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All Things Bright & Beautiful Semi-precious Stones from the Bible
The 12 stones of the breastplate of the High Priest - "Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there was a ruby, a topaz and a beryl; in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald; in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. They were mounted in gold filigree settings. There were twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel…"
Exodus 28:17-20, Ex. 39:10-14
"The 12 stones of the Foundation of the New Temple of Jerusalem, as mentioned in Revelation" - A summary by J. Michael Howard - "O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones." Is. 54:11-12 “The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.” Rev. 21:19-21 In the following list, the ancient or biblical name is given, followed by the modern name (the original Hebrew name is given in italics). Sardius or Carnelian: Hebrew name of Odem. Carnelian is a translucent hard fine-grained variety of orange- red quartz. Rev. 4:3, Rev. 21:20 Topaz or Peridot: Hebrew name of Pitdah. The Hebrew word appears to be derived from a Sanscrit word meaning yellow. Some theologians think it could have been serpentine. But the topazius of ancient writers almost always signified the gem variety of olivine called peridot. Ex. 28:17, Ex. 39:10, Rev. 21:20
Chalcedony or Emerald: Hebrew name of Bareketh. Both minerals are relatively resistant to weathering and might be found in river gravels or on the surface of the ground. It is known that there were active emerald mines during this time providing this stone to Egypt. Ex. 28:18, Ex. 39:11, Rev. 4:3, Rev. 21:19
Emerald or Garnet: Hebrew name of Nophek. The literal translation of the ancient Hebrew name means glowing coal. So this could not be the green stone we call emerald, but instead is thought to be a bright red variety of garnet: Almandine. See above. Almandine is a deep red variety of garnet which was called Carbuncle by the ancients. The closest known source of any significance is India. Is. 54:12 Sapphire or Lapis Lazuli: The Hebrew name of Sappir. The sacred character of this stone was attested to by the tradition that the Law given to Moses on the Mount was engraved on tablets of sapphire. This is not the blue sapphire we think of as the faceted gemstone, but instead the rich blue stone now relatively popular in jewelry known as lapis or lapis lazuli. It was well known and often used by the ancients as a blue paint pigment when ground to a powder. Much of what is now sold comes from Afghanistan.
Ex. 28:18, Ex. 39:11, Is. 54:11, Rev. 21:19
Sardonyx or Onyx: Hebrew name of Yahalom. The traditional interpretation is onyx. Onyx is a fairly common soft stone, composed of calcium carbonate and deposited in caves.
Ex. 28:9, Ex. 28:20, Ex. 39:13, Rev. 21:20
Jacinth or Agate: Hebrew name of Lesham. The name signifies the tribe of Joseph. Brown agate is known to have been commonly worn by the Hebrews during their early history and, therefore, would seem to have greater significance as one of the New Temple's foundation stones.
Ex. 28:19, Ex. 39:12, Is. 54:12, Rev. 21:20
Amethyst: Hebrew name of Ahlamah. The Hebrew word is directly translated as amethyst. Abundant supplies of this violet to purple variety of crystalline quartz were available from both Arabia and Syria. Ex. 28:19, Ex. 39:12, Rev. 21:20
Chrysoprase or Citrine: Hebrew name of Tarshish. The original stone of the Hebrews came from Phoenician mines in what is now Spain. Black quartz crystal was heated until it turned a pale golden brown color. The Hebrew word literally means golden stone and was given to the region that produced it, Tartessus. Rev. 21:20 Jasper: The ancient Hebrew name was Yashpheh. A translucent stone of green hue, jasper has been known from early times as a fine-grained variety of quartz. An early variety discovered in India and still mined there today is called bloodstone. Ex. 28:20, Ex. 39:13, Rev. 4:3, Rev. 21:11, Rev. 21:18-19
Onyx or Turquoise: Hebrew name of Shoham. The discovery of ancient turquoise mines on the Sinai Peninsula, which were worked by the Egyptians, reveal the distinct possibility this stone was actually pale green or pastel blue turquoise. Ex. 28:18, Ex. 39:11, Ezek. 27:16
From Rockhounding Arkansas 1998 http://rockhoundingAR.com
This is a list of other semi-precious stones and metals mentioned in the Bible:
Alabaster – Mt. 26:7 Ruby – Ex. 28:17, Ex. 39:10, Ez. 27 :16 Coral – Ez. 27:16 Chrysolite – Ex. 28:20, Ex. 39:13, Rev. 21:20 Crystal – Rev. 4:6, Rev. 21:11, Rev. 22:1 Marble – Esther 1:6 Mother-of-pearl – Esther 1:6 Pearl – Rev. 21:21 precious stones - Ez. 27:22, Is. 54:12, Rev. 21:19 Copper – Deut. 8:9, Ezra 8:27 (Darby Trans.), Matt. 10:9 Silver – Ez. 27:12 Gold - Ex. 28:20, Ez. 27:22, Rev. 21:18, Rev. 21:21
Esther 1:6 –“ There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones.” Ezra 8:27- "…and two vessels of shining copper, precious as gold. Ezekiel 27:16-"… they exchanged turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies for your merchandise. Ezekiel 27:22 - …they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices and precious stones, and gold. Matt. 10:9 – Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts… Matthew 26:7 – …a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He was reclining at the table. Rev. 4:3 - And the One who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.
Rebecca House 734.395.1986 www.allthingsbrightandbeautiful.us rahouse@allthingsbrightandbeautiful.us
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