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ἀργύριον

argýrion

G694 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Silver, in refined or coined form as precious metal; by extension, coined money, particularly coins made of silver. In contextual usage, may refer specifically to a certain amount (a standard coin or piece), monetary payment, or generalized silver currency. Commonly used to denote material wealth or the objects of monetary exchange.

Semantic Range

silver (the metal), silver object, coined money, coin, piece of silver, payment, price, wealth, monetary possession

Root / Etymology

From the root ἀργυρ- (ἄργυρος), meaning 'silver' (the metal). Ἀργύριον is the diminutive or neuter form, originally meaning 'little silver' or 'amount of silver', which developed to mean 'silver coin' or simply 'money' in many contexts. Cognate with Latin 'argentum' and related to Sanskrit 'rajata', indicating a common Indo-European root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, ἀργύριον initially denoted a small amount of silver or a silver object, but by the Hellenistic period, particularly in Koine (including the LXX and NT), it typically referred to silver coins or currency in general. In the New Testament, ἀργύριον often stands for 'money' as a medium of exchange, and in narrative contexts (e.g., the 'thirty pieces of silver' in Matthew 26:15), refers to specific silver coins used as payment. The LXX uses ἀργύριον frequently to translate the Hebrew כֶּסֶף (kesef), which similarly can mean both the metal and money/currency in biblical Hebrew. English translations commonly render ἀργύριον as 'silver', 'silver coin', or, in a more generalized sense, 'money', though the nuance between uncoined silver and coined money depends on the context and is not always preserved in translation. The term does not uniquely specify coinage type (e.g., drachma, shekel), unless contextually determined. As a means of transaction in Greco-Roman and Judean society, ἀργύριον illustrates the widespread use of silver as both commodity and currency in the eastern Mediterranean. Contrast with χαλκός (copper, smaller denominations/coins) and χρυσίον (gold, rarer or high value currency/items).

Translation Consistency

primary "silver" 20 occurrences

Most common and natural English rendering across occurrences (16/20). ἀργύριον primarily denotes silver as metal and by extension silver coin/monetary payment; the single word “silver” covers both material and monetary senses in idiomatic English better than alternatives like “money” or “coin,” supporting the SIBI principle of consistent, natural wording.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

neuter of a presumed derivative of ἄργυρος; silvery, i.e. (by implication) cash; specially, a silverling (i.e. drachma or shekel):--money, (piece of) silver (piece).

Root Family

ἀργύριον (argyrion) — silver, coin, money

Root ἀργυρ- silver (the metal), coin, money

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G694-01 ἀργύριά arguria N ACC N PL pieces of silver silver coins silver coins 8
G694-03 ἀργύριον argurion N ACC N SG money silver coin silver coin 8
G694-04 ἀργυρίου arguriou N GEN N SG silver of silver money of silver money 3
G694-02 ἀργυρίῳ argurio N DAT N SG silver with silver money with silver 1

Occurrences in Scripture

20 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G694-03 Matthew 25:18 ἀργύριον argurion N ACC N SG money silver coin silver coin
G694-01 Matthew 25:27 ἀργύριά arguria N ACC N PL money silver coins silver coins
G694-01 Matthew 26:15 ἀργύρια arguria N ACC N PL pieces of silver silver coins silver coins
G694-01 Matthew 27:3 ἀργύρια arguria N ACC N PL pieces of silver silver coins silver coins
G694-01 Matthew 27:5 ἀργύρια arguria N ACC N PL pieces of silver silver coins silver coins
G694-01 Matthew 27:6 ἀργύρια arguria N ACC N PL pieces of silver silver coins silver coins
G694-01 Matthew 27:9 ἀργύρια arguria N ACC N PL pieces of silver silver coins silver coins
G694-01 Matthew 28:12 ἀργύρια arguria N ACC N PL money silver coins silver coins
G694-01 Matthew 28:15 ἀργύρια arguria N ACC N PL the money silver coins silver coins
G694-03 Mark 14:11 ἀργύριον argurion N ACC N SG money silver coin silver coin
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