Diamond
(Heb. yahalom), a gem crystallized carbon, the most valued and brilliant of precious stones, remarkable for its hardness, the third precious stone in the second row on the breastplate of the high priest, (Exodus 28:18; 39:11) and mentioned by Ezekiel, (Ezekiel 28:13) among the precious stones of the king of Tyre. Some suppose yahalom to be the “emerald.” Respecting shamir, which is translated “Diamond” in (Jeremiah 17:1) see under Adamant.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Diamond
Diamond di'-a-mund. ⇒See a list of verses on DIAMOND in the Bible. See STONES, PRECIOUS. ⇒See the definition of diamond in the KJV Dictionary ⇒See also the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Diamond
See Stones (Precious). DIANA OF THE EPHESIANS is the Latinized rendering of the name Artemis {'Apreius tCiv 'E(p(aiai'), by which the Greeks designated a foddess whose sanctuary was situated close to IphesuB. The situation and splendour of the temple, and the part that the sanctuary and its priests played in the history of the city, through the influence of the conservative anti-Greek parly, which favoured the interests of the temple and the power of the goddess, are described under Ephesus. The goddess, who had her seat in the rich valley near the mouth of the Cayster long before Gr. colonists had set foot on the Asian coast, had little in common with the chaste virgin goddess Artemis of Greek poetry and mythology. She Avas the impersonation of the vitality and power of nature, of the reproductive power which Keeps up the race of man and animals in an un- broken series of oll'spring, and of the nourishing power by which the earth tenders to the use of mail and animals all that they require to keep them in life. She was worshipped, with almost complete identity of character and image…
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Diamond
Third in the second row of precious stones on the high priest's breast-plate (Exo 28:18). Yahalim, which some translate "onyx," others translate it as "jasper." There is no proof the diamond was then known. Its engraving is very difficult, and the large size of the stones on the high priest's breast-plate makes it not probable the diamond is meant. Shamir is the usual term. (See ADAMANT)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia