H7718 H7718
Onyx or a precious banded stone, used in the high priest's vestments and among Eden's treasures
A prized gemstone featured in some of Scripture's most symbolically charged settings. It appears among the treasures of Eden's land of Havilah (Gen 2:12), is prescribed for the ephod's shoulder-pieces where the names of Israel's twelve tribes are engraved (Exod 25:7; 28:9, 20), and is counted among the offerings David gathered for the temple (1 Chr 29:2). Job declares that wisdom's value surpasses even gold and shoham stone (Job 28:16). The precise mineralogical identification remains debated — ancient versions vary between onyx, beryl, and sardonyx — but the consistent context is one of beauty, rarity, and sacred purpose.
Senses
1. onyx (precious stone) — A precious stone, traditionally identified as onyx, used in the high priest's ephod and breastplate (Exod 25:7; 28:9, 20; 35:9, 27; 39:6, 13), among Eden's riches (Gen 2:12), in David's temple provisions (1 Chr 29:2), and as a measure of wisdom's incomparable worth (Job 28:16). The exact identification is debated across ancient traditions, but translations converge on a banded gemstone: Spanish 'ónice,' Arabic جَزْع (jaz', onyx), Korean 호마노 (homano), and Hindi सुलेमानी (sulemani). German 'Onyx' and English 'onyx' reflect the Septuagint's rendering. 11×
AR["الجزعِ", "الجَزعِ", "الْجَزْعِ", "بِ-الجزعِ", "جَزعٍ", "جَزْعٌ", "جَزْعٍ", "وَ-جزعٌ"]·ben["-গোমেদে", "এবং-গোমেদ", "গোমেদ", "গোমেদের", "শোহম", "শোহমের"]·DE["Onyx", "[בשהם]", "[שהם]", "der-Onyx", "und-Onyx"]·EN["and-onyx", "in-onyx", "onyx", "the-onyx"]·FR["[שהם]", "corail", "dans-בשהם", "et-onyx", "le-onyx", "onyx"]·heb["ב-שוהם", "ה-שהם", "ה-שוהם", "ו-שוהם", "שהם", "שוהם"]·HI["और-सुलैमानी", "गोमेद-से", "गोमेदक-के", "सुलेमानी", "सुलेमानी-के", "सुलैमानी"]·ID["-krisopras", "batu-krisopras,", "dan-krisopras", "dengan-kecubung", "krisopras"]·IT["[שהם]", "e-onice", "il-onice", "in-in-onyx", "onice"]·jav["ing-kencur", "kaliyan-séla-akik", "kecubung", "kecubung-punika", "lan-unam", "oniks", "ony", "soham", "unam,"]·KO["귀한-", "그-호마노", "그-호마노의", "그리고-호마노와", "마노석과", "호마노", "호마노의"]·PT["com-ônix", "de-ônix", "e-ônix", "o-ônix", "ônix"]·RU["-оникс", "и-оникс", "оникс", "оникса", "ониксом"]·ES["con-ónice", "el-ónice", "shoham", "y-ónice", "ónice"]·SW["kwa-shohamu", "na-shohamu", "shoham", "shohamu", "ya-shohamu"]·TR["-oniks", "-oniksin", "damarlataşı", "oniks", "oniks-ile", "ve-oniks"]·urd["اور-سلیمانی", "سلیمانی", "سلیمانی-سے", "سلیمانی-کے", "سنگ-سلیمانی", "عقیق", "عقیق-کا", "کے-عقیق"]
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
† I. שֹׁ֫הַם n.m. Jb 28:16 a gem, identif. dubious, Vrss vary; onyx or chrysoprasus RiHWB 2, 336 f. onyx TaylorHast. DB iii. 624, beryl RidgewayEncy. Bib. 545 malachite Myresib. 4808, etc.; cf. also Dr Gn 2:12 (√ unknown; perhaps loan-word, cf. Assyrian sâmtu DlWB 438);—אֶבֶן הַשּׁ׳ Gn 2:12 (J; + הַבְּדֹלַח), in land Ḥavilah; אַבְנֵי שׁ׳ Ex 25:7; 28:9; 35:9, 27; 39:6 (all P), 1 Ch 29:2; אֶבֶן om. Ez 28:13; Ex 28:20; 39:13 (both P; all in lists of gems); שׁ׳ יָקָר וְסַפִּיר Jb 28:16.