presh'-us (stands for 17 different words, chief of which are yaqar; timios):
(1) Generally in the literal sense, "of great price," "costly," "expensive," of material things (e.g.Pr 1:13;Jer 20:5;Mr 14:3the King James Version), especially of precious stones (2Sa 12:30;2Ch 3:6;1Co 3:12the King James Version, etc.).
(2) Sometimes "of great moral (non-material) value." "Precious in the sight of Yahweh is the death of his saints" (Ps 116:15); "his precious and exceeding great promises" (2Pe 1:4); comparePs 139:17;2Pe 1:1.
The literal and the moral senses are both involved in the expression, "knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things,.... but with precious blood" (1Pe 1:18,19). "Preciousness" (time) occurs in1Pe 2:7the American Standard Revised Version, the English Revised Version, for the King James Version "precious."
D. Miall Edwards