### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word μαργαρίτης (G3135, *margarítēs*) refers literally to a "pearl." Its etymological root likely points to the pearl-oyster, highlighting its natural origin within the sea. In the ancient world, pearls were highly esteemed as precious gems, often valued alongside gold, silver, and other costly stones due to their rarity, unique luster, and the difficulty involved in their acquisition. The semantic range of *margarítēs* primarily denotes this physical jewel, but its inherent high value readily lends itself to metaphorical usage, symbolizing anything of supreme worth, sacred truth, or luxurious ornamentation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term *margarítēs* appears exclusively in the New Testament, with significant theological implications in various contexts:
* **[[Matthew 7:6]]**: "Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you." Here, "pearls" metaphorically represent sacred truths, divine wisdom, or the precious teachings of the Kingdom of God. The warning is against indiscriminately sharing profound spiritual realities with those who lack the capacity or desire to appreciate them, and who may even profane or turn against the messenger. It emphasizes discernment in stewardship of divine revelation.
* **[[Matthew 13:45-46]]**: "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it." This is the well-known Parable of the Pearl of Great Price. The "one pearl of great value" symbolizes the supreme worth of the Kingdom of Heaven itself, or perhaps Christ as the embodiment of that Kingdom. The merchant's radical action of selling all he possessed underscores the inestimable value of this discovery and the total commitment required to secure it.
* **[[1 Timothy 2:9]]**: "likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire," In this pastoral instruction concerning proper conduct and adornment for women, "pearls" are listed among material luxuries. The passage does not condemn pearls themselves but cautions against ostentatious display and prioritizing outward adornment over inner godliness and spiritual virtues.
* **[[Revelation 17:4]]**: "The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality." Here, pearls contribute to the description of "Babylon the Great," symbolizing her lavish wealth, worldly splendor, and seductive power, which mask her spiritual corruption and idolatry.
* **[[Revelation 18:12]], [[Revelation 18:16]]**: In the lament over the fall of Babylon, pearls are again enumerated among her vast array of luxury goods and material opulence. Their inclusion highlights the city's immense earthly riches and commercial power, which are now utterly destroyed.
* **[[Revelation 21:21]]**: "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass." In the glorious vision of the New Jerusalem, the gates being fashioned from single, massive pearls signifies unparalleled beauty, purity, and immense value. This imagery conveys the transcendent glory, preciousness, and divine splendor of God's eternal dwelling place and the precious access afforded to its inhabitants.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Precious Stones/Gems:** *Margarítēs* is frequently associated with other valuable materials like gold (`{{G5557}}`, *chrysion*), silver, and various precious stones (`{{G3037}}`, *lithos timios*). This association consistently places pearls within the category of items of high economic and symbolic value.
* **Kingdom of Heaven:** The primary conceptual link in the parables of Matthew, where the pearl represents the ultimate spiritual treasure.
* **Wisdom/Truth:** In [[Matthew 7:6]], the pearls are analogous to sacred truths or divine wisdom that must be handled with discernment.
* **Adornment/Wealth:** In contexts like 1 Timothy and Revelation, pearls symbolize worldly wealth, luxury, and outward adornment, which can be viewed negatively when they signify vanity or corrupt power.
* **Purity/Glory:** The use of pearls for the gates of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21) evokes concepts of purity, divine splendor, and inestimable, eternal worth, contrasting with the fleeting glory of earthly treasures.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of *margarítēs* is multifaceted, reflecting its diverse contextual applications.
1. **Stewardship of Truth:** [[Matthew 7:6]] emphasizes the importance of spiritual discernment in sharing the Gospel and sacred truths. It is a call to protect the holiness of divine revelation from profanation, ensuring that precious wisdom is offered to receptive hearts.
2. **Supreme Value of the Kingdom:** The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price ([[Matthew 13:45-46]]) is a profound theological statement on the incomparable worth of the Kingdom of Heaven. It teaches that the pursuit and possession of God's reign and relationship with Christ demand absolute commitment, signifying that no earthly treasure or pursuit can compare to this ultimate spiritual gain.
3. **Inner vs. Outer Beauty:** [[1 Timothy 2:9]] uses pearls as an example of external adornment, contrasting it with the true beauty of a godly character. This highlights the theological principle that spiritual virtues and inner transformation are of far greater value than outward displays of wealth or fashion.
4. **Worldly Corruption vs. Divine Glory:** In Revelation, the dual portrayal of pearls carries significant theological weight. When associated with "Babylon," pearls symbolize the seductive, yet ultimately corrupt and transient, splendor of worldly power and human achievement ([[Revelation 17:4]], [[Revelation 18:12]], [[Revelation 18:16]]). This contrasts sharply with the description of the New Jerusalem, where the gates of pearl ([[Revelation 21:21]]) signify the inherent, pure, and eternal glory of God's dwelling place. The same object thus illustrates the vast qualitative difference between fleeting human glory and the enduring, divine majesty. The pearl gates represent precious access to God's presence, a purity and value that transcends earthly understanding.
### Summary
The Greek word G3135 (μαργαρίτης, *margarítēs*) consistently denotes a "pearl," a gem of exceptional value in the ancient world. Its biblical usage is rich and varied, always retaining an association with immense worth. In Matthew, pearls symbolize both sacred truths requiring discernment in their dissemination ([[Matthew 7:6]]) and, preeminently, the inestimable value of the Kingdom of Heaven, demanding total devotion ([[Matthew 13:45-46]]). In 1 Timothy, pearls exemplify outward adornment, serving as a contrast to the superior value of inner godliness ([[1 Timothy 2:9]]). Most strikingly, in Revelation, pearls are used to depict both the corrupt, transient splendor of worldly power ([[Revelation 17:4]], [[Revelation 18:12]], [[Revelation 18:16]]) and, conversely, the unparalleled, pure, and glorious majesty of the New Jerusalem, where the very gates are made of single pearls, signifying precious access to God's eternal presence ([[Revelation 21:21]]). Across these contexts, the pearl serves as a potent symbol, encapsulating the fleeting worth of human riches and the eternal, transcendent glory of God's truth and kingdom.
TRV