פָּנִין
𐤐𐤍𐤉𐤍
pânîyn
H6443 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A precious red gemstone, most likely a ruby or similar stone; in biblical usage, denotes a valuable gem of striking color and rarity, featured in descriptions of beauty and wealth, often as an item of adornment or treasure.
Semantic Range
ruby, precious red stone, gemstone of great value, item of beauty or splendor
Root / Etymology
Root: פָּנָה (p-n-h), 'to turn, face, appear.' The term פָּנִין is likely derived from the sense of 'appearance' or 'glittering.' However, the connection to the root is somewhat uncertain, and the word occurs rarely. The formation suggests derivation as a gem with notable brilliance or prominence. The alternative spelling פָּנִי (pânî) attests to a similar meaning and is considered a variant.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פָּנִין appears in poetic contexts, such as Song of Songs 5:14 and Lamentations 4:7, describing remarkable beauty or wealth, often as part of similes. The precise identification of this gemstone is uncertain in modern terms; later tradition identifies it as 'ruby,' but the biblical designation may include a range of precious stones with red, pink, or deep coloration valued in the ancient Near East. There is some overlap in biblical Hebrew between פָּנִין and words for other precious stones, such as אֹדֶם (ʼodem, 'ruby' or 'red stone') and יָהֲלֹם (yāhălōm, often 'diamond' or clear gem), reflecting shifting terminology and gemstone identification through time. Early English translations sometimes rendered פָּנִין as 'pearl' (possibly due to perceived roundness via root association or comparison with Greek and Latin terms), but the context in biblical passages favors a red stone, likely a ruby or garnet. The rarity of the word reflects its specialized poetic or prestige register. In post-biblical and rabbinic Hebrew, פָּנִין continues to designate a precious gem, with post-biblical identifications based partly on tradition rather than clear mineralogical evidence.
Translation Consistency
The lemma denotes a specific precious red gemstone. ‘Ruby’ is the natural, concise English noun that best matches the typical biblical sense (a valuable red gem used as ornament/treasure). It is clearer and more consistent than the adjective ‘precious’ and corrects the erroneous appearance of ‘than’ in some renderings.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or פָּנִי; from the same as פֵּן; probably a pearl (as round); ruby.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פנה (p-n-h) — to turn, face, appear, become visible
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3312 | יְפֻנֶּה | He will be turned |
| H3942 | לִפְנַי | before me |
| H6434 | פֵּן | the corners |
| H6435 | פֵּן | lest |
| H6437 | פָּנָה | in their turning |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6443-02 |
מִ/פְּנִינִ֑ים | mipeninim | HR/Ncbpa |
than jewels | from precious red gemstones | than precious red gemstones | 5 |
H6443-01 |
מ/פניים | mfnyym | HR/Ncbpa |
than jewels | precious red gemstones | than precious red gemstones | 1 |
H6443-03 |
פְּנִינִ֑ים | peninim | HNcbpa |
of jewels | precious red gemstones | precious red gemstones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6443-01 |
Proverbs 3:15 | מ/פניים | mfnyym | HR/Ncbpa |
than jewels | precious red gemstones | than precious red gemstones |
H6443-02 |
Proverbs 3:15 | מִ/פְּנִינִ֑ים | mipeninim | HR/Ncbpa |
than jewels | from precious red gemstones | than precious red gemstones |
H6443-02 |
Proverbs 8:11 | מִ/פְּנִינִ֑ים | mipeninim | HR/Ncbpa |
than jewels | from precious red gemstones | than precious red gemstones |
H6443-03 |
Proverbs 20:15 | פְּנִינִ֑ים | peninim | HNcbpa |
of jewels | precious red gemstones | precious red gemstones |
H6443-02 |
Proverbs 31:10 | מִ/פְּנִינִ֣ים | mipeninim | HR/Ncbpa |
above pearls | from precious red gemstones | from precious rubies |
H6443-02 |
Job 28:18 | מִ/פְּנִינִֽים | mipeninim | HR/Ncbpa |
than pearls | from precious red gemstones | than precious red gemstones |
H6443-02 |
Lamentations 4:7 | מִ/פְּנִינִ֔ים | mipeninim | HR/Ncbpa |
than coral | from precious red gemstones | than precious red gemstones |