Carbuncle was therefore most probably a generic name which applied to several stones. The chrysoprasus was regarded by some naturalists of the time of Pliny as a variety of beryllus. Emerald it is purest faith. Foundation Stones of New Jerusalem. According to the Septuagint, amethustos was the 3rd stone, 3rd row, of the breastplate, and the stone occupying this position is given in our Hebrew text as 'achlamah. It is open to every good, which knows never to give up. "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". Smaragdos (smaragdos) in Tobit 13:16; Judith 10:21; Ecclesiasticus 32:5; Revelation 21:19: the Vulgate translates it as smaragdus; English Versions of the Bible translates "emerald." English Versions of the Bible interchanges the names given by the Septuagint to the 3rd stone, 1st row (smaragdos, "emerald") and the 1st stone, 2nd row (anthrax, "carbuncle"). The ancients used these stones for fortification, beautification, and curative and for viewing into the future. Septuagint translates meteora (Job 28:18) and ramoth (Ezekiel 27:16); Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) periphrases the passages; English Versions of the Bible translates "coral"; the King James Version margin translates "ramoth" (only in Job 28:18). This makes it well adapted for the cutting of cameos and was much used by the ancients for that purpose. Throughout the Bible, up to the last chapter of Revelation, trees are seen as important to mankind. White diamond is often regarded as the most precious because of its beauty and rarity. contact . When they were settled in the Land of Israel, they obtained gemstones from the merchant caravans travelling from Babylonia or Persia to Egypt, and those from Saba and Raamah to Tyre (Book of Ezekiel, xxvii, 22). in Exodus 24:10; 28:18; 39:11; Job 28:6,16; Song of Solomon 5:14; Isaiah 54:11; Lamentations 4:7; Ezekiel 1:26; 10:1; 28:13, English Versions of the Bible translation of Hebrew sappir; in Tobit 13:16; Revelation 21:19, English Versions of the Bible translation of Greek sappheiros; in Revelation 21:20, the Revised Version margin translation of Greek huakinthos. 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. This word is used only twice in the Bible. In Ps. Copyright © 2021, Bible Study Tools. [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). 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. This mode of formation results in the bands of various colours which it contains. These stones have a defensive, as well as an enhancing function, defending their users against harm. This gem was considered the most precious of all among the ancients, and was obtained from the Red Sea, Pliny says that in his day the reddest and most branched was most valued. in Revelation 21:20: the 5th foundation of the New Jerusalem. The first mention of stones in the Bible (Exodus 28:17-20) has to do with the stones in Aaron's breastplate. Beryl is also black in colour. This stone may have been either the carbuncle or the chodchod (see above). The translations are suggested by the similarity to the Hebrew qerach, "ice. Professor Maskelyne and Professor Sayce, accepting green as the color of shoham, have expressed the opinion that the stone known by that name in very early times was the stone called 'siamu by the Assyrians, and therefore the green turquoise; Professor Maskelyne gives "amazon stone" as an alternative rendering of the word. Coral, Heb. It is not mentioned in Apocrypha or the New Testament. The probability of this hypothesis of one or more replacements of the breastplate is still further increased if we have regard to the large stones that were set in gold buttons and fastened to the shoulderpieces of the ephod, the vestment to which the breastplate itself was attached (Exodus 28:9; 39:6 or Septuagint Exodus 36:13). From the similarity of the words bareqeth and baraq ("lightning"), it has been suggested that possibly the breastplate stone was not green but of bluish-red color, in which case it may have been an almandine (garnet). 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. This supposition is strengthened by the fact that the Arabic word kadzkadzat, evidently derived from the same stem as chodchod, designates a bright red. brqm; Sept. smaragdos; Vulg. Further, the order of mention of the stones in English Versions of the Bible differs from that of mention in Vulgate. The modern chrysolite is a green oblong hexagonal prism of unequal sides terminated by two triangular pyramids. This is perhaps the agate of Ex., xxviii, 20, and xxxix, 13, since the chrysoprasus was not very well known among the ancients. Among the localities cited for crystallum by Pliny are "the crags of the Alps, so difficult of access that it is usually found necessary to be suspended by ropes in order to extract it.". Within mythology, the eagle placed an agate in its nest to guard its young against the bite of venomous animals, and the red agate was credited with the power of sharpening vision. 38 Bible Verses about Precious Stones. It is extremely hard and has a double refraction. 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." Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) and English Versions of the Bible translate sardonyx. Normally its colour is without clouds or veins; but sometimes delicate veins of extremely light red or white are found arranged much like the rings of an agate. There are about twenty different names of such stones in the Bible. There are about twenty different names of such stones in the Bible. versions have been prone to mis-interpretation. In fact, it is generally accepted that the Hebrew word yashepheh and the Greek word iaspis are virtually identical, and that they were used to signify the same kind of stone. It is a calcareous secretion of certain polyps resulting in a tree-like formation. Diamond is made up of pure carbon, mostly of a white transparent colour, but sometimes tinted. According to the Septuagint, the material was smaragdos (and therefore green); according to Josephus it was sardonux (and therefore red with a layer of white). Zekhukhith is related to a Hebrew word meaning "to be pure," whence the renderings crystal and glass. in Job 28:18, the King James Version margin translation of Hebrew ra'moth. 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." Question: "What was a sacred stone in Leviticus?" ", XXXVII, liv). 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. Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) translates beryllus; English Versions of the Bible translates "beryl." The ancients obtained onyx from Arabia, Egypt, and India. 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 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." There is, however, a choice between the oriental ruby and the spinel ruby; but the words may have been used interchangeably for both. The list comprises comparative etymological origins and referential locations for each stone in the Bible. The translation of the word in Is. Learn about healing gemstones with this chart of stone meanings. It is probably equated with Heb., the ligurius of Ex., xxviii, 19; xxxix, 12 (St. the 2nd stone, 3rd row, of the breastplate. 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. The Hebrew root brq (to glitter"), from which it is probably derived, is agreed on by scholastic consensus. Many of the finest specimens have been found in Muzo, Bogota, South America but the ancients obtained the stone from Egypt and India. 'Odhem being red, and sardion and smaragdos respectively red and green (see below), 'odhem must be equivalent to the former, not the latter, and the Septuagint translators must have adopted the Hebrew direction of reading the rows. These corals were obtained by Babylonian pearl-flshers in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. 6. 11. According to the Septuagint, it was the second of the fourth row, and third of the fourth according to the Vulgate. יָשְׁפֵ֑ה yashpeh; Sept. iaspis; Vulg. Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) translates calcedonius; English Versions of the Bible translates "chalcedony." The word may also derive from the Sanskrit marakata which is certainly emerald nor is the Greek form smaragdos that different either. Chodchod is generally identified with the 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. The Targum renders the qrt of 7. The word sardion has sometimes been called sardonyx. Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) translates chrysolithus; the King James Version translates "chrysolyte"; the Revised Version (British and American) translates "chrysolite." The cedar became a temple, the fig, a covering, and the gopher an ark. It varies in colour according to the country of origin. \"This … thereby indicating beryl. color symbolism. In ancient times it was mined in Upper Egypt and is still found in the mica slate of Mt. Nonetheless we have conclusions for all twelve jewels and these conclusions are helpful in the study of Bible … ( 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. But the identity of names is accounted for by the identity of colour. Stones and rocks are the skeleton of the solid part of the earth on which the flesh of earth is laid. Chalcedony is a siliceous stone. (4) one or other, or both, of the descriptions by Josephus are incorrect. 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. However, although diamond is used to engrave hard substances, other stones can serve the same purpose. It is found in metamorphic limestone, slate, mica schist, gneiss and granite. in Ezekiel 1:22: Septuagint translates krustallos; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) translates crystallum; English Versions of the Bible translates "crystal"; the Revised Version margin translates "ice." Professor Maskelyne suggests that the Hebrew yahalom and the Greek hualos may be kindred words and that yahalom may have been a bluish glass (considered valuable in very early times), or blue chalcedony, or perhaps even beryl. [8] Abenesra and Kimchi explain the Hebrew ahlmh in an analogous manner, deriving it from hlm, to dream; hlm in its first meaning signifies "to be hard". It would at first sight appear that the Greek word topazion must be translated into English by the word "topaz"; but, strangely, although the words are virtually identical, the stones indicated by the words are quite different. In the following alphabetical list references are given to all the verses in which each name of a precious stone occurs, and for each use of a translated name the corresponding word in the original text. There were distinguishing signs for each prince; each had a flag and a different color for every flag, corresponding to the precious stones on the breast of Aaron… Reuben’s stone was odem and the color of his flag was red; and embroidered thereon were mandrakes. Proverbs 3:15. in Exodus 28:17; 39:10; Ezekiel 28:13, English Versions of the Bible translation of Hebrew bareqeth; in Exodus 28:18 margin; 39:11; Ezekiel 27:16; 28:13, the Revised Version margin translation of Hebrew nophekh; in Isaiah 54:12, English Versions of the Bible translation of Hebrew 'eqdach; Tobit 13:17; Ecclesiasticus 32:5, English Versions of the Bible translation of Greek anthrax. Formerly, an agate that was banded with well-defined colours was the onyx. And he … Agate was supposed to void the toxicity of all poisons and counteract the infection of contagious diseases; if held in the hand or in the mouth, it was believed to alleviate fever. 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. in Revelation 21:20: the 12th foundation of the New Jerusalem; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) translates amethystus; English Versions of the Bible "amethyst." "leek-green stone" (Genesis 2:12), sardion (Exodus 25:7; 35:9), smaragdos (Exodus 28:9; 35:27), berullion, probably, through interchange of words in the Hebrew text (Exodus 28:20; 39:13), soom (1 Chronicles 29:2), onux (Job 28:16) and perhaps onuchion (Ezekiel 28:13); Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) translates onyx (Ezekiel 28:13), lapis sardonychus (Job 28:16) and lapis onychinus elsewhere; English Versions of the Bible translates "onyx"; the Revised Version margin translates "beryl" (except in Ezekiel 28:13). Theophrastus describes it as: "Its colour is red and of such a kind that when it is held against the sun it resembles a burning coal." The occidental amethyst is of the silex family and different in composition from the oriental stone. It was said to be brought from an island in the Red Sea, off the coast of Arabia. Most Relevant Verses. Ruby. The twelve stones of the breastplate and the two stones of the shoulder-ornaments were considered by the Jews to be the most This also explains the difficulty experienced in scriptural translation. These differences suggest that there were different Septuagint translators, even for different chapters of the same book, and that little care was taken by them to be consistent with one another in the translation of technical terms. Some of the best specimens have been brought from India. The stone may have been a yellowish-green plasma (chalcedony, crypto-crystalline silica) or, as suggested by King, pale chrysoberyl (aluminate of beryllium); it is not the chrysoprase of the present day, which is an apple-green chalcedony (colored by nickel). Whether or not this stone is really diamond cannot be established. The word tharsis very likely points to the origin of the gem (Tarshish). The difference between beryl, aquamarine, and emerald is determined by the colouring and the peculiar shade of each. Speaking generally, it is more accurate than his earlier treatise as regards the history of those times of which he had no direct knowledge; its description of the breastplate is more precise as regards the arrangement of the stones, and is therefore the one to which the greater weight must be given. The Tyrians traded in precious stones supplied by Syria. They are a part of the ritual the people must do to communicate with God, both to worship God and atone for their sins. Jesus is the judge of the living and the dead. sapphirus. 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. More or less brilliant, too, according to the angle at which they were viewed, they presented an appearance like that of veins and scales." 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). nat. The Arabian sardonyx was "characterized by several different colors, black or azure for the base and vermilion surrounded with a line of rich white for the upper part, not without a certain glimpse of purple as the white passes into the red.". Confusion is introduced in another way. The Authorized Version gives if as the rendering of the Heb. India produces them, and they are rarely to be found elsewhere. Jud., III, vii, 6) also has "amethyst"; the Targum of Onkelos and the Syriac Version have "calf's eye", indicating the colour. It seems to have been obtained by the Jews from India and Egypt. Therefore in the Word truths are signified by stones; insomuch that not only by the stones of the altar, but also by the precious stones upon the shoulders of Aaron's ephod and upon the breastplate of judgment, there were signified holy truths which are of love. In the time of Pliny 8 varieties were recognized; he says that beryllus was already thought by some to be "of the same nature as the smaragdus, or at least closely analogous. 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. Amethysts: the 8th foundation of the most esteemed beryls are those which in color resemble the pure of! The Bible translates `` sardonyx '' ( in Exodus only ) fourth row, the! 5Th foundation of the heavenly city 1847 ), representing Benjamin,,... Engraving on precious stones are a warning about death and judgment mid-1800 ’ s not. 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