Topical Bible: Topaz
Topical Encyclopedia
Topaz is a precious gemstone mentioned in the Bible, known for its beauty and value. It is often associated with wealth and divine craftsmanship. The Hebrew word for topaz is "pitdah," and it appears in several key biblical passages, highlighting its significance in ancient times.
Biblical References:
1. Exodus 28:17 : Topaz is first mentioned in the context of the High Priest's breastplate, also known as the Breastplate of Judgment. The breastplate was adorned with twelve stones, each representing one of the twelve tribes of Israel. "And mount on it a setting of gemstones—four rows of stones: The first row shall be a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald."
2. Exodus 39:10 : This passage reiterates the description of the High Priest's breastplate, emphasizing the importance of topaz among the stones. "And they mounted on it four rows of gemstones: The first row had a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald."
3. Job 28:19 : In this poetic discourse on wisdom, topaz is used metaphorically to illustrate the incomparable value of wisdom. "The topaz of Cush cannot compare to it; it cannot be valued in pure gold."
4. Ezekiel 28:13 : Topaz is listed among the precious stones that adorned the King of Tyre, symbolizing beauty and splendor. "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 mountings and settings were crafted in gold, prepared on the day of your creation."
5. Revelation 21:20 : In the vision of the New Jerusalem, topaz is one of the foundation stones of the city, signifying its eternal beauty and divine origin. "The fifth foundation was made of onyx, the sixth of carnelian, the seventh of chrysolite, the eighth of beryl, the ninth of topaz, the tenth of chrysoprase, the eleventh of jacinth, and the twelfth of amethyst."
Historical and Cultural Context:
Topaz was highly prized in the ancient world for its brilliance and rarity. It was often associated with royalty and was believed to possess protective and healing properties. The topaz mentioned in the Bible is thought to have been sourced from the region of Cush, possibly modern-day Ethiopia or the Arabian Peninsula, known for its rich mineral deposits.
In biblical symbolism, topaz represents beauty, value, and divine favor. Its inclusion in the High Priest's breastplate signifies its importance in the religious and cultural life of Israel. The gemstone's mention in the context of wisdom and the New Jerusalem underscores its enduring significance as a symbol of divine truth and eternal glory.
Theological Significance:
From a theological perspective, topaz serves as a reminder of the beauty and perfection of God's creation. Its use in the High Priest's breastplate and the New Jerusalem's foundations points to the divine order and the preciousness of God's people. The metaphorical use of topaz in Job highlights the incomparable worth of divine wisdom, which surpasses even the most valuable earthly treasures.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Topaz
one of the gems used in the high priest's breastplate, (Exodus 28:17; 39:10; Ezekiel 28:13) one of the foundations also of the New Jerusalem, in St. John's description of the city. (Revelation 21:20) The topaz of the ancient Greeks and Romans is generally allowed to be our chrysolite, while their chrysolite is our topaz. Chrysolite is a silicate of magnesia and iron; it is so son as to lose its polish unless carefully used. It varies in color from a pale-green to a bottle-green. It is supposed that its name was derived from Topazos, an island in the Red Sea where these stones were procured.
ATS Bible Dictionary
Topaz
A precious stone of wine-yellow color, with occasional pale tinges of green or red. It was one of the twelve gems in the high priest's breastplate, Exodus 28:17; 39:10, and was a highly prized product of Cush, or Southern Arabia, Job 28:19; Ezekiel 28:13.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Hebrews pitdah (Ezek. 28:13; Revelation 21:20), a golden yellow or "green" stone brought from Cush or Ethiopia (Job 28:19). It was the second stone in the first row in the breastplate of the high priest, and had the name of Simeon inscribed on it (Exodus 28:17). It is probably the chrysolite of the moderns.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) A mineral occurring in rhombic prisms, generally yellowish and pellucid, also colorless, and of greenish, bluish, or brownish shades. It sometimes occurs massive and opaque. It is a fluosilicate of alumina, and is used as a gem.
2. (n.) Either one of two species of large, brilliantly colored humming birds of the Topaza, of South America and the West Indies.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
TOPAZ
Greek
5116. topazion -- a topaz
... topazion. 5117 . a topaz. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: topazion
Phonetic Spelling: (top-ad'-zee-on) Short Definition: topaz Definition: topaz ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5116.htm - 6k
5555. chrusolithos -- a chrysolite (a yellow gem)
... a yellow gem). Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: chrusolithos Phonetic
Spelling: (khroo-sol'-ee-thos) Short Definition: a topaz Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5555.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
6357. pitdah -- (a precious stone) perhaps topaz
... 6356, 6357. pitdah. 6358 . (a precious stone) perhaps topaz. Transliteration:
pitdah Phonetic Spelling: (pit-daw') Short Definition: topaz. ...
/hebrew/6357.htm - 5k
8658. tarshish -- (a precious stone) perhaps yellow jasper
... beryl. Probably of foreign derivation (compare Tarshiysh); a gem, perhaps the topaz --
beryl. see HEBREW Tarshiysh. 8657, 8658. tarshish. 8659 . ...
/hebrew/8658.htm - 6k
Library
Ain.
... 126. "Therefore," he saith, "I love Thy commandments above gold and topaz"
(ver.127). Grace hath this object, that the commandments ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/ain.htm
Introduction.
... text margin i. sardion i. lapis sardius i. sardius (m. ruby) i. sardius
or ruby topazion topazius topaz topaz smaragdos smaragdus. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/introduction 4.htm
The Beauty and Glory of the Risen Body.
... thimbleful of coal-dust! Again, what are other gems, such as the ruby, the sapphire,
the topaz, the emerald, and others? They are nothing ...
/.../boudreaux/the happiness of heaven/chapter v the beauty and.htm
Against Excessive Fondness for Jewels and Gold Ornaments.
... Such is the case with the stones which silly women wear fastened to chains and set
in necklaces, amethysts, ceraunites, jaspers, topaz, and the Milesian. ...
/.../the instructor paedagogus/chapter xiiiagainst excessive fondness for.htm
Trust in God --True Wisdom
... The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/trust in godtrue wisdom.htm
The New Jerusalem.
... a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; the fifth, a sardonyx; the sixth, a sardius;
the seventh, a chrysolite; the eighth, a beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the new jerusalem.htm
The Legend of La Brea {331A}
... Round the palm-stems, round the creepers, Flashed a feathered jewel past,
Ruby-crested, topaz-throated, Plucked the cocorite bast,. ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the legend of la brea.htm
Another Cavil Met, IE , the Devil who Instigated Man to Sin ...
... "Every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, the topaz, and the diamond,
the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter x another cavil met i e.htm
How by Holy Complacency we are Made as Little Infants at Our ...
... are the storeroom of the little infant's treasures: he has no other riches than
those, which are more precious unto him than gold or the topaz, more beloved ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter ii how by holy.htm
Of the Conformity of Our Will to that Will of God's which is ...
... Lord! It is my meditation all the day . . . . . Therefore have I loved thy
commandments above gold and the topaz . . . . . How sweet ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter v of the conformity.htm
Thesaurus
Topaz (7 Occurrences)
... Indies. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. TOPAZ. to'-paz. See STONES, PRECIOUS.
Multi-Version Concordance Topaz (7 Occurrences). Revelation ...
/t/topaz.htm - 9k
Beryl (12 Occurrences)
... That was a gold-coloured gem, the topaz of ancient authors. Noah Webster's Dictionary. ...
A row of ruby, topaz, and beryl was the first row; (WEB NIV). ...
/b/beryl.htm - 11k
Sardius (5 Occurrences)
... Revelation 21:20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite;
the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh ...
/s/sardius.htm - 8k
Ruby (5 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:17 You shall set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row
of ruby, topaz, and beryl shall be the first row; (WEB NAS NIV). ...
/r/ruby.htm - 9k
Chrysolite (10 Occurrences)
... Sometimes used as a gem. The name was also early used for yellow varieties of
tourmaline and topaz. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CHRYSOLITE. ...
/c/chrysolite.htm - 10k
Carbuncle (6 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones:
the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be ...
/c/carbuncle.htm - 10k
Carnelian (5 Occurrences)
... Revelation 21:20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite;
the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh ...
/c/carnelian.htm - 8k
Smaragd (3 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a
row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row; (See JPS). ...
/s/smaragd.htm - 7k
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 ...
/o/onyx.htm - 12k
Rows (29 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:17 You shall set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row
of ruby, topaz, and beryl shall be the first row; (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT ...
/r/rows.htm - 15k
Resources
What are the ophanim? | GotQuestions.org
What does the Bible say about crystals? | GotQuestions.org
What does selah mean in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org
Topaz: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com
Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus