4185. polutelés

Lexical Summary

polutelés: Costly, expensive, precious

Original Word: πολυτελής
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: polutelés
Pronunciation: po-loo-te-LACE
Phonetic Spelling: (pol-oo-tel-ace')
KJV: costly, very precious, of great price
NASB: costly, precious, very costly
Word Origin: [from G4183 (πολύς - many) and G5056 (τέλος - end)]

1. extremely expensive

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

costly, very precious, of great price.

From polus and telos; extremely expensive -- costly, very precious, of great price.

see GREEK polus

see GREEK telos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from polus and telos
Definition
very costly
NASB Translation
costly (1), precious (1), very costly (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4185: πολυτελής

πολυτελής, πολυτελές (πολύς, and τέλος cost) (from Herodotus down), precious;

a. requiring great outlay, very costly: Mark 14:3; 1 Timothy 2:9. (Thucydides and following; the Sept.)

b. excellent, of surpassing value (A. V. of great price): 1 Peter 3:4. ((Plato, others.))

Topical Lexicon

Overview of Usage

Strong’s Greek 4185 (πολυτελής, polytelēs) appears three times in the New Testament to describe something “exceedingly valuable” or “very costly.” Each occurrence links material value with spiritual instruction, contrasting external expense with inner worth or sacrificial devotion.

Scriptural Occurrences

• Mark 14:3 — “While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured it on His head.”
• 1 Timothy 2:9 — Paul urges “women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes.”
• 1 Peter 3:4 — Peter commends “the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”

Theological Significance

1. Costly Worship: The Bethany anointing illustrates wholehearted devotion that spares no earthly cost when honoring the Lord. True worship values Christ above possessions.
2. Modesty and Holiness: Paul and Peter both contrast πολυτελής attire with virtues that cannot be purchased—self-control, gentleness, and a quiet spirit. The passages call believers to let inner transformation outshine outward luxury.
3. Eternal Versus Temporal Value: Scripture consistently places greater worth on that which is “imperishable” (1 Peter 3:4) than on items whose value fades. Polytelēs thus functions as a foil, highlighting the fleeting nature of material splendor.

Historical and Cultural Background

• Perfume of Pure Nard: Imported from the Himalayan region, nard was rare and could cost a laborer’s annual wage. Breaking the jar (Mark 14:3) rendered it single-use, underscoring total surrender.
• Roman Dress Codes: In the Greco-Roman world, braided hair interwoven with gold threads and pearls signaled wealth and status. Early Christian teaching redirected such displays toward charitable deeds and inner piety.
• Valuation in Antiquity: Precious items—perfumes, fabrics, jewels—were common measures of social rank. By employing πολυτελής, New Testament writers speak into this milieu, recasting value according to kingdom priorities.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Stewardship: Believers are encouraged to assess how resources can best honor Christ, balancing generosity with prudent care of family needs.
• Discipleship of Appearance: Teaching on dress should avoid legalism yet uphold the call to modesty, ensuring that outward choices reflect inward devotion.
• Worship Planning: Congregational life may incorporate sacrificial giving or artistic excellence, provided the goal remains Christ-exalting rather than self-advertising.

Related Themes and Cross-References

• Sacrificial Giving: 2 Samuel 24:24; Luke 21:1-4
• Modesty: Proverbs 11:22; Titus 2:3-5
• Inner Adornment: Psalm 51:6; Colossians 3:12-14
• Eternal Treasure: Matthew 6:19-21; James 5:2-3

Summary

Polytelēs objects draw attention to the contrast between visible wealth and the invisible riches of faith. Whether poured out in worship or set aside in favor of modesty, that which is “very costly” finds its highest purpose when it magnifies the surpassing worth of Jesus Christ.

Forms and Transliterations

πολυτελει πολυτελεί πολυτελεῖ πολυτελείς πολυτελες πολυτελές πολυτελή πολυτελους πολυτελούς πολυτελοῦς πολυτελών πολυτέλων polutelei poluteles polutelous polytelei polyteleî polyteles polytelés polytelous polyteloûs

Englishman's Concordance

Mark 14:3 Adj-GFS
GRK: νάρδου πιστικῆς πολυτελοῦς συντρίψασα τὴν
NAS: vial of very costly perfume
KJV: of spikenard very precious; and
INT: of nard pure of great price having broken the

1 Timothy 2:9 Adj-DMS
GRK: ἢ ἱματισμῷ πολυτελεῖ
NAS: pearls or costly garments,
KJV: pearls, or costly array;
INT: or clothing costly

1 Peter 3:4 Adj-NNS
GRK: τοῦ θεοῦ πολυτελές
NAS: which is precious in the sight
KJV: in the sight of God of great price.
INT: God of great worth

Strong's Greek 4185
3 Occurrences

πολυτελεῖ — 1 Occ.
πολυτελές — 1 Occ.
πολυτελοῦς — 1 Occ.