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.