Precious Stones of Sacred Scripture
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Exodus 28:15-21
And thou shalt
make the rational of judgment with embroidered work of divers colours, according
to the workmanship of the ephod, of gold, violet, and purple, and scarlet
twice dyed, and fine twisted linen. It shall be four square and doubled:
it shall be the measure of a span both in length and in breadth. And thou
shalt set in it four rows of stones. In the first row shall be a sardius
stone, and a topaz, and an emerald: In the second a carbuncle, a sapphire,
and a jasper: In the third a ligurius, an agate, and an amethyst: In the
fourth a chrysolite, an onyx, and a beryl. They shall be set in gold by their
rows. And they shall have the names of the children of Israel: with twelve
names shall they be engraved, each stone with the name of one according to
the twelve tribes. |
Jewish
Encyclopedia:
The vestments of
the high priest were interpreted in three ways. The explanation of Philo
is as follows ("Vita Mosis," iii. 209): His upper garment was the symbol
of the ether, while the blossoms represented the earth, the pomegranates
typified running water, and the bells denoted the music
of the water. The ephod
corresponded to heaven, and the stones on both shoulders to the two hemispheres,
one above and the other below the earth. The six names on each of the stones
were the six signs of the zodiac, which were denoted also by the twelve names
on the breastplate. The miter was the sign of the crown which exalted the
high priest above all earthly kings.
Josephus' explanation is this ("Ant." iii. 7, § 7): The coat was the
symbol of the earth, the upper garment emblemized heaven, while the bells
and pomegranates represented thunder and lightning. The ephod typified the
four elements, and the interwoven gold denoted the glory of God. The breastplate
was in the center of the ephod, as the earth formed the center of the universe;
the girdle symbolized the ocean, the stones on the shoulders the sun and
moon, and the jewels in the breastplate the twelve signs of the zodiac, while
the miter was a token of heaven.
St. Thomas Aquinas,
Summa Theologica:
According to some, the literal reason for these vestments was that
they denoted the disposition of the terrestrial globe; as though the high-priest
confessed himself to be the minister of the Creator of the world, wherefore
it is written (Wis. 18:24): "In the robe" of Aaron "was the whole world"
described. For the linen breeches signified the earth out of which the flax
grows. The surrounding belt signified the ocean which surrounds the earth.
The violet tunic denoted the air by its color: its little bells betoken the
thunder; the pomegranates, the lightning. The ephod, by its many colors,
signified the starry heaven; the two onyx stones denoted the two hemispheres,
or the sun and moon. The twelve precious stones on the breast are the twelve
signs of the zodiac: and they are said to have been placed on the rational
because in heaven, are the types [rationes] of earthly things, according
to Job 38:33: "Dost thou know the order of heaven, and canst thou set down
the reason [rationem] thereof on the earth?" The turban or tiara signified
the empyrean: the golden plate was a token of God, the governor of the universe.
In St. John the
Divine's vision of the Heavenly Jerusalem, the City stood on a foundation
of 12 stones, each correlating with one of the stones of the breast plate.
The stones, though, are in a different order -- with the last stone of the
breastplate (the stone associated with the tribe of Benjamin) listed first.
Apocalypse 21:19-21
And the foundations
of the wall of the city were adorned with all manner of precious stones.
The first foundation was jasper: the second, sapphire: the third; a chalcedony:
the fourth, an emerald: The fifth, sardonyx: the sixth, sardius: the seventh,
chrysolite: the eighth, beryl: the ninth, a topaz: the tenth, a chrysoprasus:
the eleventh, a jacinth: the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates are
twelve pearls, one to each: and every several gate was of one several pearl.
And the street of the city was pure gold, as it were, transparent glass.
The true identity
of these stones is a fascinating matter -- but one in much dispute due to
the ancients' not having precise names for the various rocks and minerals.
Below is a table which indicates the names of the stones as given in different
texts, and "best guesses" as to their modern identities according to the
Catholic and Jewish Encyclopediae. |
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Key:
BP: Breast Plate
FS: Foundation Stone
DR: Douay-Rheims
KJV: King James Version
NIV: New International Version
NASB: New American Standard Bible
CE: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1905-1917
JE: Jewish Encyclopedia, 1901-1906
BP |
FS |
Hebrew acc. to
CE (and JE) |
Septuagint |
Josephus |
Vulgate |
DR |
KJV |
NIV |
NASB |
CE |
JE |
1 |
6 |
Arm |
Sardion |
Sardonyx |
Sardius |
Sardius |
Sardius |
Ruby |
Ruby |
Red Carnelian,
a species of Chalcedony |
Sard or Blood
red Jasper |
2 |
9 |
Ghtrh
(JE: Ptdh) |
Topazion |
Topaz |
Topazius |
Topaz |
Topaz |
Topaz |
Topaz |
Chrysolite |
Chrysolite
or Topaz |
3 |
4 |
Brqm (JE:
Yhlm) |
Smaragdos |
Smaragdos |
Smaragdus |
Emerald |
Carbuncle |
Beryl |
Emerald |
Emerald |
Rock
Crystal |
4 |
3 |
Gphr
(JE: Nfk) |
Anthrax |
Anthrax |
Carbunculus |
Chalcedony |
Emerald |
Turqoise |
Turquoise |
Oriental
Ruby |
Garnet or
Emerald |
5 |
2 |
Mghry |
Sappheiron |
Sappheiros |
Sapphirus |
Sapphire |
Sapphire |
Sapphire |
Sapphire |
Lapis lazuli
or Sapphire |
Lapis lazuli
or Sapphire |
6 |
8 |
Yhlm
(JE: Yshphh) |
Onychion |
Beryllos |
Beryllus |
Beryl |
Diamond |
Emerald |
Diamond |
Beryl, Emerald,
or Aquamarine |
Opaque stone
of green color |
7 |
11 |
lshm |
Ligurion |
Liguros |
Ligurius |
Jacinth/
Ligurius |
Ligure |
Jacinth |
Jacinth |
Crimson, red,
or orange zircon |
Amber or
Jacinth |
8 |
10 |
Shbw |
Achates |
Achates |
Achates |
Agate/
Chrysoprasus |
Agate |
Agate |
Agate |
Agate |
Agate |
9 |
12 |
Ahlmh |
Amethystos |
Amethystos |
Amethystus |
Amethyst |
Amethyst |
Amethyst |
Amethyst |
Amethyst |
Amethyst |
10 |
7 |
Trshysh |
Chrysolithos |
Chrysolithos |
Chrysolithus |
Chrysolite |
Beryl |
Chrysolite |
Beryl |
Topaz |
Beryl |
11 |
5 |
Shhm |
Beryllion |
Onyx |
Onychinus |
Onyx/Sardonyx |
Onyx |
Onyx |
Onyx |
Onyx,
quartz |
Malachite |
12 |
1 |
Yshphh |
Iaspis |
Iaepis |
Iaspis |
Jasper |
Jasper |
Jasper |
Jasper |
Jasper |
Ring-stone |
Each of the
breastplate stones had a name of one of the 12 Tribes of Israel engraved
on it, and each, as the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas indicate, is associated
with one of the Mazzaroth (Signs of the Zodiac). Though I've seen endless
variations as to which Zodiac sign goes with what Tribe, I list those mentioned
in Bullinger's "The Witness of the Stars" (1893).
At any rate, in the days of the early Church, Andreas of Cappadocia Caesarea
(A.D. 431-506) associated each of foundation stones with one of the Apostles,
including Paul, but omitting James the Greater, and, naturally, replacing
the original Judas with Matthias. I don't vouch for the quality of the
information in this last column as I've been unable to find his writings
for myself, but include what I've found in various internet sources. (Note
that sometimes the Tribe of Joseph is not counted, and the Tribe of Levi
is often not counted as a separate Tribe. Instead, the Tribes headed by Joseph's
sons, Mannaseh and Ephraim, are counted). |
Key:
After Tribes' names:
(R) born of Rachel
(L) born of Lia (Leah)
(B) born of Bala (Bilhah), Rachel's handmaid
(Z) born of Zelpha (Zilpah), Lia's handmaid
BP |
FS |
Vulgate |
Douay-Rheims |
CE |
Tribe |
Tribal Symbol (Zodiac
Sign) |
Apostle |
1 |
6 |
Sardius |
Sardius |
Carnelian,
a species of Chalcedony |
Ruben (Reuben)
(L) |
Mandrake
(Aquarius) |
Philip |
2 |
9 |
Topazius |
Topaz |
Chrysolite |
Simeon (L)
|
City of Schechem
(Pisces) |
Matthew |
3 |
4 |
Smaragdus |
Emerald |
Emerald |
Levi (L) |
Urim and Thummim
(Libra) |
John |
4 |
3 |
Carbunculus |
Chalcedony |
Oriental
Ruby |
Juda (Judah)
(L) |
Lion (Leo) |
Andrew |
5 |
2 |
Sapphirus |
Sapphire |
Lapis lazuli
or Sapphire |
Zabulon (L)
|
Ship
(Virgo) |
Paul |
6 |
8 |
Beryllus |
Beryl |
Beryl, Emerald,
or Aquamarine |
Issachar (L)
|
Sun and moon
(Cancer) |
Thomas |
7 |
11 |
Ligurius |
Jacinth/Ligurius |
Crimson, red,
or orange zircon |
Dan (B) |
Eagle or serpent
(Scorpio) |
Simon |
8 |
10 |
Achates |
Agate/Chrysoprasus |
Agate |
Gad (Z) |
Camp
(Aries) |
Jude |
9 |
12 |
Amethystus |
Amethyst |
Amethyst |
Aser (Asher)
(Z) |
Female figure
and olive-tree (Sagittarius) |
Matthias |
10 |
7 |
Chrysolithus |
Chrysolite |
Topaz |
Nephtali (Napthali)
(B) |
Deer, stag
(Capricornus) |
Bartholomew |
11 |
5 |
Onychinus |
Sardonyx |
Onyx,
quartz |
Joseph (R)
(Menasseh and Ephraim)
NT: Joseph and Menasseh; Dan omitted
Note: Manasses (Menasseh) and Ephraim were Joseph's sons |
Joseph: Egypt;
sheaf of wheat
Ephraim: Ox (Taurus)
Menasseh: Unicorn; arrows and olive branch (Taurus) |
James the
Less |
12 |
1 |
Iaspis |
Jasper |
Jasper |
Benjamin (R)
|
Wolf
(Gemini) |
Peter |
For a very interesting and beautiful passage on the meanings of gemstones
-- one which clearly shows the confusion of the matter --
see this excerpt from J.K. Huysman's novel, "The
Cathedral."
See also St. Ephraem's "The Pearl: Seven Hymns on
the Faith."
Index |