Exodus 28:19

19. a jacinth] Heb. léshem, λιγύριον, ligurius. Perhaps (Myres) the cairngorm, a clear yellow stone. On the jacinth (cf. Rev_21:20), which was apparently first suggested by Braun, de vestitu sacerdd. (ed. 2, 1698), 11. xiv, Mr Myres writes, ‘there is no evidence that the jacinth was either found in Liguria, or was known at all till Roman times.’ The λιγύριον (or λυγκούριον) is variously explained by Pliny as a fiery-coloured gem, like the carbuncle (H. N. viii. 38, xxxvii. 13), and (xxxvii. 11) as amber (hence RVm.).

an agate] Heb. shebhô, ἀχάτης, achates. The correctness of this rendering is not doubted. A red, opaque stone.

an amethyst] Heb. ’aḥlấmâh, ἀμέθυστος, amethystus. This rend. is also unquestioned. A purple, clear stone.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper,.... Whatever stone is meant by the first in this row, it must be of a sea green colour; for "tarshish", the word used, signifies the sea; and so the beryl, as Pliny (r) says, imitates the greenness of the pure sea. Braunius (s) takes it to be the chrysolite that is meant; and so does Ainsworth; and it is so rendered by the Septuagint; and this, according to Ruaeus (t), is of a colour like the greenness of the sea: the "onyx" has its name from its being of the colour of a man's nail, as observed before; but here "shoham" is thought by Braunius (u) to be the "sardonyx", following Josephus, Jerom, and the Vulgate Latin version, which is a compound of the sardian and onyx stones: the last is undoubtedly rightly rendered the jasper, for the Hebrew word is "jaspeh": this stone is sometimes variegated with spots like a panther, and therefore is called by Onkelos "pantere"; the most valuable is the green spotted with red or purple:

they shall be set in gold in their enclosings; or be set and enclosed in ouches or sockets of gold, as the two onyx stones upon the shoulder pieces of the ephod: there were twelve of these ouches or sockets, which might be made out of one piece of gold, into which the twelve above stones were put. These stones were, no doubt, brought out of Egypt by the children of Israel, and were the gifts of their princes.

(r) Nat. Hist. l. 37. c. 5. (s) Ut supra, (De Vestitu Sacerd Heb. l. 2.) c. 17. sect. 7. p. 720. (t) De Gemmis, l. 2. c. 7. (u) Ut supra, (De Vestitu Sacerd Heb. l. 2.) c. 18. sect. 4. p. 730.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Ligurius, agate, and amethyst, (or eumeces; Pliny, Natural History xxxvii. 7.) had Gad, Aser, and Issachar.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

The third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. The term "ligure" is unknown in modern mineralogy; and it is to the last degree uncertain what stone the ancients intended by their lingurium or lapis ligurius Some think that "jacinth," others that "tourmaline," is the stone here meant. A few suggest amber, but amber cannot receive an engraving. "Agate" and "amethyst" are generally allowed to be right translations.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.