Lands, plants, and measures

Precious Stones of the Scripture

Blackwood’s Comprehensive Aids to the Study of the Bible · Vol. I, p. 52

Begins on Vol. I, p. 52

Stones	Descriptive and General Remarks
Ad'amant?	The Hebrew word is twice translated thus (in both instances it is used metaphorically—Ezek. iii.; Zech. vii.); in a third instance, Jer. xvii., it is rendered "Diamond." It means a very hard stone, and the latter is the hardest we know of.
Ag'ate	One of the stones in the High-priest's breastplate; a variety of quartz occurring in nodules, semi-transparent and uncrystallized.
Am'ber	This was probably not the substance known among us by that name, but rather a metal; some suppose it was a mixture of brass (or copper) and gold, others regard it as brass highly polished.
Am'ethyst	In the High-priest's breastplate; violet, bordering on purple, composed of a strong blue and a deep red.
Ber'yl	In the High-priest's breastplate, also in the foundation of the New Jerusalem; a pellucid gem of a bluish green color, of the genus Emerald, though less valuable.
Car'buncle	In the High-priest's breastplate; supposed by some to have been the Garnet, by others the Emerald; it was certainly a bright flashing gem.
Chalced'ony	One of the stones in the foundation of the New Jerusalem; there is great diversity of opinion concerning it; possibly it was a species of Agate, variegated and cloudy.
Chrys'olite	In the foundation of the New Jerusalem; probably a species of Topaz; a transparent gem of yellowish green color; the name signifies the golden stone.
Chrysopra'sus	In the foundation of the New Jerusalem; a species of Beryl, resembling the Chrysolite, except that it has a bluish shade in its golden green.
Di'amond	In the High-priest's breastplate; it is too well known to demand more than mention.
Em'erald	In the High-priest's breastplate, and in the foundation of the New Jerusalem; see particularly Rev. iv. 3; requires no description here: its superb beauty is well known. Anciently called Smaradus.
Ja'cinth	In the High-priest's breastplate, and in the foundation of the New Jerusalem; a handsome gem of a deep reddish yellow; identical with the Ligure of Ex. xxviii. and xxxix.
Jas'per	In the High-priest's breastplate, and in the foundation of the New Jerusalem; a species of quartz, red, yellow or green, usually handsomely spotted.
Lig'ure	See Jacinth.
On'yx	In the High-priest's breastplate; also, two of them, with the names of the heads of the twelve tribes engraved thereon. were placed on the shoulders of the ephod; it was much used like the Cameo is now, the device being cut on the opaque white, while the darker stripes served as border and groundwork; it was white, blue and gray, or brown, in layers.
Ru'by	A valuable gem of rose-red color, class Corundum; in High-priest's breastplate (rendered Sardius); some have thought that the Agate of our version was the Ruby, as that rendered Ruby in two passages was probably Red Coral.
Sap'phire	The Hebrew name signifies splendor; it is second only to the Diamond in hardness, lustre and value; generally of beautiful pure blue, sometimes blue, red and yellow combined; in High-priest's breastplate.
Sar'dius	Supposed to be the Ruby; rendered Sardine, in Rev. iv. 3, where it is thought to be Cornelian.
Sar'donyx	A variety of the Onyx, with a shade of translucent deep orange brown; in the foundation of the New Jerusalem.
To'paz	A superb yellow or golden green gem; in High-priest's breastplate, and in the foundation of the New Jerusalem. Some have supposed that it is our Chrysolite.