Bible Dictionary
PRECIOUS
Precious means costly or of great material value, and also of great moral or spiritual worth. Scripture speaks of precious promises, precious faith, and Christ’s precious blood by which believers are redeemed.
Definition
Precious means costly, expensive, or of great material value. It may also describe something of great moral or spiritual worth, including what is highly valued in God’s sight.
Biblical Usage
Scripture speaks of precious stones, precious promises, precious faith, the precious death of God’s saints, and Christ’s precious blood by which believers are redeemed.
Historical Background
The English word represents several Hebrew and Greek terms. Its literal and moral senses meet in the description of redemption with precious blood rather than corruptible things.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>presh'-us (stands for 17 different words, chief of which are yaqar; timios):</p><p>(1) Generally in the literal sense, "of great price," "costly," "expensive," of material things (e.g. Pr 1:13; Jer 20:5; Mr 14:3 the King James Version), especially of precious stones (2Sa 12:30; 2Ch 3:6; 1Co 3:12 the King James Version, etc.).</p><p>(2) Sometimes "of great moral (non-material) value." "Precious in the sight of Yahweh is the death of his saints" (Ps 116:15); "his precious and exceeding great promises" (2Pe 1:4); compare Ps 139:17; 2Pe 1:1.</p><p>The literal and the moral senses are both involved in the expression, "knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, .... but with precious blood" (1Pe 1:18,19). "Preciousness" (time) occurs in 1Pe 2:7 the American Standard Revised Version, the English Revised Version, for the King James Version "precious."</p><p>D. Miall Edwards</p>