Greek semantic domain
Natural Substances
From the standpoint of presuppositions of the ancient world as reflected in the NT, the most relevant way in which to classify the basic elements is in terms of air, fire, water, and earth (including soil, mud, clay, rock, precious and semiprecious stones, and metals), but for the convenience of those using this dictionary this fourth category has been subdivided into three subdomains. The Greek term ἀήρ ‘air’ occurs in the NT with the meaning of substance only in an idiom-like expression in 1 Cor 9:26; elsewhere it is used to designate space (see semantic domain 1.6). At no point in the NT are air, fire, water, and earth specifically described as constituting the basic elements (Greek στοιχεῖα), but the occurrence of στοιχεῖα in 2 Pe 3:10 (see semantic domain 2.1) appears to be a clear reference to these natural substances.
Source hierarchy
- Child: SDBC-DOMAIN-UBS-GRK-002001
- Child: SDBC-DOMAIN-UBS-GRK-002002
- Child: SDBC-DOMAIN-UBS-GRK-002003
- Child: SDBC-DOMAIN-UBS-GRK-002004
- Child: SDBC-DOMAIN-UBS-GRK-002005
- Child: SDBC-DOMAIN-UBS-GRK-002006
- Child: SDBC-DOMAIN-UBS-GRK-002007
Advanced domain details
- Domain ID
SDBC-DOMAIN-UBS-GRK-002- Source code
- 002
- Level
- 1
- Scheme
- UBS Greek Lexical Domains
Member senses (68)
- ἀήρair
Sense details
air as an elemental substance
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000109-02 - ἀμέθυστοςamethyst
Sense details
amethyst; usually purple or violet in color (see semantic domain 2.29)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000269-01 - ἄμμοςsand
Sense details
No concise definition supplied.
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000283-01 - ἀνθρακιάcharcoal fire
Sense details
No concise definition supplied.
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000442-01 - ἄνυδροςwaterless, dry
Sense details
pertaining to the absence of water or moisture
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000504-01 - ἀργύριονsilver
Sense details
the metal silver; after gold the next most highly valued metal in the ancient world
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000687-01 - ἀργυροκόποςsilversmith
Sense details
one who makes objects out of silver (especially jewelry and fine utensils)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000688-01 - ἄργυροςsilver
Sense details
the metal silver; after gold the next most highly valued metal in the ancient world
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000689-01 - ἀργυροῦςof silver, made of silver
Sense details
(derivative of ἄργυρος[a] ‘silver,’ semantic domain 2.51) pertaining to being made or consisting of silver
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000690-01 - βήρυλλοςberyl
Sense details
beryl, usually bluish green or green in color (see semantic domain 2.29)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000975-01 - βόρβοροςmud, mire
Sense details
watery mud, with an additional feature of filth and uncleanness
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001011-01 - βρῶσιςrusting, tarnishing, corrosion
Sense details
the process of producing rust or tarnish by oxidation[source note 3]
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001042-05 - γῆsoil, ground
Sense details
the loose top layer of earth in which plants grow, usually black, brown, or reddish in color and made of organic matter and mineral particles[source note 2]
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001106-03 - διοπετήςstone from heaven, stone fallen from the sky
Sense details
a stone which has fallen from heaven or the sky (originally employed in referring to images of the gods)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001372-01 - ἐλεφάντινοςconsisting of ivory, made of ivory
Sense details
(derivative of ἐλέφας ‘elephant,’ not occurring in the NT) pertaining to consisting of the tusks of elephants
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001675-01 - θεῖονsulfur, brimstone
Sense details
a chemical found in pale yellow mineral form; burns readily in air and is found in regions of vulcanic activity such as the Dead Sea area; causes land to be infertile; associated with punishment from God
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002309-01 - ἴασπιςjasper
Sense details
jasper; probably green in color (see semantic domain 2.29)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002400-01 - ἰκμάςmoisture
Sense details
No concise definition supplied.
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002432-01 - ἰόςrust, tarnish
Sense details
the substance resulting from the slow oxidation of metals (rust in the case of iron and tarnish in the case of gold and silver)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002449-02 - κατιόωto become rusty, to become tarnished, to corrode
Sense details
to undergo the process of oxidation of metals
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002737-01 - κεραμικόςmade of clay, clay
Sense details
(derivative of κέραμος ‘potter’s clay,’ not occurring in the NT) pertaining to being made of potter’s clay
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002776-01 - κονιορτόςdust, soil
Sense details
dust, soil (see also semantic domain 2.16)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002882-01 - κρυσταλλίζωto shine like crystal, to shine brightly
Sense details
(derivative of κρύσταλλος[a] ‘crystal,’ semantic domain 2.46) to shine in the same way that crystal shines
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002944-01 - κρύσταλλοςcrystal
Sense details
a very hard, translucent, and usually transparent type of quartz
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002945-01 - κρύσταλλοςice
Sense details
frozen water
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002945-02 - λίθινοςstone, made out of stone
Sense details
(derivative of λίθος[a] ‘stone,’ semantic domain 2.23) pertaining to being made of or consisting of stone
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003055-01 - λίθοςstone
Sense details
stone as a substance[source note 1]
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003057-01 - λίθοςstone
Sense details
a piece of rock, whether shaped or natural
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003057-02 - λίθοςprecious stone, gem
Sense details
valuable stones and hard substances, especially gems and jewels
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003057-03 - μαργαρίτηςpearl
Sense details
a smooth, rounded concretion formed within the shells of certain mollusks and valued as a gem because of its lustrous color (see semantic domain 2.29)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003160-01 - μάρμαροςmarble
Sense details
a colorful, relatively hard form of limestone which may be polished to a lustrous finish (especially valued as material for building or for sculpture)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003164-01 - ὀστράκινοςearthenware, clay
Sense details
pertaining to being made of baked clay
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003655-01 - πέτραrock, bedrock
Sense details
bedrock (possibly covered with a thin layer of soil), rocky crags, or mountain ledges, in contrast with separate pieces of rock normally referred to as λίθος[a] (see semantic domain 2.23)[source note 1]
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003977-01 - πετρώδηςrocky ground
Sense details
(derivative of πέτρα ‘bedrock,’ semantic domain 2.21) a rocky substance or bedrock covered by a thin layer of earth
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003979-01 - πηλόςmud, clay
Sense details
moistened earth of a clay consistency
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003985-01 - πῦρfire
Sense details
the light, flames, and heat produced by the burning of materials
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004345-01 - πῦρfire, bonfire
Sense details
a pile or heap of burning material
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004345-02 - πυράfire, bonfire
Sense details
a pile or heap of burning material
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004346-01 - σάπφιροςsapphire
Sense details
sapphire, usually blue in color (see semantic domain 2.29)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004455-01 - σάρδιονcarnelian
Sense details
carnelian or cornelian, usually red in color (see semantic domain 2.29)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004458-01 - σαρδόνυξonyx, sardonyx
Sense details
onyx, sardonyx, of varying colors (see semantic domain 2.29)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004459-01 - σίδηροςiron
Sense details
iron
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004503-01 - σιδηροῦςmade of iron
Sense details
(derivative of σίδηρος ‘iron,’ semantic domain 2.58) pertaining to being made or consisting of iron
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004504-01 - σμαράγδινοςemerald-like, of emerald
Sense details
(derivative of σμάραγδος emerald, semantic domain 2.33) consisting of emerald, emerald-like, Revelation 4:3 (see semantic domain 2.29)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004568-01 - σμάραγδοςemerald
Sense details
emerald, green in color (see semantic domain 2.29).
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004569-01 - στοιχεῖονelements, natural substances
Sense details
the materials of which the world and the universe are composed
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004650-01 - τοπάζιονtopaz
Sense details
topaz, usually yellow in color (see semantic domain 2.29)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005015-01 - ὑάκινθοςjacinth, hyacinth
Sense details
jacinth or hyacinth, probably blue in color (see semantic domain 2.29)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005083-01 - ὕαλοςcrystal
Sense details
a very hard, translucent, and usually transparent type of quartz
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005085-02 - ὕδωρwater
Sense details
a clear liquid that is without color, taste, or smell in its pure form; it forms rivers, lakes, and oceans, and sustains life on earth
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005095-01 - ὑετόςrain, rain water
Sense details
water that falls in drops condensed from water vapor in the atmosphere
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005096-01 - φλόξflame
Sense details
the burning vapor surrounding an object on fire
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005284-01 - φῶςfire, bonfire
Sense details
a pile or heap of burning material
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005344-02 - χάλαζαhail
Sense details
frozen rain
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005351-01 - χαλκεύςcoppersmith, metalworker
Sense details
(derivative of χαλκός[a] ‘bronze, brass, copper,’ semantic domain 2.54) one who makes objects out of brass, bronze, copper, or other metals
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005357-01 - χαλκηδώνagate, chalcedony
Sense details
agate, chalcedony, usually milky or gray in color (see semantic domain 2.29)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005358-01 - χαλκολίβανονfine bronze, fine brass
Sense details
a particularly valuable or fine type of bronze or brass, possibly even an alloy containing some gold
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005360-01 - χαλκόςbronze, brass, copper
Sense details
generally bronze (an alloy of copper and tin), but in some contexts apparently brass (an alloy of copper and zinc) and perhaps in a few instances copper
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005361-01 - χαλκοῦςmade of bronze (brass or copper)
Sense details
(derivative of χαλκός[a] ‘bronze, brass, copper,’ semantic domain 2.54) pertaining to being made or consisting of bronze, brass, or copper
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005362-01 - χιώνsnow
Sense details
No concise definition supplied.
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005396-01 - χοϊκόςmade of dust, made of soil
Sense details
(derivative of χοῦς ‘dust,’ semantic domain 2.15) pertaining to being made or consisting of dust or soil
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005402-01 - χοῦςdust, soil
Sense details
dust, soil (see also semantic domain 2.16)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005414-01 - χρυσίονgold
Sense details
gold (the most highly valued metal in the ancient world)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005436-01 - χρυσόλιθοςchrysolite
Sense details
chrysolite (yellow quartz or yellow topaz), golden yellow in color (see semantic domain 2.29)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005438-01 - χρυσόπρασοςchrysoprase
Sense details
chrysoprase, a greenish type of quartz (see semantic domain 2.29)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005439-01 - χρυσόςgold
Sense details
gold (the most highly valued metal in the ancient world)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005440-01 - χρυσοῦςgolden, made of gold
Sense details
(derivative of χρυσός[a] ‘gold,’ semantic domain 2.49) pertaining to being made or consisting of gold
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005441-01 - ψῆφοςpebble, small stone
Sense details
a small stone, possibly used for casting a vote or as a magical amulet
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005470-01