Lexical Definition

‎סַפִּיר‎ çappîyr (sap-peer') sapphire ^H:N-M
from ‎סָפַר‎

sapphire.

• a gem (perhaps used for scratching other substances), probably the sapphire

1) sapphire, lapis lazuli

See Greek: σάπφειρος

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎סַפִּיר‎ noun [masculine] sapphire, perhaps also lapis lazuli (compare Di^{Exod 24:10} Now^{Archaeology i. 131}) (Late Hebrew id., and ‎סַמְפִּירִינוֺן‎; ᵑ7 ‎סַפִּרִינוֺן‎; ᵑ6 ; loan-word from Sanskrit canipriya according to Lag^{Ges. Abh. 72} Lewy^{Fremdw. 56} compare Greek σάπφειρος); — absolute ‎׳‎‎ס‎ Exod 24:10 + 8 t.; plural‎סַפִּירִים‎ Isa 54:11; Song 5:14 — with other jewels as ornaments of prince Ezek 28:13 in high priest's breastplate Exod 28:18; Exod 39:11 found in mines Job 28:6, costly Job 28:16 compare Isa 54:11 taking high polish Lam 4:7 (in figurative); ‎שֵׁן מְעֻלֶּפֶת סַפִּירִים‎ Song 5:14 ivory covered with sapphires (in figurative); lapis lazuli, according to Hi BU Du and others in Job 28:6 (‎עַפְרֹת זָהָב לוֺ‎ being understood of sparkling crystals of iron pyrites in this), but see Di; lapis lazuli may be intended in ‎׳‎‎לִבְנַת הַסּ‎ Exod 24:10 (J) pavement of sapphire (in theoph.), compare ‎׳‎‎אֶבֶןסֿ‎ Ezek 1:26; Ezek 10:1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References