Quick Definition
an alabaster phial or bottle
Strong's Definition
properly, an "alabaster" box, i.e. (by extension) a perfume vase (of any material)
Derivation: neuter of (of uncertain derivation), the name of a stone;
KJV Usage: (alabaster) box
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἀλάβαστρον, , τό (in the plural in Theocritus, 15, 114; Anth, Pal. 9, 153; in other secular writings ὁ and ἡ ἀλάβαστρος; (the older and more correct spelling drops the p, cf. Stephanus' Thesaurus, under the word, 1385 d.; Liddell and Scott, under the word ἀλάβαστρος)), a box made of alabaster, in which unguents are preserved (Pliny, h. n, 13, 2 (3) (others, 13, 19) "unguenta optime servantur in alabastris); with the addition of μύρου (as in Lucian, dial. mer. 14, 2; (Herodotus 3, 20)): Luk_7:37; Mat_26:7; Mar_14:3 (where L T adopt τόν ἀλάβαστρον, Tr WH (Meyer) τήν ἀλ.; Matthew and Luke do not add the article, so that it is not clear in what gender they use the word (cf. Tdf.s critical note at the passage)). Cf. Winers RWB (or B. D.) under the word .
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἀλάβαστρος alabastros 4x
can be masculine, feminine (2x), or neuter (ἀλάβαστρον , 2x), an alabaster vase, Mar_14:3 (2x); Mat_26:7 ; Luk_7:37
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἀλάβαστρον , -ου , τό
(also -ος , ὁ , ἡ ; colloq. and κοινή for ἀλάβαστος ),
[in LXX : 2Ki_21:13 ( H6747 ) * ;]
a box of alabaster (ἀλαβαστίτης ) for ointment: Mat_26:7 , Mar_14:3 , Luk_7:37 ( v. DCG , i, 41b; MM , VGT , s.v. ).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἀλάβαστρον [page 20]
The word is found with μύρου , as in Mar_14:3 , in OG1S 629 .35 (A.D. 137) μύρου [ἐν ἀλαβάσ ]τροις , according to the editor s restoration. In P Petr II. 47 38 the words ἐν Ἀλαβάστρων πόλει , in Alabastropolis, occur in the subscription to a contract for a loan. From v/B.C. may be quoted Syll 44 8 , ἀλά [β ]αστ [οι ], according to the Attic form : cf. Michel 823 11 (B.C. 220), ib. 833 9 (B.C. 279), σὺν τοῖς ἀλαβάστροις , in an inventory of temple treasures. From a much later period we have mention of a quarry near Alexandria, or at any rate belonging to Alexandria P Thιad 36 3 (A.D. 327) ἐπιμελητὴς τεχνιτῶν ἀποστελλομἐνων ἐν ἀλαβαστρίῳ Ἀλεξανδρίας , ib. 35 3 (A.D. 325) ἐπιμελητὴς ἐργατῶν τῶν [κατ ]ὰ τὴν ἀλαβαστρίνην μεγάλ (ην ), ib. 34 .2 and editor s note (p. 182). Earlier than this is P Ryl II. 92 (ii/iii A.D.) a list of persons designated for employment εἰς ἀλαβάστρινα , and other works The alabaster quarry may also be recognized in P Petr II. 9 (2) .5 (B.C. 241 39) μετα [πορεύ ]εσθαι εἰς ἀλαβα [στί ]θιδα : see the editor s note, p. [23], as to the locality. Finally, there is an inventory in P Lond 402 verso (ii/B.C.) ( = II. p. 12) which includes among a good many utensils and articles known and unknown ἀλαβαστρουθῆκαι : we may infer that the writer first meant to coin a compound, and then changed his mind and wrote the genitive. (See also under ἀσκός .)
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
ἀλάβαστρον [Etym: ἀλάβαστος] [Etym: Prob. a foreign word.] "a box or casket of alabaster", in NTest. , pl. ἀλάβαστρα ορ -τα in Theocr. and Anth.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
ἀλάβαστρον, -ου, τό (also -ος, ὁ, ἡ; colloq. and κοινή for ἀλάβαστος),
[in LXX: 4Ki.21:13 (צַלַּחַת)* ;]
a box of alabaster (ἀλαβαστίτης) for ointment: Mat.26:7, Mrk.14:3, Luk.7:37 (see DCG, i, 41b; MM, VGT, see word).†
(AS)