Original Word: πιστικός
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: pistikos
Pronunciation: pis-tee-kos'
Phonetic Spelling: (pis-tik-os')
Definition: Genuine, pure, trustworthy
Meaning: genuine, pure (of ointment), trustworthy.

genuine, pure

From pistis; trustworthy, i.e. Genuine (unadulterated) -- spike-(nard).

see GREEK pistis

Word Origin
from pistis
Definition
trustworthy
NASB Translation
pure (2).

STRONGS NT 4101: πιστικός

πιστικός, πιστικη, πιστικον (πιστός), pertaining to belief;

a. having the power of persuading, skillful in producing belief: Plato, Gorgias, p. 455 a. b. trusty, faithful, that can be relied on: γυνή πιστικη καί οἰκουρός καί πειθομενη τῷ ἀνδρί, Artemidorus Daldianus, oneir. 2, 32; often so in Cedrenus (also (of persons) in Epiphanius, John Moschus, Sophronius of Damascus; cf. Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word); of commodities equivalent to δόκιμος, genuine, pure, unadulterated: so νάρδος πιστικη (but A. V. spike-(i. e. spiked) nard, after thenardispicati of the Vulg. (in Mark)), Mark 14:3; John 12:3 (for nard was often adulterated; see Pliny, h. n. 12,26; Dioscorides (?) de mater. med. 1, 6 and 7); hence, metaphorically, τό πιστικον τῆς καινῆς διαθήκης κρᾶμα, Eusebius, dem. evang. 9, 8 (p. 439 d.). Cf. the full discussion of this word in Fritzsche on Mark, p. 596ff; Lücke on John 12:3, p. 494ff; Winer's Grammar, 97f (92f); (especially Dr. James Morison on Mark, the passage cited).

Word Origin: Derived from πίστις (pistis), meaning "faith" or "trust."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While πιστικός is a Greek term, its concept of purity and value can be related to Hebrew words that convey similar meanings, such as טָהוֹר (tahor, Strong's 2889), meaning "pure," and יָקָר (yaqar, Strong's 3368), meaning "precious" or "valuable." These Hebrew terms are often used in the Old Testament to describe items or qualities of high worth and purity, paralleling the New Testament use of πιστικός.

Usage: The word πιστικός appears in the New Testament in the context of describing a substance of high value and purity. It is used specifically to describe a type of ointment.

Context: • Contextual Appearance: The term πιστικός is found in the New Testament in Mark 14:3 and John 12:3. In both instances, it is used to describe the nard, a costly perfume, that was used to anoint Jesus.
• Mark 14:3 (BSB): "While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard (πιστικός). She broke open the jar and poured it on His head."
• John 12:3 (BSB): "Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard (πιστικός), and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume."
• Theological Significance: The use of πιστικός in these passages underscores the value and purity of the nard, symbolizing the honor and devotion shown to Jesus. The act of anointing with such a costly substance highlights the recognition of Jesus' divine worth and foreshadows His impending burial.
• Cultural and Historical Background: Nard, or spikenard, was a highly prized aromatic oil derived from a plant native to the Himalayan region. Its use in anointing was a sign of great respect and was often reserved for special occasions or persons of high status.

πιστικης πιστικής πιστικῆς pistikes pistikês pistikēs pistikē̂sInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts