Lexical Summary dar: Pearl Original Word: דַּר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance pearlApparently from the same as drowr; properly, a pearl (from its sheen as rapidly turned); by analogy, pearl-stone, i.e. Mother-of-pearl or alabaster -- X white. see HEBREW drowr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as deror Definition perhaps pearl or mother-of-pearl NASB Translation mother-of-pearl (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs דַּר noun [masculine] pearl ? mother of pearl ? (Arabic  pearls,  a pearl) Esther 1:6. Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Literary Setting The term appears once, in Esther 1:6, where it helps describe the mosaic pavement of King Ahasuerus’ palace at Susa. The verse pictures “a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other precious stones”. The single mention places the material among the finest elements of Persian royal architecture, underscoring the extravagance of the feast that introduced the narrative crisis of the book. Material Identity and Ancient Craftsmanship Archaeological finds from Mesopotamia and Persia confirm that nacre-bearing shells were imported from the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. Craftsmen sliced, polished, and inlaid the lustrous substance into floors, thrones, jewelry, and weapon hilts. Its shimmering iridescence complemented colored stone and metal, producing light-catching surfaces suited to throne rooms and temples. Esther 1:6 therefore documents a known luxury craft and attests to the international trade networks that supplied the Achaemenid court. Historical and Cultural Context Persian kings used lavish public displays to project cosmic authority. Herodotus recounts similar feasts; Xenophon notes the overwhelming ornamentation of Persian halls. The biblical author faithfully describes that milieu so the reader can sense the gulf between imperial glory and the threatened covenant people. The pavement of pearl anticipates the narrative tension: Israel’s security seems to rest in a court whose splendor masks moral vacuity. Symbolism of Pearlescence in Scripture Although the Hebrew word occurs only in Esther, pearls elsewhere symbolize great value and purity. By setting Esther’s account on a pearl-laden floor, the Spirit invites readers to compare transient human opulence with the incomparable worth of God’s kingdom and the beauty of righteousness. Theological and Ministry Reflections 1. God is present and active even in settings of ostentatious world power. The solitary use of the word highlights that worldly glory, however dazzling, is incidental to divine providence that unfolds through seemingly ordinary faithfulness (Esther 4:14). Practical Application • Preaching: Use Esther 1:6 to contrast surface splendor with the hidden work of God, steering hearts toward kingdom values. Conclusion Strong’s Hebrew 1858 introduces a rare word whose lone biblical appearance serves as a lens on imperial arrogance, the vanity of riches, and the surpassing glory of God’s redemptive plan. The polished shell fragments that once gleamed beneath Persian rulers now remind the faithful that true splendor lies not in earthly courts but in the kingdom that cannot be shaken. Forms and Transliterations וְדַ֥ר ודר veDar wə·ḏar wəḏarLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Esther 1:6 HEB: בַּהַט־ וָשֵׁ֖שׁ וְדַ֥ר וְסֹחָֽרֶת׃ NAS: marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones. KJV: and blue, and white, and black, INT: of porphyry marble mother-of-pearl and precious |
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