthy; estimable; also, worth while. 3...
Treasury (25 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) Hence, a book or work containing muchvaluable knowledge, wisdom, wit, or
the like; a thesaurus; as, Maunder's Treasury of Botany. 5. (n.) A treasure....
Concordance
... 1896). In England, in 1754, appeared thevaluable Hebrew Concordance, Adapted
to the English Bible, by Dr. Taylor, of Norwich. With...
Wood (226 Occurrences)
... features. The trees yield avaluable, hard, close-grained timber, not readily
attacked by insects. EWG Masterman. THYINE, WOOD. thi...
Thyine
... fragrance. The wood of this tree was reckoned veryvaluable, and was used
for making articles of furniture by the Greeks and Romans....
Manasseh (140 Occurrences)
... This territory on the east of Jordan was morevaluable and of larger extent than
all that was allotted to the nine and a half tribes in the land of Palestine....
Choice (113 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) The best part; that which is preferable. 7. (superl.) Worthy of being
chosen or preferred; select; superior; precious;valuable....
Treasurer (6 Occurrences)
... and all in the King James Version translated "treasure." (1) Matmon, which literally
means "a secret storehouse" and so a secretedvaluable, usually money...
Resources
Why is a multitude of counselors valuable (Proverbs 15:22)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the value of a prayer meeting? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is experientialism? | GotQuestions.orgValuable: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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