Exodus 28:18

an emerald Heb. nôphek, ἄνθραξ, carbunculus[a red stone, called ἄνθραξ and carbunculusbecause in the sun-light it flashes like a burning -coal," Theophr. de Lap.18]: Ezekiel 27:16; Ezekiel 28:13. As is generally agreed, the red garnet, a species of carbuncle.

a sapphire Heb. sappir, σάπφειρος, sapphirus: Exodus 24:10; Ezekiel 1:26; Ezekiel 10:1; Ezekiel 28:13; Job 28:6; Job 28:16; Song of Solomon 5:14; Isaiah 54:11; Lamentations 4:7; Revelation 21:19. Not, however, our -sapphire," which was -almost unknown before Roman imperial times," but the opaque blue lapis lazuli (so Revelation 21:19 RVm.), as is shewn by the description of the Greek and Roman -sapphire" by Theophrastus and Pliny as sprinkled with gold dust (ὥσπερ χρυσόπαστος, -inest ei et aureus pulvis"), with allusion to the particles of iron pyrites, easily mistaken by their colour and lustre for gold, frequently found in the lapis lazuli (cf. Sapphire in DB.and EB.; and Job 28:6 -And it hath dust of gold").

a diamond Heb. yahâlôm, ἴασπις, jaspis: Ezekiel 28:13. Ἴασπις, jaspis, seem so naturally to correspond to Heb. yâshephehin v.20, that many suppose an accidental transposition to have taken place in either the Heb. or the Greek text: if this be granted, yahălômwill be represented by ὀνύχιον here and Ezekiel 28:13, and by βηρύλλιον in Exodus 39:13. What the yashălômwas, is, however, uncertain. -Diamond" has nothing to recommend it: there is no evidence that this stone was known to the ancients. RVm. sardonyx (cf. Revelation 21:20), a stratified stone, consisting of layers of red and white (hence the name, the -sard" being red, and the -onyx" whitish), and in ancient times often with a layer of dark brown as well; well adapted for engraving, on account of the variety produced by the different strata (EB.Sardonyx). For the symbolism attached to the three colours, see the quaint verses quoted in DB.s.v. Onyx.