σηρικός
sērikós
G4596 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Made of silk; pertaining to silk or a silken material. In broader contexts, it refers to fabric or textiles produced from silk, often associated with luxury or rarity in Greco-Roman usage. The term can function as an adjective ('silken') or, in neuter singular, as a substantive denoting the cloth itself ('silk').
Semantic Range
silken, made of silk, pertaining to silk or silk-like entities, silk fabric, the silk trade
Root / Etymology
Derived from Σῆρες (Sēres), a name used by Greeks and Romans for a people of Central or Eastern Asia (traditionally identified with regions in or near China), from whom silk was imported. The Greek suffix -ικός forms adjectives indicating relation or pertaining to. Thus, σηρικός means 'pertaining to the Seres,' i.e., 'related to silk/Seric people' → 'silken.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, σηρικός is rare and almost entirely restricted to later Hellenistic and Roman sources describing goods of Asian origin. The term is tied to the lucrative silk trade with eastern regions, especially across the Silk Road. In Greek literature and inscriptions, σηρικός and related terms characteristically evoke luxury, exoticism, and high value. In post-classical contexts, the neuter form (σηρικόν) is used as a substantive: 'silk.' In the New Testament, the term is extremely rare, reflecting the limited presence of silk in everyday life and the value attached to such imports (cf. Rev 18:12 in some manuscripts). English Bible translations render the neuter as 'silk,' but do not convey the geographical and cultural associations encoded in the Greek term. The word implies not only the material but also its foreign (especially 'eastern') origin, distinguishing such fabric from native linen or wool.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from (an Indian tribe from whom silk was procured; hence the name of the silk-worm); Seric, i.e. silken (neuter as noun, a silky fabric):--silk.
Root Family
σηρικός (sērikos) — pertaining to silk, made of silk, silken, silk fabric
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4596-01 |
σιρικοῦ | sirikou | ADJ.S GEN N SG |
of silk | of silk | of silk | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4596-01 |
Revelation 18:12 | σιρικοῦ | sirikou | ADJ.S GEN N SG |
of silk | of silk | of silk |