H7618 H7618
agate; a semi-precious stone used in the high priest's breastplate
A noun denoting a precious stone, traditionally identified as agate. Exodus 28:19 and 39:12 list it among the twelve stones in the high priest's breastplate, alongside 'jacinth' and 'amethyst' in the third row. The Septuagint and Vulgate agree on 'agate,' though the exact mineralogical identification is uncertain. The stone's value and beauty made it suitable for sacred vestments.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Identifies a gemstone set in the high priest's breastplate (Exod 28:19; 39:12), positioned in the third row with jacinth (לֶשֶׁם) and amethyst (אַחְלָמָה). The Assyrian cognate šubû, along with the Septuagint (ἀχάτης) and Vulgate (achates), support the traditional rendering 'agate,' though precise mineralogical certainty is elusive. The stone's inclusion among the twelve tribal gems underscores its value and beauty. Modern translations uniformly render it 'agate' (Spanish ágata, French/German Achat), preserving ancient identification even as scholars debate the exact species. 2×
AR["أَقَطٌ", "جزعٌ"]·ben["মণি", "শেবো"]·DE["Achat"]·EN["agate"]·FR["agate"]·heb["שבו"]·HI["अकीक", "अगात"]·ID["akik-putih", "batu-akik"]·IT["agata"]·jav["akik"]·KO["마노", "마노와"]·PT["ágata"]·RU["агат"]·ES["ágata"]·SW["akiki"]·TR["akik"]·urd["سنگ-سفید", "یشب"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† שְׁבוֹ n.[f.] a precious stone (relation to above √ dub.; = Assyrian šubû; 𝔊 𝔙 agate);—Ex 28:19 = 39:12 (+ לֶשֶׁם, אַחְלָ֑מָה).