{"id":8775,"date":"2023-04-03T03:00:39","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T10:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rockngem.com\/?p=8775"},"modified":"2023-04-12T06:45:07","modified_gmt":"2023-04-12T13:45:07","slug":"gemstones-of-the-bible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rockngem.com\/gemstones-of-the-bible\/","title":{"rendered":"Gemstones of the Bible"},"content":{"rendered":"

What are the gemstones of the Bible? The Bible makes many general references to \u201cprecious stones\u201d and \u201cjewels,\u201d most often as metaphors for such attributes as value, wealth, beauty, and durability. It also mentions 23 specific gem materials, among them 20 mineral gemstones<\/a> and three biogenic gem materials like amber, coral and pearls.<\/p>\n

Gemstones of the Bible – Sacred Breastplate<\/h2>\n

The Bible\u2019s most celebrated \u2013 and debated \u2013 reference to gemstones regards the sacred breastplate of the high priest of the Israelites, also known as \u201cAaron\u2019s breastplate\u201d and the \u201cbreastplate of judgment.\u201d Described in detail in the Old Testament\u2019s Book of Exodus, this golden breastplate was set with 12 different gemstones arranged in four rows of three gemstones each. Each gemstone was identified in ancient Hebrew, the original language of the Old Testament.<\/p>\n

But the text of the original Hebrew Bible and the meanings of many ancient Hebrew words are now largely lost. Our knowledge of the Old Testament as presented in the Bible\u2019s many English versions is based on 2,500 years of scholarly interpretation of Greek, Aramaic, and Latin translations<\/p>\n

Gemstones of the Bible – Debating Identities<\/h2>\n

Not surprisingly, the identities of the breastplate gemstones have become confused. Modern English versions of the Bible collectively offer more than 40 different identities for the 12 breastplate gemstones. Most are modern names of gemstones, minerals, and mineral varieties, along with some archaic English names and several untranslated Greek and Latin names.<\/p>\n

\"gemstones-of-the-bible\"<\/a>
Pin this post to save this information for later.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Adding to the confusion, modern artistic depictions of the breastplate often disregard the probable color and transparency of its gemstones. Many depict the gemstones as faceted, transparent gems, even though faceting as we know it today was not developed until about 1400 C.E. Prior to the first century B.C.E., most gemstones were opaque or translucent and were fashioned as cabochons.<\/p>\n

For centuries, historians, theologians, and scholars have debated the identities of the breastplate gemstones and agree only on the general historical background of the breastplate itself. According to biblical scholars, the Old Testament was written over a period of 1,000 years, roughly from 1400 to 400 B.C.E. The breastplate was created about 1450 B.C.E. during the time of Moses. The Book of Exodus, which contains the breastplate description, is based almost entirely on oral tradition and was written in stages between 600 and 400 B.C.E.<\/p>\n

Gemstones of the Bible – Tricky Translations<\/h2>\n

Most interpretations and translations of the names of the breastplate gemstones were provided by scholars with little, if any, geological, gemological, mineralogical, or sometimes even historical, awareness. Their translations are based largely on tradition, limited gemstone knowledge, personal whim, or simple phonetics \u2013 sapphieros must mean \u201csapphire,\u201d and topazos must means \u201ctopaz.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"gemstones-of-the-bible\"
The Septuagint\u2019s topazos, widely translated as \u201ctopaz,\u201d is actually peridot, the gem variety of olivine. (Wikimedia Commons)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But Dr. James A. Harrell, Professor Emeritus of Geology at the University of Toledo<\/a>, has taken a different approach to identify breastplate gemstones. A specialist in the archaeological geology of Egypt and the Middle East, Harrell presents his ideas in a paper published in the Bulletin for Biblical Research and titled \u201cOld Testament Gemstones: A Philological, Geological, and Archaeological Assessment of the Septuagint.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Septuagint is a third through first-century B.C.E. Greek translation of the original Hebrew Bible. The name \u201cSeptuagint\u201d stems from the Latin septu gint, meaning \u201cseventy\u201d and refers to the number of Jewish scholars who worked on the translation. As a first-generation translation, the Septuagint is the most direct linguistic link to the identities of the breastplate gemstones.<\/p>\n

Gemstones of the Bible – Breastplate Order<\/h2>\n

In his research, Harrell considered all Septuagint passages that mention gemstones and not just those related to the breastplate. He also consulted numerous other contemporaneous ancient texts that describe gemstones that are likely the same as those in the breastplate.<\/p>\n

Historically, Harrell considered the gemstones that were known to be in use in the greater biblical region (southwestern Asia, Egypt, and the eastern Mediterranean) during the first millennium B.C.E. He also applied geological criteria to gemstone identification and drew upon his own field research and personal examination of ancient gemstones in museum collections.<\/p>\n

As described in Exodus, the order of the breastplate gemstones progresses from right to left, as does ancient Hebrew writing. The first stone in each row, therefore, appears at the right and the third stone in each row at the left. In the following discussion, the stones are identified by the transliteration of their Septuagint Greek names that have so confused translators.<\/p>\n

Sardion<\/h2>\n
\"gemstones-of-the-bible\"
The Septuagint\u2019s sardion is carnelian, a translucent, red microcrystalline quartz that, as beads and cabochons, was the most popular gemstone during the biblical period. (Steve Voynick)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sardion is the first stone in row one of the breastplate. It has been translated as \u201ccarnelian<\/a>,\u201d \u201csard,\u201d \u201csardonyx,\u201d and \u201cred jasper.\u201d Archaeological recoveries indicate that carnelian and sard, both translucent forms of microcrystalline quartz, were the most common gemstones throughout the biblical region during the first millennium B.C.E. Carnelian is reddish; sard is brownish. Sardonyx is a brown-and-white-banded type of sard. Red jasper, an opaque form of microcrystalline quartz, also served as a gemstone, but not nearly to the extent of carnelian.<\/p>\n

In his Naturalis Historia, the Roman scholar Pliny the Elder (Gaius Plinius Secundus, 23-79 C.E.) describes sardion as a widely used, \u201cfiery, red gemstone.\u201d As a gemstone for the breastplate, Harrell concludes that bright-red carnelian would certainly have been chosen over sard, sardonyx, or red jasper.<\/p>\n

Topazos<\/h2>\n

Topazos is the second stone in row one of the breastplate. Topazos has been translated as \u201ctopaz,\u201d \u201cchrysolite,\u201d \u201cemerald,\u201d and \u201cperidot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Its earliest reference, written in the second century B.C.E., describes \u201ca delightful, transparent stone similar to glass and with a wonderful golden appearance.\u201d Another calls it \u201ctopazion Ethiopias,\u201d meaning \u201ctopazos from Ethiopia.\u201d During the biblical period, \u201cEthiopia\u201d referred to Egypt\u2019s Eastern Desert and nearby Red Sea islands.<\/p>\n

\"gemstones-of-the-bible\"
Malachite is considered as an alternative possibility, after turquoise, for the Septuagint\u2019s smaragdos. (Steve Voynick<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pliny writes that this stone came from the Red Sea island of Topazum (now Zabargad Island). He calls it the largest of the precious gemstones and the only one that is affected by an iron file \u2013 a description that indicates topazos is peridot, the gem variety of the olivine-group mineral forsterite (magnesium silicate). At Mohs 6.5, peridot is just soft enough to be scratched with an iron file, unlike the harder emerald and quartz gemstones. And the basalt formations of Zabargad Island, a classic peridot locality, have yielded very large peridot crystals.<\/p>\n

Topaz, or basic aluminum fluorosilicate, is much harder than peridot and does not occur in basalt. Topaz was given its modern name in the 18th century when it was confused with the ancient topazos. Harrell is confident that the breastplate\u2019s topazos is definitely peridot.<\/p>\n

Smaragdos<\/h2>\n
\"gemstones-of-the-bible\"
Turquoise, a very popular gemstone throughout the biblical region since the third millennium B.C.E, is probably the smaragdos in the Septuagint description of the breastplate. (Steve Voynick)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Smaragdos is the third stone in row one of the breastplate. Smaragdos has been translated as \u201cberyl,\u201d \u201ccarbuncle,\u201d \u201cemerald,\u201d \u201cmalachite,\u201d and \u201cturquoise.\u201d In his On Stones, the Greek scholar Theophrastus (ca. 371 – ca. 287 B.C.E.) writes that smaragdos refers to a group of bluish and greenish stones and that it is \u201cgood for the eyes,\u201d implying a cool, soothing color. He also mentions that blocks of smaragdos large enough to fashion into obelisks were common.<\/p>\n

Emerald was not readily available until mines in Egypt\u2019s Eastern Desert opened in the late first century B.C.E. At that time, smaragdos was also referred to as emerald, probably because of its similar green color. But the size of the smaragdos that Theophrastus describes certainly does not indicate emerald.<\/p>\n

Some early descriptions of smaragdos would fit malachite. During the first millennium B.C.E., malachite was mined as the primary ore of copper on Cyprus and the Sinai Peninsula, and in Israel\u2019s Timna Valley. Malachite was associated with such colorful, oxidized copper minerals as turquoise, azurite, and chrysocolla, which sometimes occurred in large, intermixed blocks.<\/p>\n

Anthrax<\/h2>\n
\"gemstones-of-the-bible\"
This Roman gold pin from the first century B.C.E. is set with an almandine-pyrope garnet cabochon that is the Septuagint\u2019s anthrax, a popular gemstone throughout the biblical period. (Steve Voynick)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Anthrax is the first stone in row two of the breastplate. Anthrax has been translated as \u201ccarbuncle,\u201d \u201cemerald,\u201d \u201cruby,\u201d \u201cturquoise,\u201d and \u201cred garnet.\u201d The Greek word anthrax refers both to hot embers and to a gemstone with a similar, glowing red color. Theophrastus describes it as \u201cvery rare and small, and carved into signets,\u201d and compares its color when held against the sun to that of a glowing, red coal. He notes anthrax being \u201cangular and containing hexagons.\u201d Garnet group minerals, which crystallize in the cubic system, often occur as spheroids with hexagonal faces.<\/p>\n

Pliny, who refers to anthrax as carbunculus, notes its \u201cexceptional brilliance.\u201d The substantial density of garnet-group minerals produces a high index of refraction and thus greater \u201cbrilliance\u201d than many other red gemstones. Pliny also observes an amethyst-violet tone in the basic red color of anthrax. The almandine-pyrope garnet series, which has purplish-red colors, were the garnets mainly used in antiquity. Although garnet was occasionally found in the biblical region, most came from India after the third century B.C.E. Harrell concludes that the breastplate\u2019s anthrax is red garnet, most likely a member of the almandine-pyrope garnet series.<\/p>\n

Sappheiros<\/h2>\n

Sappheirosis the second stone in row two of the breastplate.<\/p>\n

Sappheiros, the origin of our modern word \u201csapphire,\u201d has been almost universally translated in the Bible as \u201csapphire.\u201d Yet sappheiros is actually lapis lazuli, a prized gemstone and a major trading commodity throughout the biblical period.<\/p>\n

\"gemstones-of-the-bible\"
An engraved amulet of lapis lazuli from the first century
B.C.E.: Scholars agree that the
Septuagint\u2019s sappheiros is lapis lazuli.
(Wikimedia
Commons)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lapis lazuli is a metamorphic rock consisting of lazurite, calcite, pyrite, and other minerals. Lazurite, a basic sodium calcium aluminum sulfate chlorosilicate, is the primary mineral in lapis lazuli and the cause of its striking blue color. In top-quality lapis lazuli, pyrite appears as glittering, disseminated specks. Many ancient writers have compared the dark-blue color and glittering pyrite specks of sappheiros to a star-filled night sky.<\/p>\n

Since 4000 B.C.E., the Sar-e-Sang mines in northeastern Afghanistan have produced the world\u2019s finest lapis. The corundum gemstone we now know as sapphire was not available in the first millennium B.C.E. Had it been available, its extreme hardness would have made it very difficult to work.<\/p>\n

There is no doubt that the breastplate\u2019s sappheiros is not sapphire, but lapis lazuli.<\/p>\n

Iaspis<\/h2>\n

Iaspis is the third stone in row two of the breastplate.<\/p>\n

\"gemstones-of-the-bible\"
Green chalcedony portrait bust of Julia Drusilla or Julia Livilla. Roman, made about AD 37-39. GR 1907.4-15.1 (Gem 3946)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Bible\u2019s long list of iaspis translations include \u201cberyl,\u201d \u201cdiamond,\u201d \u201crock crystal,\u201d \u201cemerald,\u201d \u201cjasper,\u201d \u201conyx,\u201d \u201cmoonstone,\u201d \u201cchrysoprase,\u201d and \u201camazonite.\u201d Theophrastus writes that iaspis was carved into seals, and groups it with smaragdos, implying that it has a bluish or greenish color.<\/p>\n

Pliny describes it as \u201ca highly prized stone,\u201d translucent and with blue and green varieties. Although these descriptions are general, iaspis could be greenish microcrystalline quartz, perhaps a color variation of jasper. Iaspis is also the origin of the modern word \u201cjasper.\u201d<\/p>\n

But another possibility is amazonite, the green-to-blue variety of microcline feldspar, which was mined in Egypt during the first millennium B.C.E. and saw limited use as a gemstone. However, Harrell believes that iaspis is more likely a greenish microcrystalline quartz, perhaps a form similar to chrysoprase.<\/p>\n

Ligyrion<\/h2>\n

Ligyrion is the first stone in row three of the breastplate.<\/p>\n

\"gemstones-of-the-bible\"
Biblical scholars agree that the Septuagint\u2019s ligyrion is amber, a popular gem material throughout the biblical period. (Steve Voynick)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although ancient literature consistently indicates that ligyrion is amber, a fossilized tree resin, it has also been translated as \u201czircon,\u201d \u201ctourmaline,\u201d and \u201copal.\u201d The ancient Greeks knew ligyrion as elektron and were aware of its electrostatic properties. Rubbing ligyrion with wool cloth produces a strong negative electrostatic charge that attracts feathers and other light, positively charged materials.<\/p>\n

Theophrastus writes that elektron is found in Liguria, an area of northwestern Italy and southeastern France, where it is \u201cdug from the earth\u201d and \u201chas the power of attraction.\u201d Other writers use the words elektron and ligyrion interchangeably.<\/p>\n

In his Naturalis Historia, Pliny notes the sources of ligyrion, which he calls sucinum, as Liguria and the \u201cnorthern sea\u201d \u2013 the latter referring to the Baltic Sea coast. The Baltic coast supplied the Roman Empire with large quantities of amber and remains the world\u2019s most prolific amber source.<\/p>\n

Some biblical historians have translated ligyrion as yellowish or brownish zircon; others as tourmaline, likely because of tourmaline\u2019s electrostatic properties. But neither zircon nor the tourmaline-group minerals were used as gemstones during the first millennium B.C.E., whereas amber was common. Harrell believes that ligyrion is definitely amber.<\/p>\n

Achates<\/h2>\n

Achates is the second stone in row three of the breastplate.<\/p>\n

\"gemstones-of-the-bible\"
The Septuagint\u2019s achates is positively agate; achates is also the origin of the English word \u201cagate.\u201d (Wikimedia Commons)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Achates has usually been translated as \u201cagate,\u201d which is almost certainly correct. In On Stones, Theophrastus discusses achates as \u201ca handsome stone from the river Achetes in Sicily that fetches a high price.\u201d The Achetes River (now the Drillo River) is the root of the English word \u201cagate\u201d and a classic agate locality.<\/p>\n

Pliny describes different colors and patterns of achates, all of which fit agate. He also writes that achates \u201cwas once held in high esteem, but now enjoys none,\u201d apparently indicating that formerly valuable translucent and opaque gemstones had fallen out of favor in Rome by the first century C.E. and had been replaced by transparent stones from India.<\/p>\n

Amethystos<\/h2>\n

Amethystos is the third stone in row three of the breastplate. (row three, third stone)<\/p>\n

\"gemstones-of-the-bible\"
Biblical scholars agree that the Septuagint\u2019s
amethystos is amethyst. (Steve Voynick)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Greek word amethystos, the root of the English word \u201camethyst,\u201d has been translated only as amethyst and has no conflicting identifications. Amethystos means \u201cwithout drunkenness;\u201d the stone was believed to prevent drunkenness or to alleviate its unpleasant aftereffects.<\/p>\n

Theophrastus discusses amethystos as \u201ctransparent … with the color of red wine … and found by splitting certain rock.\u201d This description fits amethyst, because red wine is actually purplish-red, and amethyst often occurs in geodes that must be \u201csplit.\u201d Pliny describes the stone as \u201cviolet\u201d and notes that it comes from Egypt, where the Abu Diyeiba mine produced amethyst throughout the first millennium B.C.E. The ancient descriptions of amethystos can only fit amethyst.<\/p>\n

This story about gemstones of the Bible previously appeared\u00a0in\u00a0<\/span>Rock & Gem<\/em>\u00a0magazine.\u00a0Click here to subscribe!<\/a> Story and photos by Steve Voynick.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What are the gemstones of the Bible? The Bible makes many general references to \u201cprecious stones\u201d and \u201cjewels,\u201d most often as metaphors for such attributes as value, wealth, beauty, and durability. It also mentions 23 specific gem materials, among them 20 mineral gemstones and three biogenic gem materials like amber, coral and pearls. Gemstones of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2974217,"featured_media":8766,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[188,1857,186],"tags":[404,1039,225,1040,686,1041],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rockngem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8775"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rockngem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rockngem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rockngem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2974217"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rockngem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8775"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.rockngem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8775\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20093,"href":"https:\/\/www.rockngem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8775\/revisions\/20093"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rockngem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rockngem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rockngem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8775"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rockngem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}