H3095 H3095
diamond or hard gemstone (jasper? onyx?), listed among precious stones on priestly breastplate
A precious stone appearing in lists of gems adorning the high priest's breastplate (Exodus 28:18; 39:11) and in Ezekiel's description of the covering of the king of Tyre (28:13). The exact identity remains uncertain—ancient versions suggest jasper (LXX, Vulgate) or onyx, while the Hebrew etymology from the root הלם ('to strike, hammer') suggests a stone prized for its hardness, able to strike or cut other materials. Medieval and modern translations consistently render it as 'diamond,' though the ancient Israelites may not have had access to true diamonds.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A gemstone valued for exceptional hardness and beauty, used in sacred contexts. The universal rendering as 'diamond' across Spanish, French, and German reflects later interpretive tradition rather than certain identification. Its placement on the breastplate and in the prophetic Eden imagery emphasizes its status as one of the most precious stones known to the biblical world. 3×
AR["وَ-ماسٌ", "وَ-يَاهَلُومٌ", "وَمَاسٌ"]·ben["আর-হীরা", "এবং-হীরক", "এবং-হীরা"]·DE["[ויהלם]", "und-Diamant"]·EN["and-diamond"]·FR["et-diamant"]·heb["ו-יהלום"]·HI["और-हीरा"]·ID["dan-intan", "dan-intan,", "dan-yaspis"]·IT["[ויהלם]", "e-diamante"]·jav["lan-berlian", "lan-inten.", "lan-mirah"]·KO["그리고-금강석", "그리고-금강석과"]·PT["e-diamante"]·RU["и-алмаз"]·ES["y-diamante"]·SW["na-almasi"]·TR["ve-elmas"]·urd["اور-ہیرا"]
Related Senses
H3754 1. vineyard, cultivated grape plot (92×)H0730 1. cedar tree or wood (73×)H1612 1. vine, grapevine (55×)H3293a 1. forest, wood, thicket (55×)H5560 1. fine flour (53×)H5193 1. plant vegetation (48×)H2232 1. sow seed, plant crops (41×)H1715 1. grain, cereal crop (40×)H7114b 1. reap, harvest grain (36×)H2132 1. olive tree (34×)H8184 1. barley (34×)H2406 1. wheat (grain crop) (30×)H7070 1. reed, cane (plant) (30×)H7848 1. acacia (28×)H8328 1. root of a plant (28×)H8384 1. fig tree (25×)H5488 1. reeds, rushes (in 'Sea of Reeds') (24×)G0290 1. a vineyard (23×)G2325 1. reap, harvest a crop (21×)G4687 1. sow seed, plant (21×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† יַהֲלֹם n.[m.] a precious stone, jasper? (so 𝔊 𝔙), or onyx? (cf. Di Ex 28:18) (appar. from √ הלם; owing to its hardness, as able to smite, hammer?)—mentioned in lists of precious stones Ex 28:18; 39:11 Ez 28:13.