("gold leek".) A transparent gem, an agate of the color of the leek's juice; it owes its color to oxide of nickel. Found only in Silesia; also in antique Egyptian jewelry. The garniture of the tenth foundation of New Jerusalem (Rev_21:20).
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
By Andrew Robert Fausset, co-Author of Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's 1888.
Rev_21:20, a precious stone, which Pliny classes among the beryls; the best of which, he says, are of a sea-green colour; after these he mentions the chrysoberyls, which are a little paler, inclining to golden colour; and next, a sort still paler, and by some reckoned a distinct species, and called chrysoprasus.
Biblical and Theological Dictionary by Richard Watson
PRINTER 1849.
Chrysop?rasus. This occurs only in Rev_21:20. The name literally signifies 'leek-green stone,' and it is, as that name imports, of a greenish golden color like a leek, that is usually apple-green passing into grass green.
The Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
by John Kitto.
Chrysoprasus
(χρυσόπρασος, mentioned in Rev_21:20, as the tenth row of stones in the foundation of the heavenly Jerusalem), a precious stone of greenish-golden color, or apple-green, passing into a grass-green (Pliny, Hist. Nat. 27:20, 21); an Indian translucent gem, so called as resembling in color the juice of the leek (πρἀσον), with golden spots (χρυσός) a species of beryl, supposed to be possessed of healing power in diseases of the eyes. Its spotted character may be inferred from the name given to it by Pliny (Hist. Nat. 37, c. 8), pardalios, or, rather, pantherion, from its resembling the leopard-skin (see Braun. de Vest. Sac. Hebrews 2, c. 9, p. 509). The chrysoprase of the ancients is by some supposed to be identical with the stone now so called, viz. the apple or leek-green variety of agate, or uncrystallized quartz (London Encyclopaedia, s.v.), which owes its color to oxide of nickel; this stone at present is found only in Silesia; but Mr. King (Antique Gems, p. 59. note) says that the true chrysoprase is sometimes found in antique Egyptian jewelry set alternately with bits of lapis-lazuli. SEE GEM.
In Gen_2:12, the Sept. renders the word שֹׁהִם, sho'ham, by chrysoprase (λίθος ὁ πράσινος), but they were probably different gems. SEE BERYL.
CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
press 1895.