Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Description:A pearl is a lustrous, spherical gem produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. In ancient times, pearls were highly valued for their beauty and rarity, often symbolizing wealth, purity, and wisdom. They were considered one of the most precious materials available and were used in jewelry and ornamentation.
Biblical References:1.
Matthew 13:45-46 : "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 all he had and bought it." In this parable, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a pearl of great value, emphasizing the supreme worth of the kingdom and the sacrifice one should be willing to make to obtain it.
2.
Revelation 21:21 : "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, as pure as transparent glass." This description of the New Jerusalem highlights the immense beauty and value of the heavenly city, with each gate being a single, magnificent pearl, symbolizing the glory and perfection of God's eternal kingdom.
3.
1 Timothy 2:9 : "Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes." Here, pearls are mentioned in the context of modesty, where Paul advises women to focus on inner beauty and godliness rather than external adornment.
Symbolism and Interpretation:·
Value and Sacrifice: The parable of the pearl of great price illustrates the incomparable value of the kingdom of heaven. Just as the merchant sold everything to acquire the pearl, believers are called to prioritize their relationship with God above all earthly possessions and pursuits.
·
Purity and Perfection: Pearls are often associated with purity due to their smooth, unblemished surface. In Revelation, the use of pearls in the construction of the New Jerusalem's gates signifies the purity and holiness of the heavenly realm.
·
Modesty and Humility: In 1 Timothy, pearls are used to caution against excessive focus on outward appearance. The emphasis is on cultivating a heart of modesty and humility, reflecting the inner transformation brought about by faith in Christ.
Cultural and Historical Context:In the ancient world, pearls were sourced primarily from the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean. They were considered more valuable than gold and were often reserved for royalty and the wealthy elite. The rarity and beauty of pearls made them a fitting metaphor for the preciousness of spiritual truths and the kingdom of God.
Theological Insights:The use of pearls in Scripture serves as a powerful reminder of the eternal value of God's kingdom and the call to live a life of holiness and devotion. The imagery of pearls encourages believers to seek after spiritual treasures that endure beyond this life, reflecting the transformative power of the gospel and the hope of eternal life with Christ.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Pearl(Heb.gabish). The Hebrew word in (Job 28:18) probably means "crystal." Pearls, however are frequently mentioned in the New Testament, (Matthew 13:45;1 Timothy 2:9;Revelation 17:4;21:21) and were considered by the ancients among the most precious of gems, and were highly esteemed as ornaments. The kingdom of heaven is compared to a "pearl of great price." In (Matthew 7:6) pearls are used metaphorically for anything of value, or perhaps more especially for "wise sayings." (The finest specimens of the pearl are yielded by the pearl oyster (Avicula margaritifera), still found in abundance in the Persian Gulf and near the coasts of Ceylon, Java and Sumatra. The oysters grow in clusters on rocks in deep water, and the pearl is found inside the shell, and is the result of a diseased secretion caused by the introduction of foreign bodies, as sand, etc., between the mantle and the shell. They are obtained by divers trained to the business. March or April is the time for pearl fishing. A single shell sometimes yields eight to twelve pearls. The size of a good Oriental pearl varies from that of a pea to about three times that size. A handsome necklace of pearls the size of peas is worth ,000. Pearls have been valued as high as ,000 or ,000 apiece.--ED.)
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Hebrews gabish,
Job 28:18; Gr. margarites,
Matthew 7:6;
13:46;
Revelation 21:21). The pearl oyster is found in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Its shell is the "mother of pearl," which is of great value for ornamental purposes (
1 Timothy 2:9;
Revelation 17:4). Each shell contains eight or ten pearls of various sizes.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A fringe or border.
2. (v. t.) To fringe; to border.
3. (n.) A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, found in the mantle, or between the mantle and shell, of certain bivalve mollusks, especially in the pearl oysters and river mussels, and sometimes in certain univalves. It is usually due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and compare in value with the precious stones.
4. (n.) Hence, figuratively, something resembling a pearl; something very precious.
5. (n.) Nacre, or mother-of-pearl.
6. (n.) A fish allied to the turbot; the brill.
7. (n.) A light-colored tern.
8. (n.) One of the circle of tubercles which form the bur on a deer's antler.
9. (n.) A whitish speck or film on the eye.
10. (n.) A capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing some liquid for medicinal application, as ether.
11. (n.) A size of type, between agate and diamond.
12. (a.) of or pertaining to pearl or pearls; made of pearls, or of mother-of-pearl.
13. (v. t.) To set or adorn with pearls, or with mother-of-pearl. Used also figuratively.
14. (v. t.) To cause to resemble pearls; to make into small round grains; as, to pearl barley.
15. (v. i.) To resemble pearl or pearls.
16. (v. i.) To give or hunt for pearls; as, to go pearling.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PEARLpurl.
SeeSTONES, PRECIOUS.
Greek
3135. margarites -- apearl... a
pearl. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: margarites Phonetic Spelling:
(mar-gar-ee'-tace) Short Definition: a
pearl Definition: a
pearl.
...Strong's Hebrew
1858. dar -- perhapspearl or mother-of-pearl... 1857, 1858. dar. 1859 . perhaps
pearl or mother-of-
pearl. Transliteration:
dar Phonetic Spelling: (dar) Short Definition: mother-of-
pearl.
...1378. gabish -- crystal
...pearl. From an unused root (probably meaning to freeze); crystal (from its resemblance
to ice) --pearl. 1377, 1378. gabish. 1379 . Strong's Numbers.
1862. Darda -- an Israelite
... NASB Word Usage Darda (1). Darda. Apparently from dar and dea';pearl of knowledge;
Darda, an Israelite -- Darda. see HEBREW dar. see HEBREW dea'. 1861b, 1862...
6443. peninim -- corals
... ruby. Or paniy {paw-nee'}; from the same as pen; probably apearl (as round) --
ruby. see HEBREW pen. 6442, 6443. peninim. 6444 . Strong's Numbers.
916. bedolach -- probably bdellium
... bdellium. Probably from badal; something in pieces, ie Bdellium, a (fragrant) gum
(perhaps amber); others apearl -- bdellium. see HEBREW badal. 915, 916....
2737. charuz -- string of beads
... chain. From an unused root meaning to perforate; properly, pierced, ie A bead of
pearl, gems or jewels (as strung) -- chain. 2736, 2737. charuz. 2738 ....
417. elgabish -- hail
... great hailstones. From 'el and gabiysh; hail (as if a greatpearl) -- great
hail(-stones). see HEBREW 'el. see HEBREW gabiysh. 416, 417. elgabish. 418 ....
Library
ThePearl
... HYMNS THEPEARL. "When he had found onepearl of great price, he went and sold all
that he had, and bought it.""Matthew 13:46. CPC.... Found Hispearl at last....
The Parable of thePearl of Great Price. The Formation and...
... Book X. 7. The Parable of thePearl of Great Price.... I consider it reasonable,
then, to make some inquiry into the nature of thepearl....
ThePearl.
... VI. THEPEARL. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man,
seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found onepearl...
ThePearl of Great Price.
... THEPEARL OF GREAT PRICE. Very similar to the parable of the Hidden Treasure
is this one of the merchant seeking goodly pearls....
Treasure andPearl
... TREASURE ANDPEARL.... Who, when he had found onepearl of great price, went
and sold all that he had, and bought it.'"Matthew 13:44-46....
Christ thePearl of Great Price.
... Book X. 9. Christ thePearl of Great Price. Now you will connect with the
man seeking goodly pearls the saying, "Seek and ye shall...
ThePearl of the Gospel in Relation to the Old Testament.
... Book X. 10. ThePearl of the Gospel in Relation to the Old Testament. "To
everything then is its season, and a time for everything...
ThePearl. Seven Hymns on the Faith.
... ThePearl. Seven Hymns on the Faith. Translated by REV. JB
Morris, MA,. [Oxford Library of the Fathers]....
ThePearl, Seven Hymns on the Faith. Hymn i. On a Certain Day a...
... ThePearl, Seven Hymns on the Faith. Hymn I. On a certain day apearl did
I take up, my brethren. 1. On a certain day apearl did...
ThePearl of Great Price.
... THE PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM THEPEARL OF GREAT PRICE. "Again, the kingdom
of heaven is like unto a man that is a merchant seeking...
Thesaurus
Pearl (5 Occurrences)... The
pearl oyster is found in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Its
... particle.
Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-
pearl.
...Mother-of-pearl (1 Occurrence)
Mother-of-pearl. Mother-in-law, Mother-of-pearl. Mothers . Noah Webster's
Dictionary... ofpearl oysters, river mussels, and the abalone shells; nacre....
Pearl-drops (1 Occurrence)
Pearl-drops.Pearl,Pearl-drops. Pearls . Multi-Version Concordance
Pearl-drops (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 3:19 thepearl...
Pearls (8 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Revelation 21:21 The twelve gates were
twelve pearls. Each one of the gates was made of onepearl....
Ruby (5 Occurrences)
... The exact meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain. Some render it "red coral;" others,
"pearl" or "mother-of-pearl.". Noah Webster's Dictionary....
Darda (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible DictionaryPearl of wisdom, one of the four who were noted for
their wisdom, but whom Solomon excelled (1 Kings 4:31). Int....
Mother-in-law (16 Occurrences)
Mother-in-law. Motherinlaw, Mother-in-law. Mother-of-pearl .... (WEB JPS ASV BBE
DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Motherinlaw, Mother-in-law. Mother-of-pearl ....
Peals (7 Occurrences)
Mothers (27 Occurrences)
Parable (52 Occurrences)
... The 10 peculiar to Matthew are the Tares, the Hidden Treasure, thePearl of Great
Price, the Draw Net, the Unmerciful Servant, the Laborers in the Vineyard...
Resources
What is The Pearl of Great Price in Mormonism? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of the twelve gates in Revelation 21? | GotQuestions.orgPearl: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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