Selected Precious Stones of the Bible
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This Web Page is in two parts...

  • Part 1- Key Bible Verses About Precious Stones
  • Part 2- Table of Selected Precious Stones

Part 1- Key Bible Verses About Precious Stones

God said... O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. Isa 54.11-13 Above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. Ezek 1.26

The sin of Judah is engraved with an iron stylus; it is carved on the tablet of the heart and on the horns of Your altar with the point of a diamond. Jer 17.1
You shall put settings of stones in it [the breastplate of judgment], four rows of stones: The first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; this shall be the first row; the second row shall be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold settings.

And the stones shall have the names of the sons of Israel, twelve according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, each one with its own name; they shall be according to the twelve tribes. Ex 28.17-21; See also Ex 39.10-14		 The wall was of jasper: and the city [New Jerusalem] was pure gold, like unto clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. Rev 21.18-20

And He [God] who sat there [on the throne] was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Rev 4.3

Part 2- Table of Selected Precious Stones

Introduction

  • God decorated Heaven with the color and beauty of precious stones.
  • God LOVES beauty. He loves to share with you and me all those things that He Himself enjoys.
  • Therefore, God also created precious stones here on Earth, to be enjoyed by the human race.
  • In Biblebell's OPINION, there is reason and significance to each and every stone that God mentions in His Bible. God never does anything simply at random.
  • However, God did not see fit to specifically explain the significance of where and how He uses precious stones in His Bible.
  • Accordingly, the following Table merely depicts certain *relationships* that may [or may NOT] help you to gain an idea of the typical significance of God's precious stones.

Explanation of the Table's Columns

  • Stone & Color- From Exodus 28.17-21: A list of stones in the Priest's breastplate.
  • Tribe & Meaning- From Genesis chapter 49: A list of Jacob's sons [patriarchs of Israel's 12 tribes]. The meaning of each name is given. The sons are listed in birth sequence [1, 2, 3, etc]. Biblebell ASSUMES that the relationship between Stones (col 1) and Tribes (col 2) is by sequence of birth.
  • Marching Order- From Numbers chapter 2: the order of the 12 tribes as they encamped and marched.
  • Foundation- From Revelation 21.18-20: The place that each stone will occupy in the foundations of the wall of New Jerusalem.
  • Wilson's Comments- From "Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types," by Walter Wilson, Eerdmans press, 1957.

Stone & Color

Tribe &
Meaning

Marching Order

Foundation

Wilson's Comments

Sardius (or ruby)
red		 1-Reuben
see, a son		 South #1 #6 As we hear about the blood & accept the Savior, we become children of God. Rev 4.3- The nature & appearance of God.
Topaz
greenish-yellow		 2-Simeon
hearing		 South #2 #9 The revelations received from God are eternal in nature.
Emerald
green		 3-Levi
joined; attached		 Center #4 The eternal lordship of God. Rev 4.3- The throne room of God.
Turquoise
blue-green		 4-Judah
Yah be praised		 East #1 -- Worship & praise of God
Sapphire
blue		 5-Dan
judged		 North #1 #2 God's judgment. Isa 54.11- God's everlasting covenant with His people, Israel. Ezek 1.26- The throne of God.
Diamond
translucent		 6-Naphtali
my wrestling		 North #3 -- Jer 17.1- The indelible record which sin writes upon God's book & the sinner's soul.
Jacinth (or amber)
reddish-orange		 7-Gad
troop		 South #3 #11 Companionship
Agate
bands of color		 8-Asher
happy		 North #2 --  
Amethyst
purple		 9-Issachar
servant; hireling		 East #2 #12 Royalty & regal splendor of those who serve God.
Beryl
yellow		 10-Zebulun
dwelling		 East #3 #8  
Onyx (or carnelian)
banded w/colors		 11-Joseph
increaser		 West #1
West #2		 -- Leadership: varied in its character, diversified in its expressions.
Jasper
reddish-yellow		 12-Benjamin
son of the right hand		 West #3 #1 Rev 4.3- God's nature & appearance
Chalcedony
milky, translucent		     #3  
Sardonyx
alternating white & orange-red layers		     #5  
Chrysolite
olivine, green		     #7  
Chrysoprase
light green		     #10  

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