Emerald

נפכּ , Exo 28:19; Eze 27:16; Eze 28:13; σμαραγδος, Rev 21:19; Ecclesiastes 32:6; Tob 13:16; Jdt 10:21. This is generally supposed to be the same with the ancient smaragdus. It is one of the most beautiful of all the gems, and is of a bright green colour, without the admixture of any other. Pliny thus speaks of it: “The sight of no colour is more pleasant than green; for we love to view green fields and green leaves; and are still more fond of looking at the emerald: because all other greens are dull in comparison with this. Beside, these stones seem larger at a distance, by tinging the circumambient air. Their lustre is not changed by the sun, by the shade, nor by the light of lamps; but they have always a sensible moderate brilliancy.” From the passage in Ezekiel we learn that the Tyrians traded in these jewels in the marts of Syria. They probably had them from India, or the south of Persia. The true oriental emerald is very scarce, and is only found at present in the kingdom of Cambay.

Emerald, Nophech, a precious stone, named in Exo 28:18; Exo 39:11; Eze 27:16; Eze 28:13; in all of which places it is rendered Emerald in the Authorized Version. The Septuagint and Josephus render it by Carbuncle. This name, denoting a live coal, the ancients gave to several glowing red stones resembling live coals, particularly rubies and garnets. The most valued of the carbuncles seems, however, to have been the Oriental garnet, a transparent red stone, with a violet shade, and strong vitreous luster. It was engraved upon and was probably not so hard as the ruby, which, indeed, is the most beautiful and costly of the precious stones of a red color, but is so hard that it cannot easily be subjected to the graving-tool. The Hebrew nophech, in the breastplate of the high-priest, was certainly an engraved stone; and there is no evidence that the ancients could engrave the ruby, although this has in modern times been accomplished. Upon the whole, the particular kind of stone denoted by the Hebrew word must be regarded as uncertain.

A precious stone of a fine green color, found anciently in Ethiopia, but in modern times only in South America, Exo 28:18 ; Eze 27:16 ; 28:13. Josephus, however, and the Seventy make it a gem like a burning coal-the Indian ruby.\par

Emerald. A precious stone of a rich green color, upon which its value chiefly depends. This gem was the first in the second row on the breastplate of the high priest. Exo 28:18; Exo 39:11. It was imported to Tyre from Syria, Eze 27:16, was used as a seal or signet, Sir 32:6, as an ornament of clothing and bedding, Eze 28:13; Jdg 10:21, and is spoken of as one of the foundations of Jerusalem. Rev 21:19 Tob 13:16. The rainbow around the throne is compared to emerald in Rev 4:3.

First in the second row on the high priest’s breast-plate (Exo 28:18). Nophek, "the glowing stone," the carbuncle according to Kalisch (Exo 39:11). Tyre imported it from Syria (Eze 27:16). One of New Jerusalem’s foundations (Rev 21:19). Image of the rainbow round the throne (Rev 4:3).

(נפֶךְ, nophek, of uncertain signif.; Sept. ἄνθραξ, N.T. and Apocr. σμάραγδος), a precious stone, named first in the second row on the breast-plate of the high-priest (Exo 28:18; Exo 39:11), imported to Tyre from Syria (Eze 27:16), used as a seal or signet (Sir 32:6), as an ornament of clothing and bedding (Eze 28:13; Judges 10:21), and spoken of as one of the foundations of Jerusalem (Rev 21:19; Tob 13:16). The rainbow round the throne is compared to emerald in Rev 4:9 (ὅμοιος ὁράσει σμαραγδίνῳ). The Sept., Josephus, and Jerus. Targum understand by it the carbuncle. This name (in Greek denoting a live coal) the ancients gave to several glowing red stones resembling live coals (Pliny, Hist. Nat. 32:20; comp. Theophrast. De Lapid. 18), particularly rubies and garnets. SEE CARBUNCLE. The most valued of the carbuncles seems, however, to have been the Oriental garnet, a transparent red stone, with a violet shade, and strong vitreous luster. It was engraved upon (Theophrast. 31), and was probably not so hard as the ruby, which, indeed, is the most beautiful and costly of the precious stones of a red color, but is so hard that it cannot easily be subjected to the graving-tool. The Hebrew nophek, in the breast-plate of the high-priest, was certainly an engraved stone; and there is no evidence that the ancients could engrave the ruby, although this has in modern times been accomplished (Rosenmuller, Biblical Mineralogy, pages 32, 33; Braunius, De Vest. Sacerdot. page 523; Bellermann, Ueber die Urim u. Thummim, page 43). SEE BERYL.

The smaragdus of the New Testament was the generic name of twelve varieties of gems, some of which were probably true emeralds, while others seem to have been rather stones of the prasius or jasper kind, and still others no more than colored crystals and spars from copper mines. The statues, etc., of emerald mentioned by several ancient authors appear to have been nothing more than rock crystals, or even colored glass (Hill on Theophrast. de Lapid. 44; Moore’s Anc. Mineral. page 150). SEE GEM.

The modern emerald is a species of beryl, of a beautiful green color, which occurs in primitive crystals, and is much valued for ornamental jewelry. The finest are obtained from Peru. The mines from which the ancients obtained emeralds are said to have existed in Egypt, near Mount Zabarah. (See the Penny Cyclopadia, s.v. Beryl.)

Emerald. Perhaps the glowing. Avery precious gem of a pure green color, to which it owes its chief value, as the deepest colors are the most esteemed. Exo 28:18; Eze 27:16; Eze 28:13. The emerald was anciently obtained from Egypt. Probably it corresponds to the carbuncle.

In the O.T. the word thus translated is nophek, but it is uncertain to which of the precious stones this refers. Some think it is the carbuncle. Exo 28:18; Exo 39:11; Eze 27:16; Eze 28:13. In the N.T. it is σμάραγδος, which signifies ’live coal,’ and is supposed to refer to some stone with prismatic crystals. Rev 4:3; Rev 21:19.

See GEMS:

EMERALD.—See Jewels and Precious Stones.

em´ẽr-ald. See STONES, PRECIOUS.

(óìÜñáãäïò)

The emerald is a mineral of the same species as the beryl. It owes its value as a gem to its extremely beautiful velvety green colour, which is ascribed to the chromium it contains. The primary form of its crystal is a hexagonal prism variously modified. It is electric by friction, and frequently transparent, but sometimes only translucent. Flinders Petrie (Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols) iv. 620) suggests that the óìÜñáãäïò with which the rainbow (ἶñéò) round about the throne is compared (Rev_4:3) was rock-crystal, as only a colourless stone could throw prismatic colours. But the nimbus or halo may have been emerald in colour and only like a rainbow in form. The fourth foundation of the wall of the New Jerusalem is emerald (Rev_21:19).

James Strahan.

Exo 39:11 (c) This green stone represents praise, worship and adoration which begins now and lasts throughout eternity. Judah which means "praise" had his name graven on the emerald stone on the breastplate of the high priest.

Rev 4:3 (c) This complete rainbow was given this color to typify the eternal character of GOD’s grace and the everlasting nature of GOD’s covenant of mercy. It was "green" to signify eternal praise.