A lustrous concretion formed by a mollusk consisting of the same material as its shell. It is the only gem produced by a living process. Its association with gold and costly attire (1Tim 2:9), gold and precious stones (Rev 17:4; Rev 18:16), and other precious materials (Rev 18:12) indicates that pearls were very valuable and highly esteemed in the Hellenistic world. As a result the twelve gates of the new Jerusalem are described as twelve individual pearls (Rev 21:21), and entering the kingdom of God is portrayed as finding a pearl of great price that is worth all one has (Matt 13:45-46). There are no clear references to pearls in the OT.
