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Turban and Breastplate

Turban and Breastplate


Turban and Breastplate

Sardius (sard, or sardin) is a transpar ent reddish stone, a bit darker than carnelian. The Hebrew word suggests the meaning of “redness.” The “ruby” (28:18 TEV), though well known today, was probably not known in the ancient Near East, for no samples have been found in any of the excavated sites.

Topaz is a translucent stone, usually yellow or brownish yellow. Some scholars equate it with chrysolite, which usually is olive greenish in color. The Hebrew word does not suggest any color, but the Septuagint translates it as topazion.

Carbuncle is an archaic word for any one of several red precious stones. “Garnet” (28:18 TEV) is a translucent dark reddish brown stone. But the Septuagint identifies it as green beryl, possibly emerald.

Emerald is a rich green stone, a superior quality of beryl. Some scholars have suggested the Hebrew word refers to malachite, which is green, or turquoise, and usually a bluish green. The Hebrew word gives no indication as to color.

Sapphire is the only one of the twelve stones on which there is general agreement in the eight translations listed. But it is an extremely hard stone, making it difficult for engraving. Some have suggested it could have been lapis lazuli. The color, however, was probably an azure blue. (See the comment at 24:10.)

The word for diamond has the root meaning to strike or hammer, suggesting hardness. The Septuagint suggests jasper, a stone widely used for engraving in the ancient world. Many scholars believe this is what is intended here, but then this conflicts with the last stone in the fourth row. The color may have been clear.

28:19–20

Jacinth is a reddish-orange stone, quite different from the bluish-green “turquoise” in 28:20 TEV, REB, and TOT. The hyacinth (NJB) is similar in color but not as bright as the jacinth. The Hebrew word, found only here and in 39:12, offers no help.

The agate is a translucent quartz with white and brown concentric bands. There is general agreement that this is the meaning of the Hebrew word, but this word also is found only here and in 39:12.

The amethyst is a deep purple quartz frequently used in beads in ancient Egypt and Palestine. Some believe the Hebrew word, found only here and in 39:12, is related to the Egyptian word for red or brown jasper.
Beryl is usually sea-green or bluish-green in color, but it may also be yellow or pink. The emerald is a superior kind of beryl. The word used in the Septuagint suggests that it was a yellow stone, possibly yellow jasper or yellow topaz, like chrysolite.

Onyx is the same stone mentioned in verse 9, two of which were to be attached to the shoulder straps of the ephod. (See also 25:7.) Onyx is the traditional translation of the Hebrew word, but scholars today are divided as to whether it refers to the onyx or the “carnelian” (28:20 TEV), which is a red stone. TAN identifies this as lapis lazuli.
Jasper is usually a greenish-colored stone.

They shall be set in gold filigree is literally “they shall be woven [in] gold in their settings.” The word for “woven” is the basis for filigree, as explained at verse 11, and the word for “settings” comes from a word meaning “to fill.” It refers to the frame or bed into which a jewel is mounted. (The same word is used in 25:7.)


PRECIOUS STONES FOR THE BREASTPLATE OF THE HIGH PRIEST

Row 1 (verse 17)
‘odem
pitedah
bareqeth
28:20 RSV
sardius
topaz
carbuncle
NAB
carnelian
topaz
emerald
NEB
sardin
chrysolite
green feldspar
28:20 TEV
ruby
topaz
garnet
28:20 NIV
ruby
topaz
beryl
TAN
carnelian
chrysolite
emerald
NJB
sard
topaz
emerald
REB
sardin
chrysolite
green feldspar
28:20 NRSV
carnelian
chrysolite
emerald
28:20 CEV
carnelian
chrysolite
emerald
Row 2 (verse 18)
nofek
sappir
yahalom
28:20 RSV
emerald
sapphire
diamond
NAB
garnet
sapphire
beryl
NEB
purple garnet
lapis lazuli
jade
28:20 TEV
emerald
sapphire
diamond
28:20 NIV
turquoise
sapphire
emerald
TAN
turquoise
sapphire
amethyst
NJB
garnet
sapphire
diamond
REB
purple garnet
sapphire
jade
28:20 NRSV
turquoise
sapphire
moonstone
28:20 CEV
turquoise
sapphire
diamond
Row 3 (verse 19)
leshem
shevo
‘achelamah
28:20 RSV
jacinth
agate
amethyst
NAB
jacinth
agate
amethyst
NEB
turquoise
agate
jasper
28:20 TEV
turquoise
agate
amethyst
28:20 NIV
jacinth
agate
amethyst
TAN
jacinth
agate
crystal
NJB
hyacinth
ruby
amethyst
REB
turquoise
agate
jasper
28:20 NRSV
jacinth
agate
amethyst
28:20 CEV
jacinth
agate
amethyst
Row 4 (verse20)
tarshis
shoham
yashefeh
28:20 RSV
beryl
onyx
jasper
NAB
chrysolite
onyx
jasper
NEB
topaz
carnelian
green jasper
28:20 TEV
beryl
carnelian
jasper
28:20 NIV
chrysolite
onyx
jasper
TAN
beryl
lazpis lazuli
jasper
NJB
beryl
carnelian
jasper
REB
topaz
carnelian
jgreen asper
28:20 NRSV
beryl
onyx
jasper
28:20 CEV
beryl
onyx
jasper


Osborn, Noel D., and Howard A. Hatton. A Handbook on Exodus. New York: United Bible Societies, 1999. Print. UBS Handbook Series.

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