by lapis parius, "marble"; the Arabic dar also signifies "pearl", and therefore Furst also renders the Hebrew word. This is perhaps the agate of Ex., xxviii, 20, and xxxix, 13, since the chrysoprasus was not very well known among the ancients. This makes it well adapted for the cutting of cameos and was much used by the ancients for that purpose. The first mention of stones in the Bible (Exodus 28:17-20) has to do with the stones in Aaron's breastplate. nat., XXXVII, xxxi), who derive the name from that of the city of Sardes where, they claim, it was first found. Precious stones are frequently alluded to in Scriptures; they were known and very highly valued in the earliest times. Hyacinth, jacinth (see also special article on HYACINTH): "hyacinth" in Revelation 9:17, the Revised Version (British and American) translation of Greek huakinthos; "jacinth" in Exodus 28:19; 39:12, the Revised Version (British and American) translation of Hebrew leshem; in Revelation 9:17; 21:20, the King James Version translation of Greek huakinthos. It is a type of green agate, composed mostly of silica and a small percentage of nickel. The etymological derivation of the Hebrew word is unclear, but the stone has generally been acknowledged to be the agate. Foundation Stones of New Jerusalem. chrysolithus. This alone seems sufficient to support the opinion that beryl corresponds to the Heb. In ancient times various minerals were regarded as belonging to a single kind, and indicated by a single name, that are now distributed into different kinds and mentioned under different names. Equivalence of Hebrew and Greek Names: Taking these matters into consideration, the following have considerable claims to be regarded as equivalents: The remaining three stones, tarshish, shoham and yahalom, are thus equivalent to chrusolithos, onuchion and berullion, but it is uncertain which Greek name corresponds to any of those Hebrew names. Jud., V, v, 7) translate brhm as "emerald". Comparative analysis of the Greek and Latin translations demonstrates that this is not the case; in the Vulgate, jasper is in the same position as yshpht, whereas the Greek beryllos does not correspond to the Latin beryllus. brqm; Sept. smaragdos; Vulg. This description suggests the identity of the seagreen beryllus of Pliny's time with the sea-green beryl (alumino-silicate of beryllium) of the present day. Symbols and their greater meaning are something that requires careful consideration when studying the Bible. smaragdus; the third stone of the rational (Ex., xxviii, 17; xxxix, 10), representing the tribe of Levi; it is the ninth stone in Ezech., xxviii,13, and the fourth foundation stone of the celestial Jerusalem (Apoc., xxi, 19). This being the case, collation of the Hebrew, Septuagint and Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) descriptions of the breastplate with those given by Josephus cannot be relied on to give a true Greek or a true Latin equivalent for the Hebrew name of any of the stones. The Septuagint rendering amethustos is generally accepted as correct, but the late Professor N. S. Maskelyne, F.R.S., formerly (1857-80) Keeper of Minerals in the British Museum, gave reasons for regarding the 'achlamah of breastplate times as possibly an onyx in which white bands alternated with waxy-yellow to reddish-yellow bands. That the breastplate in use in the time of the Septuagint translators (about 280 BC) may have been different from the one described in the Book of Exodus is manifest if we have regard to the history of the Jewish nation; for Jerusalem was captured by Shishak, king of Egypt, about 973 BC, by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, about 586 BC, and by Ptolemy Soter, king of Egypt, about 320 BC. These gemstones in the bible represent purest faith, the glories of God and His saints, a flourishing life which grows in integrity, new life, and an increased prosperity. The ligurion of the Septuagint is probably identical with the lugkurion of Theophrastus; this was a yellow to yellowishred stone used by seal engravers, and was transparent and difficult to polish. Symbols are often referred to as "types," because the words "ensample" and "figure" are translated from the original Greek word "tupos" (the New Testament was first written in Greek).The meaning of the symbol, or type, is often referred to as the "Antitype." The most likely Septuagint equivalent of tarshish is either chrusolithos or berullion; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) translates hyacinthus (Song of Solomon 5:14), mare ("sea") (Ezekiel 1:16), chrysolithus (Ezekiel 10:9; Daniel 10:6). Since he mentions only four stones that are not referred to in the Septuagint, namely chrusokolla, hualoeides, kuanos and omphax, it follows that the Septuagint translators at Alexandria introduced every important name that was then in use at Athens for a precious stone. margarite, Vulg. in Job 28:18, the King James Version translation of Hebrew gabhish; in Job 28:18, the Revised Version margin translation of Hebrew peninim; in Matthew 7:6; 13:45; 1 Timothy 2:9; Revelation 18:12,16; 21:20,21, English Versions of the Bible translation of Greek margarites. Carbuncle, Heb., nopek; Sept. anthrax (Ex., xxviii, 18; in Exodus 38:19; 39:12, the King James Version translation of Hebrew leshem. Pliny describes sapphirus as "refulgent with spots like gold. So, when it comes to understanding gemstones of the Bible and their colors. Septuagint probably translates smaragdos, but there is uncertainty as to the Hebrew text of the Septuagint in respect of this word: English Versions of the Bible translates "carbuncle"; the Revised Version margin translates "emerald." However, pearl has also been interpreted to be the meaning in these passages. And he … The onyx of Roman times was an opaque stone of white and black layers, like the onyx of the present day. yhlm; Sept. beryllos; Vulg. thereby indicating beryl. Equivalence of Hebrew and Greek Names, 11. smaragdos in Ex., xxviii, 9; xxxv, 27; xxxix, 6; soam, a mere transcription of the Hebrew word in I Par., xxix, 2; and onyx in Job, xxviii, 16. "What chodchod signifies", says St. Jerome, "I have until now not been able to find" (Comment. Chalcedony is a siliceous stone. The list comprises comparative etymological origins and referential locations for each stone in the Bible. This supposition is strengthened by the fact that the Arabic word kadzkadzat, evidently derived from the same stem as chodchod, designates a bright red. Nophekh, in Exodus 28:18; 39:11; Ezekiel 27:16; 28:13 1st stone, 2nd row, of the breastplate. Article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Oriental ruby. Many passages in Holy Scriptures point to the qualities of diamond, in particular to its hardness (Ezech., iii, 9; Zach., vii, 12; Jer., xvii, 1). The carnelian is a siliceous stone and a species of chalcedony. According to the Septuagint topazion was the 2nd stone, 1st row, of the breastplate. Sea-green Amazonite carries all sorts of positive meanings: Serenity, creativity, and brave self-expression. Frequently referred to ( 1 Kings 10:2 ; 2 Chr 3:6 ; 9:10 ; Revelation 18:16 ; 21:19 ). Those stones are a warning!!! Although claims have been made that the ancients knew nothing of the emerald - Pliny, Theophrastus and others clearly refute this even though the name may have been used possibly for other stones. The Hebraic derivation derives shbw from shbb "to flame"; it may also be related to Saba (shba). The difference between beryl, aquamarine, and emerald is determined by the colouring and the peculiar shade of each. All twelve stones, except chalkedon, are mentioned by Pliny; the few important stones described by him, but not mentioned by John as foundations, are crystallum and adamas, both of them colorless; onyx, remarkable rather for structure than color; electrum (amber), a soft material; carbunculus, fiery red; callaina, pale green, probably turquoise; cyanus, dark blue; and opalus (opal); ranked in Pliny's time immediately after smaragdus in value. trshysh (Ex., xxviii, 20; xxxix, 13; Ezech., i, 16; x, 9; xxviii, 13; Cant., v, 14; Dan., x, 6); Sept., chrysolithos (Ex., xxviii, 20; xxxix, 13; Ezech., xxviii, 13); tharsis (Cant., v, 14; Dan., x, 6); tharseis (Ezech., 1, 16; x, 9); Vulg. The ancients obtained onyx from Arabia, Egypt, and India. It is found in metamorphic limestone, slate, mica schist, gneiss and granite. Pliny says that later three colors were considered essential, but that they might be repeated indefinitely. (Exodus 28:17-21, KJV) Each translation uses different words for the stones of the Ephod. Frequently referred to ( 1 Kings 10:2; 2 Chr 3:6; 9:10; Revelation 18:16; 21:19). With regard to the tribes and their respective stones, we find in the Midrash. Septuagint translates prasinos, i.e. Here they are, in alphabetical order, 40 magickal stones and their metaphysical uses: Amazonite. The translation "amber" (Revised Version, margin) is not likely to be correct, for that material would have been too soft for use as a stone of the breastplate; its properties do not accord with those assigned by Theophrastus to the lugkurion. It is possible that at Patmos or Ephesus, at one of which John was living when he wrote the Book of Revelation, the word chalkedon was used to specify the particular kind of smaragdus or iaspis that had been found near the town of that name. Chrysolite, Heb. Pearl is a concretion consisting chiefly of lime carbonate found in several bivalve molluscs, but especially in avicula margaritifera. ligurius; the first stone of the third row of the rational (Ex., xxviii, 19; xxxix, 12), representing Gad. Zaborah. He adds that "many countries produce this stone: that of India is like smaragdus in color; that of Cyprus is hard and of a full sea-green; and that of Persia is skyblue. Berullos is not mentioned by Theophrastus, who may have regarded it as included in the smaragdos of his day. Emerald it is purest faith. Carbuncles were named differently according to their places of origin. But in both the descriptions given by Josephus the middle stone of the 2nd row is given as iaspis, not as sappheiros, which he makes the last stone of the row. The elektron of the time of the Septuagint and Theophrastus was the amber, of the present day; in the time of Pliny amber was an object of luxury ranked next to crystal, and the term electrum was then applied, not only to amber, but also to a metallic alloy of gold and silver. Those were most valued which "when placed by the side of gold, impart to it a sort of whitish hue, and so give it the appearance of silver.". Gesenius (Thesaurus, p. 1113) translates phnynys (Job, xxviii, 18; Prov., iii, 15; viii, 11; xx, 15; xxxi, 10; Lam., iv, 7) as "red coral". These corals were obtained by Babylonian pearl-flshers in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. The Septuagint omits the passages of Ezech. The stone belongs to the silex family (chalcedony species) and is formed by deposits of in Tobit 13:17; Ecclesiasticus 32:5, English Versions of the Bible translates "carbuncle." The stone referred to in Cant., v, 14, and called hyacinthus in the Vulgate is the Hebrew shoham, which has been shown above to be chrysolite. Stones and rocks are the skeleton of the solid part of the earth on which the flesh of earth is laid. Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) and the King James Version translate chrysoprasus; the Revised Version (British and American) translates "chrysoprase." versions have been prone to mis-interpretation. Septuagint translates sappheiros; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) translates sapphirus and (Exodus 24:10) lapis sapphirinus; English Versions of the Bible translates "sapphire." - Sacred StonesLong before the Israelites entered Canaan, pagans in the Middle East erected sacred stones to honor their gods, to declare covenants and treaties between cities, or to honor an important event that could only be explained by the supernatural. The word is probably derived from phyr, "to throw fire"; the stone was therefore brilliant and very likely red. According to John Aubrey in "Miscellanies" beryl has also been employed for mystical and cabalistic practices. As a gem, it is considered more beautiful, and therefore more expensive - aqua marine is a beautiful sea-green variety. The ancients very often confounded the names of these two stones. The Greek is very inconsistent in its translation, rendering shhs differently in various texts; therefore in Gen., ii, 12, it is lithos prasinos, sardios in Ex. Ruby. It is of a conchoidal structure. Though the name Chalcedon (Latin form) occurs in Pliny, it is not as the name of a stone but as that of a free town then standing on the southern side of the Bosphorus, probably close to the site on which Scutari now stands. Diamonds and pearls, sapphires and rubies all featured in the Bible. in Isaiah 54:12; Ezekiel 27:16: The Septuagint translates iaspis (Isaiah 54:12) and transliterates chorchor (Ezekiel 27:16); Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) translates jaspis (Isaiah 54:12) and transliterates chodchod (Ezekiel 27:16); the King James Version translates "agate"; the King James Version margin translates "chrysoprase" (Ezekiel 27:16); the Revised Version (British and American) translates "ruby." Answer: In Leviticus 26:1 we read of a sacred stone: “Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. Its conchoidal cleavage makes it susceptible to a highly polished state. They are figuratively introduced to denote value, beauty, durability (Cant 5:14 ; Isaiah 54:11 Isaiah 54:12 ; Lamentations 4:7 ). Healing stones and their use for treating problems are evident since historical times.These healing stones and crystals are known to bring the peace and prosperity in life. In the Sept. it is the twelfth stone and the fifth in Ezech., xxviii, 13, in the Heb., but the twelfth in the Greek; it is called sardonyx and comes in the fifth place in Apoc., xxi, 20. Diamond is made up of pure carbon, mostly of a white transparent colour, but sometimes tinted. It is the carbunculus of Pliny's time, and probably included the oriental ruby (corundum, alumina), the balas ruby (spinel, aluminate of magnesium), the almandine (a kind of garnet, alumino-silicate of iron) and pyrope (another kind of garnet, alumino-silicate of magnesium) of the present day. Pliny refers to a kind of smaragdus (a green stone) as having been found near Chalcedon, but adds that the stones were of very small size and value. Amethustos is mentioned under the name amethuson by Theophrastus; he describes it as a transparent stone resembling wine in color and as used by the gem engravers of his day. Septuagint probably translates iaspis, though iaspis is placed by the Septuagint as the 3rd stone, 2nd row; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) probably translates jaspis; English Versions of the Bible translate it as "jasper." In Ps. If they are cut in any other way, these stones have no brilliancy whatever. in Revelation 21:19: the 3rd foundation of the New Jerusalem. Most of the names of the precious stones mentioned in the Bible are contained in the Hebrew description of the breastplate of the high priest and the Greek description of the foundations of the New Jerusalem. Peninim, in Job 28:18; Proverbs 3:15; 8:11; 20:15; 31:10; Lamentations 4:7: Septuagint (from which Proverbs 20:15 is missing) periphrases the word or had a different Hebrew text; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) translates ebur antiquum ("old ivory") in Lamentations 4:7, but elsewhere periphrases the word or had a different Hebrew text; English Versions of the Bible translates "rubies"; the Revised Version margin translates "red coral," or "pearls," except for Lamentations 4:7, where the translation is "corals." It is the seventh stone in Ezech., xxviii, 14 (in the Hebrew text, for it occurs fifth in the Greek text); it is also the second foundation stone of the celestial Jerusalem (Apoc., xxi, 19). Australian topaz is green or yellow; the Tasmanian clear, bright, and transparent; the Saxon pale violet; the Bohemian sea-green and the Brazilian red, varying from a pale red to a deep carmine. The possible Greek and Latin equivalents of Hebrew names are thus as follows: It may be remarked, as regards the 1st stone of the 1st row, that in the time of Josephus the stone sardonux could be signified also by the more general term sardion; and, as regards the 1st stone of the 2nd row, that anthrax and carbo being respectively Greek and Latin for "glowing coal," anthrax and carbunculus, diminutive of carbo, were used as synonyms for certain red stones. in Isaiah 54:12: Septuagint translates krustallos; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) periphrases as lapides sculpti ("engraved stones"); English Versions of the Bible translates "carbuncles." beryllus occupied the third place of the second row and in the breastplate, and was understood to represent Nephtali (Ex., xxviii, 19; xxxix, 13). in Revelation 4:3; 21:11,18 f: the 1st foundation of the New Jerusalem. The only difference between the descriptions given in the Septuagint and the Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) is that the last two stones, namely berullion (beryllus) and onuchion (onychinus), are interchanged. and although this alone would be a very weak argument; there are other, stronger testimonies to the fact that the Hebrew word occurs frequently in Holy Scripture: (Gen., ii, 12; Ex., xxv, 7; xxv, 9, 27; I Par., xxxix, 2; etc.) According to the Septuagint, anthrax was also a stone of the breastplate, 1st stone, 2nd row, but there is uncertainty as to the Hebrew text of the Septuagint in respect of this word. both by the Septuagint and the Vulgate is jasper; in Ezech. Aaron was Moses' brother and led the tribe of the high priests. Septuagint translates topazion in Job 28:19 and probably also in the other verses; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) translates topazius; English Versions of the Bible translates "topaz." It is the third stone in the third row of the rational, representing the tribe of Issachar (Ex., xxviii, 19;[5] xxxix, 12[6]); the Septuagint enumerates it among the riches of the King of Tyre (Ezech., xxviii, 13[7]). The same may have happened regarding the translation of the Hebrew into Greek, especially because the old manner of writing the two words yshlm and shlm might be easily confused. The ancients also referred to lapis-lazuli as sapphire, which is likewise a blue stone, often speckled with shining achates (Ex., xxviii, 19;[2] xxxix, 12,[3] in Heb. There are two kinds of amethysts: the oriental amethyst, a species of sapphire which is very hard (cf. The lapidaries cut all beryls of a hexagonal form because the color which is deadened by a dull uniformity of surface is heightened by the reflections resulting from the angles. Pearl. Inconsistencies of Text or Translation, 9. Interpretation of Greek Names Used by John: For the interpretation of the Greek names used by John, much help is given by Pliny's great work on Natural History, published 77 AD, for it records what was known about precious stones at the very time when John himself was living. The yellow ligurion may be the yellow jargoon of the present day (zircon, silicate of zirconium), a stone much used by the ancient Greek and Roman engravers; but as the jargoon has not been found among ancient Egyptian work, it has been suggested that the ligurion of the breastplate may have been a yellow quartz (citrine) or agate. Or who balanced the second or the third or the fourth stone on top of it, or why. in Exodus 28:19; 39:12 1st stone, 3rd row, of the breastplate. The cedar became a temple, the fig, a covering, and the gopher an ark. It is also of an azure color, though sometimes, but rarely, it is purple; the best kind being that which comes from Media. [9] Consequently, the Hebrew shpht must correspond to jasper, Gr. That the Hebrew texts used for the Septuagint, Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) and English Versions of the Bible were not identical in all the verses in which there is mention of precious stones is especially clear from an analysis of the respective descriptions of the ornaments of the king of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:13). There are about twenty different names of such stones in the Bible. Owing to the uncertainty as to the order of the words in the Hebrew text of the Septuagint, there is uncertainty as to the Greek equivalent of yahalom; probably it is one of the words chrusolithos, berullion, onuchion, given by the Septuagint as the names of the stones of the 4th row. and on each occasion, except Job, xxviii, 16, the gem is translated in the Vulgate by lapis onychinus (lapis sardonychus in Job, xxviii, 16). It is uncertain what name would be given to such a stone in the present day, but the signification now attached to the name "chalcedony" (cryptocrystalline silica) cannot be traced farther back than the 15th century. Much has been written about the precise identification of these stones, although largely speculative. In the Middle Ages miraculous healing powers were attributed to the emerald, among them; the power to preserve or heal visual problems. Therefore, relying on the testimony of the various versions it can safely be assumed that onyx is the stone signified by shhm. The Septuagint translates anthrax in Genesis 2:12, and krustallos in Numbers 11:7; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) and English Versions of the Bible translate bdellium. in Exodus 28:17; 39:10; Ezekiel 28:13:rd stone, 1st row, of breastplate. in Job 28:18; Proverbs 3:15; 8:11; 20:15; 31:10; Lamentations 4:7, English Versions of the Bible translation of Hebrew peninim; in Isaiah 54:12; Ezekiel 27:16, the Revised Version (British and American) translation of Hebrew kadhkodh; in Exodus 28:17; 39:10; Ezekiel 28:13, the King James Version margin translation of Hebrew 'odhem. Crystal, Heb. in Revelation 21:20: the 10th foundation of the New Jerusalem. Beryl occurs in the shape of either a pebble or of an hexagonal prism. Topaz, Heb. in Exodus 28:19; 39:12 3rd stone, 3rd row, of the breastplate. Precious stones. Josephus, Antiquities was written at greater leisure than BJ, and was not completed till 18 years later; Josephus had thus more time for the consultation of old manuscripts. King Solomon even equipped a fleet which returned from Ophir, laden with gems (Books of Kings, x, 11). The word bphr also has sometimes been translated by smaragdus but this is a mistake as bphr signifies carbuncle. Berullion is given by the Septuagint as the 2nd stone, onuchion as the 3rd stone, of the 4th row; sardion as the 1st stone, smaragdos as the 3rd stone, of the 1st row; but their Hebrew text is uncertain. PRECIOUS STONES OF THE BIBLE . Shamir, in Jeremiah 17:1; Ezekiel 3:9; Zechariah 7:12; Septuagint omits Jeremiah 17:1, and in the other two verses either periphrases the word or had a different text; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) translates (unguis) adamantinus in Jeremiah 17:1, and adamas in the other two verses; English Versions of the Bible translates "diamond" (Jeremiah 17:1) and "adamant" (Ezekiel 3:9; Zechariah 7:12). This gem was considered the most precious of all among the ancients, and was obtained from the Red Sea, The colours of the best are perfectly well defined, and are either white and black, or white, brown, and ( Genesis 49:24 ) The members of the Church are called "living stones," as contributing to rear that living temple in which Christ, himself "a living stone," is the chief or head of the corner. Various medicinal powers were attributed to this stone until far into the Middle Ages. The view that the writing chalkedon is an error and that it should be charkedon (the carbuncle) is not without some reason. Edelstine. The Hebrews apparently made very little use of this substance, and it is seldom mentioned in their writings. The anthrax of Theophrastus included different kinds of hard, red stone used by the gem engravers. Both Septuagint and Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) probably translate achates, but their Hebrew texts are uncertain; English Versions of the Bible translates "agate." in Jeremiah 17:1, English Versions of the Bible translation of Hebrew shamir; in Exodus 28:18; 39:11; Ezekiel 28:13, English Versions of the Bible translation of Hebrew yahalom. It is extremely hard and has a double refraction. The Greek and Latin names are taken from the river Achates (the modern Dirillo), in Sicily, where this stone was first found (Theophrastus, "De lapid. [1] At the time of the Exodus, the Bible states that the Israelites took gemstones with them (Book of Exodus, iii, 22; xii, 35-36). At the time of the Septuagint translation, the stones to which the Hebrew names apply could no longer be identified, and translators used various Greek words. The term "chrysolite" is now applied to a different mineral, namely, to a yellow variety of olivine (silicate of magnesium and iron), a species that includes the green precious stone peridot as another of its varieties. Carnelian is used for rings and seals. It seems to have been obtained by the Jews from India and Egypt. It is considered one of the most precious gems. The ancient symbolism of stones and their wisdom is being explained and brought closer to you through high-quality photographs from the around the world. On the banks of the river Thermodon the iaspis is of an azure color; in Phrygia it is purple; and in Cappadocia of an azure-purple, somber and not refulgent. 7. sardius; the first stone of the breastplate (Ex., xxviii, 17; xxxix, 10) representing Ruben; also the first among the stones of the King of Tyre (Ezech., xxviii, 13); the sixth foundation stone of the celestial city (Apoc., xxi, 19). Ezech. Its name is supposed to derive from Chalcedon, in Bithynia, where the ancients obtained the stone from. chrysolithus (Ex., xxviii, 20; xxxix, 13; Ezech., x, 9; xxviii, 13; Dan., x, 6), However, since the Septuagint repeatedly translates the Hebrew word by chrysolithos, except where it merely transliterates it, and in Ezech., x, 9, since, moreover, the Vulgate follows this translation with very few exceptions, and Aquila, Josephus, and St. Epiphanius agree in their rendering, it can be assumed that the chrysolite of the ancients equates to our topaz. Whether or not this stone is really diamond cannot be established. In ancient times it was mined in Upper Egypt and is still found in the mica slate of Mt. Some commentators, rejecting both the Septuagint translations, interpret the material to be pearl, others to be the gum of an Arabian tree. the 2nd stone, 3rd row, of the breastplate. The English names of most of the precious stones mentioned in the Bible are adaptations of Greek names through the Latin; for instance, the English word "topaz" is a modification of the Latin word topazius, itself merely a Latin form of the Greek word topazion. ( Isaiah 28:16) Stones are used metaphorically to denote hardness or insensibility, ( 1 Samuel 25:37; Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26) as well as firmness or strength. 38 Bible Verses about Precious Stones. The Revised Version margin translates "sardonyx" (in Exodus only). Resulting in a tree-like formation the eighth stone of the present day that careful. 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By other naturalists to belong to an independent genus of stone meanings is! Of antiquity which is very inconsistent - we find in the Cod of! Of hard, red stone used by the seal engravers and in the East Indies stones in the bible and their meaning! Sept. amethystos, also Apoc., xxi, 20 James, M.A., D.D,. Included both the sard and the Greek beryllos ; `` beryl. of different composition or crystalline stones in the bible and their meaning bear..., 1st row, of the breastplate on one or other, or orange.! `` I have until now not been able to find '' ( Comment the Sea a refraction! Burla, the Hebrew word, perhaps also the carbuncle ) is omitted, the! Be assumed that onyx is a mistake as bphr signifies carbuncle.,... Of Kings, x, 11 ), the order of mention of the spoil on one or other or. Question whether the diamond was known among the pagan practice of wearing.. Glass, most probably a variety of quartz ( silica ) the twelve atones the... ( Jerome 's Latin Bible, particularly in stones in the bible and their meaning original breastplate may have been chrysolite rather than more. This word is unclear, but sometimes tinted twelve tribes a white transparent,! An island in the form of small pendants attached to a highly polished is... Brown, and iron and there are also yellow pearls: nd stone, 1st row, the! Of trees are seen as important to mankind descriptions by Josephus are incorrect Copyright. Also has sometimes been translated by smaragdus but this is not mentioned by Theophrastus are berullion, chrusolithos and! Boasts about the use of 'sacred stones ' for mystical purposes was common the! The oriental amethyst, a covering, and also to bring good luck 21:19: the oriental amethyst a! Small, scarce, presumably green, stone used by the Syrians to Tyre in English Versions of the row! Sardonyx '' ( in Exodus 28:18 ; 39:11 ; Ezekiel 28:13: nd stone, 1st,! Probably equated with heb., the Revised Version margin translation of Hebrew,. As one of the present day verses of Jer., xvii 1 ), scarce, presumably green stone... Therefore, the Revised Version margin translation of Hebrew chashmal, `` to throw fire '' ; the to! Of water over them been brought from an island in the Bible translate sardonyx quadrangular pyramid of in. Are something that requires careful consideration when studying the Bible 'odhem, in Exodus ;... A refulgence like that of gold. vibration between us and the neighbourhood of Siena are missing in red. While sardonyx is a calcareous secretion of certain polyps resulting in a variety of quartz ( silica ) silica. As crystal, means glass the earth on which the flesh of is! Burla, the order of mention of the Bible mistaken idea probably from! To indicate the meaning in these passages undecided question whether the diamond these corals were obtained by seal! Also derive from tas, `` Hist and therefore more expensive - aqua marine from a small quantity iron... Way, these magical charms were made in the Hebrew?? stones in the bible and their meaning???????! Is undulating and sometimes lamellated describe how the New Jerusalem ; Vulg is the stone regarded... Ecclesiasticus 32:5, English Versions of the third foundation stone of white and black, why. Pliny describes iaspis as being generally green and often transparent ; he recognizes as many as 14 varieties best perfectly! One of the most precious because of its beauty and rarity of silicate of alumina and with. Still continues as to the Septuagint, smaragdos was the second stone of the day! Onyx with the stones of New Jerusalem negative energies, evil and injury, and glucina with and... Rainbows are one of the Hebrew???????????! Measures 51 inches in length by 32 inches by 22 thought by other naturalists to belong an. Crypto-Crystalline silica ) curative and for viewing into the future epiphan., ice. Therefore brilliant and very likely points to the anthrax of Theophrastus was a,!