Wall of Heaven Gift Set

1. JASPER - Ex. 28:20, 39:13, Job 28:18, Ezek 28:13, Rev 4:3,21:11,18,19   Jasper is an opaque variety of chalcedony (quartz).  It is most commonly red due to the presence of Iron, but can also be found in yellow, brown and green.  "Jasper" comes from the Greek word Iaspis which a derivation of the Hebrew word yashepheh coming from a root word meaning "to polish".  In fact, one of the characteristics of Jasper is that it is able to take a high polish and was used in ancient times as mantles, pillars, vases, and other interior decorations.  Jasper is named as the 12th stone in Aaron's breastpiece. 

2. SAPPHIRE - Ex 24:10; 28:18; 39:11; Job 28:6,16; Song5:14; Isa 54:11; Ezek1:26; 10:1; 28:13, Rev21:20 The gemstone, sapphire, that we know today is the blue, translucent variety of corundum. Most scholars agree that lapis lazuli is actually the stone meant for the term “sapphire” in the Bible.

3. AGATE – Ex 28:19, 39:12 Agate is named as the second stone in the third row of the High Priest’s breastplate. Agates are a form of chalcedony (a fine-grained variety of quartz) that are banded or lined in a variety of patterns of colored layers. Colors range from white to dull yellow, red, brown, orange, blue, black and gray. The Hebrew word for agate is shebo which literally means “to flame, split into tongues.” “Agate” comes from the Greek word, achates, which is the name of the river in Sicily where agate was mined in abundance as early as 3000 BC.

4. EMERALD - Ex 28:20, 39:13, Ezek 28:13, Rev 4:3,21:18 Scholars believe this to also be Emerald Jade. Emeralds are the valuable and highly prized grassy-green variety of beryl. Emeralds were well known among the people of the Bible lands. One of the earliest known source of emerald were mines located near the Red Sea in Egypt. There is evidence that these mines were in operation as early as 1650 BC (the time that the Hebrew people would have been in Egypt). The word emerald comes from the Greek word smaragdos by way of the French word for emerald esmeralde and simply means the emerald (Gr. smaragdos) is the fourth stone of the New Jerusalem. Most scholars agree that the emerald was the stone meant here. According to the Encyclopedia Judaica, the Hebrew word for emerald is most likely bareqet, which is the third stone in the first row of the High Priests’ breastplate. Most Greek versions translate bareqet as smaragdos.

5. ONYX - Gen2:12, Ex 28:20, Job 28:16, Ezek 28:13 Onyx is chalcedony that has even, banded layers of various color (most typically black and white). The Hebrew word shoham is most often translated as onyx and is the second stone in the 4th row of Aaron’s breastpiece.

6. CARNELIAN (SARDIUS) Ex 28:19, 39:10; Rev 4:3,21:20 Carnelian has been frequently discovered in excavations of the ancient tombs of royalty. A necklace more than 10 feet long and containing 670 orange-red carnelian beads was found in the tomb of a queen dating 1000 BC. A string of expertly carved carnelian beads was found in Egypt dating back to 3100 BC. Carnelian is the modern word for the stone translated as sardius in the KJV. The Greek word is sardios and is found as the 6th stone of the New Jerusalem (Rev21:20), and in the description of the Lord in Rev 4:3. The Hebrew word odem (literally redness or red stone) is translated by some Bible scholars as sardius (today’s carnelian). Odem is the stone listed as the first stone in the breastplate in Exodus. Odem here could have been any one of several red stones known to the ancient Hebrews; the garnet or red jasper, as well as the sardius (carnelian).

7. PERIDOT  Rev21:19,20 Peridot is the modern name for chrysolite which is a lovely, transparent, gem from the mineral olivine. Peridot (or chrysolite) has been known since Biblical times with the earliest source being St. John’s Island in the Red Sea off the Egyptian Coast. From here the identification of Bible stones gets very interesting. It appears that the identity of two stones, the chrysolite (or peridot) and the topaz have completely switched. According to Pliny (AD 23-69), the topaz (Gr. topazion) was a stone found and mined on the island of Topazios (today called St. John’s Island off the coast of Egypt). This is the world’s principle source for the peridot (chrysolite). No topaz as we understand it today has been found there. So the term topaz of Bible times was actually the peridot (or chrysolite) of today. Conversely the term chrysolite in the Greek is actually the Topaz of today.

8. BERYL Ex 28:19, 39:12, Ezek 28:13, Rev21:20 Beryl (Gr. berullos) is the 8th stone in the New Jerusalem. Beryl is the true name of several very important gemstones, yet a term not often used. The best known beryl are the emerald (grass green in color), and the aquamarine (blue-green). Both of these stones were well known in Bible times, the aquamarine being the most common. Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) who was a historian at the time the Book of Revelation was written, describes the beryl (berullos) of that day, “The lapidaries cut all beryls of a hexagonal form because the color...is heightened by reflections resulting from the angles. The most esteemed beryls are those which in color resemble the pure green of the sea.” This would seem to indicate the aquamarine as being the beryl of choice in that time. Now, of course, the emerald is considered the most valued of the beryls.  BÉRYLLOS is known to have been a sea green coloured gem. Amazonite is the gem that matches this description. In ancient Egypt it was a favourite gem because if its colour, a blue-tinted green. The corresponding Hebrew name of this ancient jewel is NÒFEKH, (meaning ‘turquoise coloured’ or ‘embellished’).

9. TOPAZ  Ex 28:19, 39:12, Ezek 28:13, Job 28:19, Rev21:20 Topaz comes from the Greek word topazion, named for the island, Topazios, located in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt. The gemstone which was mined on this island was actually the peridot (chrysolite) of today. Thus the term topaz in the Bible actually refers to the peridot (chrysolite). However when Pliny (the natural historian during the time when the book of Revelation was written) describes the chrysolite (Gr. chrusolithos), he describes today’s topaz. The term chrusolithos literally means ” gold stone” and very likely refers to the yellow topaz of today. Both the topaz and chrysolite (today called peridot) are stones in the foundation of the New Jerusalem.  10. CHRYSOPRASE Rev21:20 Chrysoprase is a translucent, bright apple or grassy green variety of chalcedony. The green color comes from nickle. It is the most valuable variety of chalcedony. Chrysophrase is listed as the 10th stone in the foundation of the New Jerusalem.  The modern word comes from the Greek chrusoprasos and literally translated is chrusos meaning “golden” and prason meaning “a leek” indicating the color of the stone. Chrysoprase has been discovered in archaeological digs in ancient Egypt. A necklace which included chrysoprase beads was found on a mummy dating back to 1500 BC. The most famous deposits of chrysoprase came from Silesia (a former Prussian province). During the Middle Ages, it was believed that if one who was condemned for crime held the stone in his mouth he would escape the just punishment of his crime. Though obviously there is no merit to this belief, it is a delightful picture of the redemptive work of Jesus (our Rock) and the scripture that says, “it is with our mouths that we confess and are saved,” escaping our just punishment. The NIV states "Turquoise".11. JACINTH (HYACINTH) (Zircon) Rev21:20 Jacinth is a derivation of the word “hyacinth” which comes from the Greek huakinthos. Most scholars agree that it was some kind of blue stone, taking it’s color from the flower. It is the 11th foundation stone in the New Jerusalem. Pliny (AD 23-69) describes the hyacinthus as being very different from amethystus, "though partaking of a color that closely' borders upon it" and as being of a more diluted violet, It is held that the jacinth/hyacinth may actually be the sapphire of today.  Scholars believe Hyakinthos is most likely a Lavender Jade.12. AMETHYST Ex 28:19, 39:12, Rev21:20 Amethyst is a variety of quartz that is best know for it's rich, violet-purple hue. Amethyst is the third stone in the third row of the High Priest’s breastplate (Ex. 28:19) and the twelfth stone listed in the foundation of the New Jerusalem (Rev.21:20). It is one of the few stones in which experts agree as to the correctness of the name. The Hebrew word for amethyst, ahlamah, literally means “dream stone,” and it was thought that it induced pleasant dreams. The Greek name for the stone, amethustos (from which we get “amethyst”), literally means “not drunken” and it was believed that the gem guarded one against intoxication. Beautifully carved and engraved amethyst goblets, vases, charms and miniatures have been found in excavations. Historically amethyst has been highly valued as a precious stone for the uniqueness of it's color, as there are few purple gemstones.

 Sources:  Google, Bible Gateway, Bible Hub.