Diamond

VIEW:43 DATA:01-04-2020
DIAMOND.—See Adamant, and Jewels and Precious Stones.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909


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.)
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
By Andrew Robert Fausset, co-Author of Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's 1888.


Diamond. (Hebrew, yahalom). A gem of 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, Exo_28:18; Exo_39:11, and mentioned by Ezekiel, Eze_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 Jer_17:1, see under Adamant.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
By Dr. William Smith.Published in 1863


יהלם . Exo_28:18; Exo_29:11; Eze_28:13. This has from remote antiquity been considered as the most valuable, or, more properly, the most costly substance in nature. The reason of the high estimation in which it was held by the ancients was its rarity and its extreme hardness and brilliancy. It filled the sixth place in the high priest's breastplate, and on it was engraven the name of Naphtali.
Biblical and Theological Dictionary by Richard Watson
PRINTER 1849.


dı̄?a-mund. See STONES, PRECIOUS.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.


The diamond is named in the Authorized Version as one of the stones in the breastplate of the high priest (Exo_28:18; Exo_39:11). But as these stones were engraved, it is by no means likely that the original word (yahalom) really denotes the diamond; and it is generally understood that the onyx is intended. The diamond again occurs in the Authorized Version of Jer_17:1; Eze_3:9; Zec_7:12; and in these places the word (shamir) is different from the above, and its signification, 'a sharp point,' countenances this interpretation, the diamond being for its hardness used in perforating and cutting other minerals. Indeed, this use of the shamir is distinctly alluded to in Jer_17:1, where the stylus pointed with it is distinguished from one of iron (comp. Plin. Hist. Nat. xxxvii. 15). The two other passages also favor this view by using it figuratively to express the hardness and obduracy of the Israelites. Our Authorized Version has 'diamond' in Jer_17:1, and 'adamant' in the other texts: but in the original the word is the same in all.
The Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
by John Kitto.


Jer_17:1 (a) This is a figure of the indelible record which sin makes upon the pages of GOD's book, and upon the heart, soul and life of the wicked person.
Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types
press 1957.


Diamond
occurs in the Auth. Vers. as the translation of two Heb. words. SEE GEM.
1. יִהֲלם(yahalom´, so called from beating, with allusion to its hardness), a precious gem, placed sixth in the breastplate of the high-priest, with the name of Naphtali carved on it (Exo_28:18; Exo_39:11), and mentioned in Eze_28:13; among the precious stones of the king of Tyre. The Sept. and Vulg. understand by it the jasper; several of the ancient versions render it by onyx, which is not improbable; still others by adamant, which is less likely. There is much reason to doubt whether the diamond vas known in the time of Moses (see below). Our translation “diamond” is derived from Aben Ezra, and is defended by Braun (Vest. Sacerd. 2:13). Kalisch (on Exodus p. 536) says “perhaps emerald.” SEE ONYX.
2. שָׁמַיר(shamir´, a sharp point; hence often a brier), a precious stone, named in Jer_17:1; Eze_3:9; Zec_7:12. The Sept. in Jeremiah, and the Vulg. in all the passages, take it for the diamond. The signification of the word (from שָׁמִר, to pierce) countenances this interpretation, the diamond being, for its hardness, used in perforating and cutting other minerals. Indeed, this use of the shamir is distinctly alluded to in the passage in Jeremiah, where the stylus pointed with it is distinguished from one of iron (comp. Pliny, Hist. Nat. 37:15). The two other passages also favor this view by using it figuratively to express the hardness and obduracy of the Israelites. Our version has “diamond” in Jer_17:1, and “adamant” in the other texts. Bochart, however (Hieroz. 3, 843 sq.), rejects the usual explanation, and, comparing the word shamir with the Greek σμῖρις or σμῦρις, conceives it to mean “emery.” This is a calcined iron mixed with siliceous earth, occurring in livid scales of such hardness that in ancient times, as at present, it was used for polishing and engraving precious stones, diamonds excepted (Hoffmann, Mineral. 1:561 sq.). Bohlen suggests an Indian origin of the word, and compares asmirla, stone which eats, spoken of gems, iron, etc. from their hardness. Rosenmüller is in favor of the diamond in his Scholia, but in his Alterthumskunde he takes up Bochart's notion, and urges that if the Hebrews had been acquainted with the diamond, and the manner of working it, we should doubtless have found it among the stones of the high-priest's breastplate; and that, as the shamir was not one of the stones thus employed, therefore it was not the diamond. But to this it may be replied that it was perhaps not used because it could not be engraved on, or was possibly not introduced until a later period. The argument drawn from the rarity of the word in the Old Testament is of little weight, and there is no necessity for seeking an Oriental origin of the word σμῦρις, or ground for considering it identical with shamir, as it may easily be traced from the Greek itself (see Passow, s.v.; Eichhorn, De Gemmis Sculpt. Hebr.). For an account of the diamond of the ancients, see Moore's Ancient Mineralogy, p. 143-145. SEE ADAMANT.
The diamond is the hardest and most valuable of the precious stones, and for many ages was considered indestructible by fire or any other means; modern chemistry, however, has proved that at a heat rather below that required to melt silver it is gradually dissipated or burned. It is, in fact, nothing but pure carbon, but in a more highly crystallized state than coal. In former times, all the diamonds that were known were brought from different parts of India, particularly from the famous mine of Golconda, near Hyderabad, the present capital of the Deccan, in Hindostan; the islands of Molucca and Borneo have also produced many valuable stones. The diamond mines of Golconda are now so far exhausted as to be considered not worth the expense of working, and the diamonds which are brought to Europe come chiefly from Brazil. They are always found in an alluvial soil, generally gravel, resting on granite, and not imbedded in any other substance, but appear like small pebbles, with the surface flattened in many parts.

CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
press 1895.





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