Precious The word is of frequent occurrence in the NT, and represents various Greek terms; ἔ ντιμος, τιμή, τίμιος, ἰ σότιμος. The root idea is something of great worth, which also becomes precious or an honour to those who possess it. It is applied to jewels (Rev_17:4; Rev_18:12; Rev_18:16; Rev_21:11; Rev_21:19), to wood (18:12), to the fr uit of the earth (James 5:7), to costly stones used in building, i.e. stones of large size or of great price, like marble, etc. (1 P 2:4, 6, 1 Corinthians 3:12; cf. 2 Chronicles 3:6). It is also applied to the great promises (2 P 1:4), to the blood of Christ (1 P 1:19), and to faith, ‘equally precious faith’ (2 P 1:1, RVm_). The AV_ rendering of 1 P 2:7, ‘Unto you therefore which believe he is precious’ is changed in RV_ to ‘For you therefore which believe is the preciousness.’ In this passage the RVm_ ‘honour’ is to be preferred (sec Honour).
John Reid.