Topical Encyclopedia
Agate is a semi-precious stone mentioned in the Bible, known for its beauty and variety of colors. It is a form of chalcedony, a mineral of the quartz family, characterized by its fine grain and bright, banded appearance. Agate has been valued since ancient times for its ornamental use and is often associated with strength and protection.
Biblical References:Agate is referenced in the Bible in the context of the High Priest's breastplate and the foundations of the New Jerusalem. In
Exodus 28:19, the Berean Standard Bible describes the third row of stones on the High Priest's breastplate: "The third row will be a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst." This breastplate, also known as the Breastplate of Judgment, was worn by the High Priest of Israel and contained twelve stones, each representing one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Agate, being one of these stones, signifies its importance and value in the religious and cultural practices of ancient Israel.
In the Book of Ezekiel, agate is mentioned in the description of the King of Tyre's adornment, symbolizing wealth and beauty.
Ezekiel 28:13 states, "You were in Eden, the garden of God; every kind of precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, and diamond; beryl, onyx, and jasper; sapphire, turquoise, and emerald. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared." Although the BSB does not specifically mention agate in this verse, other translations include it, indicating its presence among the precious stones.
In the New Testament, agate is alluded to in the description of the New Jerusalem.
Revelation 21:19-20 describes the foundations of the city: "The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst." While agate is not explicitly named in this passage, chalcedony, a related mineral, is mentioned, suggesting the presence of similar stones in the heavenly city.
Symbolism and Significance:In biblical symbolism, agate is often associated with strength, stability, and protection. Its varied colors and patterns are seen as a reflection of God's creativity and the diversity of His creation. The use of agate in the High Priest's breastplate signifies its role in divine communication and judgment, as the breastplate was used to discern God's will for the people of Israel.
Agate's inclusion among the precious stones of the New Jerusalem highlights its eternal value and beauty, symbolizing the glory and splendor of God's heavenly kingdom. The stone's enduring nature and resilience make it a fitting representation of the eternal truths and promises found in Scripture.
Historical and Cultural Context:In ancient times, agate was highly prized for its aesthetic qualities and was used extensively in jewelry, seals, and decorative items. Its durability and ability to be polished to a high sheen made it a popular choice for artisans and craftsmen. The stone's presence in biblical texts reflects its widespread use and significance in the ancient Near East.
Agate's historical use in religious and cultural artifacts underscores its role as a symbol of divine favor and protection. Its inclusion in the High Priest's breastplate and the foundations of the New Jerusalem serves as a testament to its enduring value and significance in the biblical narrative.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Agatea beautifully-veined semi-transparent precious stone, a variety of quartz. Its colors are delicately arranged in stripes or bands or blended in clouds. It is mentioned four times in the text of the Authorized Version, viz., in (Exodus 28:19;39:12;Isaiah 54:12;Ezekiel 27:16) In the two former passages; where it is represented by the Hebrew wordshebo it is spoken of as forming the second stone in the third row of the high priest's breastplate; in each of the two latter places the original word iscadced , by which, no doubt, is intended a different stone. [RUBY] Our Englishagate derives its name from the Achates, on the banks of which it was first found.
ATS Bible Dictionary
AgateA precious stone said to take its name from the river Achates in Sicily, where it abounded. Agates, which are several kinds, are likewise procured in India, in various parts of Europe, and at the Cape of Good Hope. They are semi-transparent, and often are beautifully veined and clouded, and present in miniature the picture of many natural objects. The agate was the second stone in the third row of the high priest's breastplate,Exodus 28:19; 39:12.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Hebrews shebo), a precious stone in the breast-plate of the high priest (
Exodus 28:19;
39:12), the second in the third row. This may be the agate properly so called, a semi-transparent crystallized quartz, probably brought from Sheba, whence its name. In Isaiah 54:12 and
Ezek. 27:16, this word is the rendering of the Hebrew cadcod, which means "ruddy," and denotes a variety of minutely crystalline silica more or less in bands of different tints.
This word is from the Greek name of a stone found in the river Achates in Sicily.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
adv.) On the way; agoing; as, to be agate; to set the bells agate.
2. (n.) A semi pellucid, uncrystallized variety of quartz, presenting various tints in the same specimen. Its colors are delicately arranged in stripes or bands, or blended in clouds.
3. (n.) A kind of type, larger than pearl and smaller than nonpareil; in England called ruby.
4. (n.) A diminutive person; so called in allusion to the small figures cut in agate for rings and seals.
5. (n.) A tool used by gold-wire drawers, bookbinders, etc.; -- so called from the agate fixed in it for burnishing.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
AGATESeeSTONES, PRECIOUS.
Strong's Hebrew
7618. shebo -- (a precious stone) perhapsagate... 7617, 7618. shebo. 7619 . (a precious stone) perhaps
agate. Transliteration:
shebo Phonetic Spelling: (sheb-oo') Short Definition:
agate.
...3539. kadkod -- (a precious stone) perhaps ruby
...agate. From the same as kad in the sense of striking fire from a metal forged; a
sparkling gem, probably the ruby --agate. see HEBREW kad. 3538b, 3539....
Library
Introduction.
... ligurius iii. ligure iii. jacinth or amber achates achatesagate agate amethustos
amethystus amethyst amethyst iv. chrusolithos iv. chrysolitus iv. beryl iv....
A Pressed Man Yielding to Christ
... benediction. Faith is that window ofagate and gate of carbuncle by which the
divine light of Jesu's love comes streaming into the soul....
In his Tabernacle
... There can my soul forget the grave, the weeping,. The weariness and sin. O Chamber,
all thineagate windows opened. To face the radiant east"....
The Emperor and Empress
... The walls of alabaster and other lustrous marbles were inlaid withagate and cornelian,
and the eastern sunlight glowed hotly on pillars of the Numidian marble...
Is God in the Camp?
... witchcraft. One would have thought that these symbols would only have been
like windows ofagate and gates of carbuncle. Through...
Concerning the Garments of the Priests, and of the High Priest.
... sapphire. The first of the third row was a ligure, then an amethyst, and
the third anagate, being the ninth of the whole number....
High Priest
... precious stones; the first row, a serdious, a topaz, and a carbuncle; the second,
an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; the third, a ligure, anagate, and an...
Communion with Christ and his People.
... Thus have I given you a list of windows ofagate and gates of carbuncle through
which you may come at the Lord; but the ordinance of the Lord's supper sets...
Songs of Deliverance
... and he is no stranger to us; we have seen him through the lattices of the ordinances;
we have found the means of grace to be like windows ofagate and gates of...
On Rational Natures.
... or gem, and wert clothed with sardonyx, and topaz, and emerald, and carbuncle, and
sapphire, and jasper, set in gold and silver, and withagate, amethyst, and...
Thesaurus
Agate (4 Occurrences)... This may be the
agate properly so called, a semi-transparent crystallized quartz,
probably brought from Sheba, whence its name. In Isaiah 54:12 and Ezek.
...Opal (2 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:19 and the third row, an opal, anagate, and an amethyst; (DBY YLT). Exodus
39:12 and the third row, an opal, anagate, and an amethyst; (DBY YLT)....
Jacinth (4 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Exodus 28:19 and the third row a
jacinth, anagate, and an amethyst; (WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS RSV NIV)....
Ligure (2 Occurrences)
... Ligure (2 Occurrences). Exodus 28:19 And the third row a ligure, anagate, and an
amethyst.... Exodus 39:12 And the third row, a ligure, anagate, and an amethyst....
Row (26 Occurrences)
... RSV NIV). Exodus 28:19 and the third row a jacinth, anagate, and an amethyst;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Exodus 28...
Amethyst (3 Occurrences)
... NIV). Exodus 28:19 and the third row a jacinth, anagate, and an amethyst;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Exodus 39...
Fairs (6 Occurrences)
... reason of the multitude of the wares of thy making: they occupied in thy fairs with
emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, andagate....
Ruby (5 Occurrences)
... Hence, a red blain or carbuncle. 4. (n.) SeeAgate, n., 2. 5. (n.) Any species
of South American humming birds of the genus Clytolaema....
Remnants (8 Occurrences)
... 27:16 Aram 'is' thy merchant, Because of the abundance of thy works, For emerald,
purple, and embroidery, And fine linen, and coral, andagate, They have given...
Pearl (5 Occurrences)
... 11. (n.) A size of type, betweenagate and diamond. 12. (a.) of or pertaining
to pearl or pearls; made of pearls, or of mother-of-pearl. 13....
Resources
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