πιστικός
pistikós
G4101 attributive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Pertaining to being genuine or pure, especially in reference to quality or authenticity. In NT contexts, it describes something that is unadulterated or of full value, typically as an attribute of an object (often perfume or ointment). Also can carry the sense of trustworthiness or reliability in some Greek literature, though not prominent in biblical usage.
Semantic Range
genuine, pure, authentic, unadulterated (in reference to substances or objects); trustworthy, reliable (rarely, and not in biblical usage)
Root / Etymology
From πίστις (faith, trust); the adjectival suffix -ικός forms adjectives of relation, thus 'pertaining to faithfulness/trustworthiness' or, by semantic extension, 'genuineness.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
πιστικός is a rare adjective in Greek literature, with its best-known biblical usage found in Mark 14:3 and John 12:3, where it describes an expensive ointment (μύρον νάρδου πιστικῆς—'pure/genuine nard'). The sense is not trusting or trustworthy in terms of personal character but rather describes the unadulterated, authentic nature of a valuable commodity. In later traditions, 'spikenard' became a standard translation, though 'genuine nard' or 'pure nard' more accurately reflects the underlying meaning. The connection to 'faith' (πίστις) is secondary, mediated through the notion of reliability or worth, but in Koine usage (specifically the NT), the semantic focus is on authenticity or unadulterated quality rather than trustworthiness in a moral or personal sense. The word is not attested in the Septuagint and has few occurrences outside the NT; its use in contemporary Greek papyri sometimes signals valuable or undiluted material. Standard English translations often render it as 'pure,' 'genuine,' or (less precisely) 'precious' in the few NT occurrences, occasionally conflating the meaning with the noun for the aromatic plant.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πίστις; trustworthy, i.e. genuine (unadulterated):--spike-(nard).
Root Family
πιστικός (pistikos) — genuine, pure, authentic, unadulterated
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4101-01 |
πιστικῆς | pistikes | ADJ.A GEN F SG |
pure | of genuine quality | of genuine quality | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences