Topical Encyclopedia
Beryl is a precious stone mentioned several times in the Bible, known for its beauty and variety of colors, ranging from green to blue-green. It is a mineral composed of beryllium aluminum cyclosilicate and is often associated with other gemstones such as emerald and aquamarine, which are varieties of beryl.
Biblical References:1.
Exodus 28:20; 39:13 · Beryl is listed as one of the stones set in the breastplate of the High Priest. The breastplate, also known as the Breastplate of Judgment, contained twelve stones, each representing one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The inclusion of beryl signifies its value and importance in the religious and cultural practices of ancient Israel.
"The fourth row had a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They were mounted in gold filigree settings." (Exodus 28:20)
2.Ezekiel 1:16; 10:9 · In the visions of the prophet Ezekiel, beryl is used to describe the appearance of the wheels accompanying the cherubim. The gleaming appearance of beryl in these visions underscores the divine and majestic nature of the heavenly realm.
"The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was like the gleam of beryl, and all four had the same form. Their appearance and workmanship were like a wheel within a wheel." (Ezekiel 1:16)
3.Daniel 10:6 · The prophet Daniel describes a heavenly being with a body like beryl, emphasizing the brilliance and splendor of the divine messenger.
"His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude." (Daniel 10:6)
4.Revelation 21:20 · In the vision of the New Jerusalem, beryl is mentioned as one of the foundation stones of the city, symbolizing the eternal beauty and perfection of God's heavenly kingdom.
"The fifth foundation was beryl, the sixth was carnelian, the seventh was chrysolite, the eighth was beryl, the ninth was topaz, the tenth was chrysoprase, the eleventh was jacinth, and the twelfth was amethyst." (Revelation 21:20)
Symbolism and Significance:
In biblical symbolism, beryl represents beauty, value, and divine glory. Its presence in the High Priest's breastplate and the foundations of the New Jerusalem highlights its significance in the worship and eternal promises of God. The stone's radiant appearance in prophetic visions serves as a metaphor for the splendor and majesty of the divine presence.
Beryl's varied colors and brilliance make it a fitting symbol of the multifaceted nature of God's creation and His covenant with His people. Its enduring beauty and strength reflect the eternal and unchanging nature of God's promises and His kingdom.Easton's Bible Dictionary
The rendering in the Authorized Version of the Hebrew word tarshish, a precious stone; probably so called as being brought from Tarshish. It was one of the stones on the breastplate of the high priest (Exodus 28:20; R.V. marg., "chalcedony;39:13). The colour of the wheels in Ezekiel's vision was as the colour of a beryl stone (1:16;10:9; R.V., "stone of Tarshish"). It is mentioned in Cant. 5:14;Dan. 10:6;Revelation 21:20. InEzek. 28:13 the LXX. render the word by "chrysolite," which the Jewish historian Josephus regards as its proper translation. This also is the rendering given in the Authorized Version in the margin. That was a gold-coloured gem, the topaz of ancient authors.Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(n.) A mineral of great hardness, and, when transparent, of much beauty. It occurs in hexagonal prisms, commonly of a green or bluish green color, but also yellow, pink, and white. It is a silicate of aluminium and glucinum (beryllium). The aquamarine is a transparent, sea-green variety used as a gem. The emerald is another variety highly prized in jewelry, and distinguished by its deep color, which is probably due to the presence of a little oxide of chromium.International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BERYLber'-il.
SeeSTONES, PRECIOUS.
Greek
969. berullos --beryl...beryl. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: berullos Phonetic Spelling:
(bay'-rool-los) Short Definition: a
beryl Definition: a
beryl, a precious
...Strong's Hebrew
8658. tarshish -- (a precious stone) perhaps yellow jasper... tarshish. 8659 . (a precious stone) perhaps yellow jasper. Transliteration: tarshish
Phonetic Spelling: (tar-sheesh') Short Definition:
beryl.
...beryl.
...7718. shoham -- (a gem) perhaps an onyx
... onyx. From an unused root probably mean to blanch; a gem, probably theberyl (from
its pale green color) -- onyx. 7717, 7718. shoham. 7719 . Strong's Numbers
Library
Introduction.
... chrusolithos iv. chrysolitus iv.beryl iv.... diamond ? diamond 4. hanthrax 10. chrysolitus
11.beryl or chrysolite 10 11.beryl 5. sappheiros 12. onyx 12....
God's Providence
... The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of aberyl:
and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it...
Our Attitude Toward his Sovereignty
... We read that "His body also was like theberyl, and His face as the appearance of
lightning, and His eyes as lamps of fire, and His arms and His feet like in...
The New Jerusalem.
... the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; the fifth, a sardonyx; the sixth,
a sardius; the seventh, a chrysolite; the eighth, aberyl; the ninth, a topaz...
Chapter v.
... choice myrrh. 14. His hands are as gold rings set with theberyl, his belly
is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.14. His hands...
Another Cavil Met, IE , the Devil who Instigated Man to Sin...
... "Every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, the topaz, and the diamond,
theberyl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the...
The Knowledge Both of Language and Things is Helpful for the...
... instance, which shines in the dark, throws light upon many of the dark places in
books too, where it is used metaphorically; and ignorance of theberyl or the...
Ignorance of Things, Too, Renders Figurative Expressions Obscure.....
... instance, which shines in the dark, throws light upon many of the dark places in
books too, where it is used metaphorically; and ignorance of theberyl or the...
Of the Fall of the Devil and the Angels.
... of the paradise of God: every precious stone was thy covering: the sardius, the
topaz and the jasper, the chrysolyte and the onyx and theberyl, the sapphire...
The Well-Beloved.
... All kinds of treasured things are in Him; for He is like to gold rings set with
theberyl, and bright ivory overlaid with sapphires, and pillars of marble set...
Thesaurus
Beryl (12 Occurrences)... The colour of the wheels in Ezekiel's vision was as the colour of a
beryl stone
(1:16; 10:9; RV, "stone of Tarshish"). It is mentioned in Cant.
...BERYL. ber'-il.
...Beryl-stones (1 Occurrence)
Beryl-stones. Beryls,Beryl-stones. Berytus . Multi-Version
ConcordanceBeryl-stones (1 Occurrence). Song of Songs 5...
Topaz (7 Occurrences)
... Revelation 21:20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite;
the eighth,beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh...
Ruby (5 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:17 You shall set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row
of ruby, topaz, andberyl shall be the first row; (WEB NAS NIV)....
Frames (47 Occurrences)
... frames. (BBE). Exodus 28:20 The fourth, a topaz, aberyl, and a jasper; they
are to be fixed in twisted frames of gold. (BBE). Exodus...
Emerald (8 Occurrences)
... means "live coal.". Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) A precious stone of
a rich green color, a variety ofberyl. SeeBeryl. 2. (n.) A...
Twisted (79 Occurrences)
... it. (See NAS NIV). Exodus 28:20 The fourth, a topaz, aberyl, and a jasper;
they are to be fixed in twisted frames of gold. (BBE)....
Colour (22 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 1:16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour
of aberyl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their...
Ouches (8 Occurrences)
... the two sides of the breast-plate being said to be "enclosed in ouches (settings)
of gold" (Exodus 39:6). Not only were these two onyx orberyl stones so set...
Onyx (16 Occurrences)
... Revelation 21:20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite;
the eighth,beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh...
Resources
What does the Bible say about crystals? | GotQuestions.orgSummary of the Book of Ezekiel - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.orgBeryl: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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