Lexicon :: Strong's H3368 - yāqār

Now the boy Samuel was attending to the service of the LORD [fn]under the supervision of Eli. The word of the LORD was rare and precious in those days; visions [that is, new revelations of divine truth] were not widespread.

All these were of expensive stones, of stone cut according to measure, sawed with saws, inside and outside; even from the foundation to the coping, and from the outside to the great courtyard.

When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with riddles. She was accompanied by a very large number of attendants, with camels bearing spices (balsam oil) and a large amount of gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she talked with him about all that was on her mind.

Now Hezekiah had immense wealth and honor; and he made for himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of delightful articles,

“It cannot be valued in [terms of] the gold of Ophir,

In the precious onyx or beryl, or the sapphire.

If I beheld the sun [as an object of worship] when it shone

Or the moon going in its splendor,

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!

The children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.

But the wicked (ungodly) will perish,

And the enemies of the LORD will be like the [fn]glory of the pastures and like the fat of lambs [that is consumed in smoke],

They vanish—like smoke they vanish away.

Kings’ daughters are among Your noble ladies;

At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.

[fn]Precious [and of great consequence] in the sight of the LORD

Is the death of His godly ones [so He watches over them].

We will find and take all kinds of precious possessions,

We will fill our houses with spoil;

She is more precious than rubies;

And nothing you can wish for compares with her [in value].

For on account of a prostitute one is reduced to a piece of bread [to be eaten up],

And the immoral woman hunts [with a hook] the precious life [of a man].

The lazy man does not catch and roast his prey,

But the precious possession of a [wise] man is diligence [because he recognizes opportunities and seizes them].

He who has knowledge restrains and is careful with his words,

And a man of understanding and wisdom has a cool spirit (self-control, an even temper).

And by knowledge its rooms are filled

With all precious and pleasant riches.

Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give off a foul odor; so a little foolishness [in one who is esteemed] outweighs wisdom and honor.

Therefore the Lord GOD says this,

“Listen carefully, I am laying in Zion a Stone, a tested Stone,

A precious Cornerstone for the [secure] foundation, firmly placed.

He who believes [who trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone] will not [fn]be disturbed or give way [in sudden panic].

Therefore, thus says the LORD [to Jeremiah],

“If you repent [and give up this mistaken attitude of despair and self-pity], then I will restore you [to a state of inner peace]

So that you may stand before Me [as My obedient representative];

And if you separate the precious from the worthless [examining yourself and cleansing your heart from unwarranted doubt concerning My faithfulness],

You will become My spokesman.

Let the people turn to you [and learn to value My values]—

But you, you must not turn to them [with regard for their idolatry and wickedness].

The [noble and] precious sons of Zion,

[Once] worth their weight in fine gold,

How they are regarded [merely] as earthen jars,

The work of a potter’s hands!

“You were in [fn]Eden, the garden of God;

Every precious stone was your covering:

The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond;

The beryl, the onyx, and the jasper;

The lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald;

And the gold, the workmanship of your [fn]settings and your sockets,

Was in you.

They were prepared

On the day that you were created.

In that day there will be no light; the glorious ones (heavenly bodies) shall be darkened.