Exodus 28:18
New International Version
the second row shall be turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald;

New Living Translation
The second row will contain a turquoise, a blue lapis lazuli, and a white moonstone.

English Standard Version
and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond;

Berean Standard Bible
in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;

King James Bible
And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.

New King James Version
the second row shall be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;

New American Standard Bible
and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;

NASB 1995
and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and a diamond;

NASB 1977
and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and a diamond;

Legacy Standard Bible
and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;

Amplified Bible
the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;

Christian Standard Bible
the second row, a turquoise, a lapis lazuli, and a diamond;

Holman Christian Standard Bible
the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;

American Standard Version
and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond;

Contemporary English Version
in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;

English Revised Version
and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
In the second row put turquoise, sapphire, and crystal.

Good News Translation
in the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond;

International Standard Version
the second row ruby, sapphire, and crystal;

Majority Standard Bible
in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;

NET Bible
and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald;

New Heart English Bible
and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald;

Webster's Bible Translation
And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.

World English Bible
and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the second row [is] emerald, sapphire, and diamond;

Young's Literal Translation
and the second row is emerald, sapphire, and diamond;

Smith's Literal Translation
The second row, a carbuncle, sapphire, and onyx.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
In the second a carbuncle, a sapphire and a jasper.

Catholic Public Domain Version
In the second, there shall be a garnet, a sapphire, and a jasper.

New American Bible
in the second row, a garnet, a sapphire, and a beryl;

New Revised Standard Version
and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a moonstone;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the second row a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a jasper.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And another row, a garnet and sapphire and an onyx.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and the second row a carbuncle, a sapphire, and an emerald;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the second row, a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a jasper.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Breastpiece
17And mount on it a setting of gemstones, four rows of stones: In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald; 18in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; 19in the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;…

Cross References
Revelation 21:19-20
The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, / the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

Ezekiel 28:13
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.

Isaiah 54:11-12
“O afflicted city, lashed by storms, without solace, surely I will set your stones in antimony and lay your foundations with sapphires. / I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones.

1 Chronicles 29:2
Now with all my ability I have made provision for the house of my God—gold for the gold articles, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and slabs of marble—all in abundance.

Song of Solomon 5:14
His arms are rods of gold set with beryl. His body is polished ivory bedecked with sapphires.

1 Kings 10:2
She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. And she came to Solomon and spoke to him all that was on her mind.

2 Chronicles 9:10-11
(The servants of Hiram and of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir also brought algum wood and precious stones. / The king made the algum wood into steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had anything like them been seen in the land of Judah.)

Job 28:16-19
It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire. / Neither gold nor crystal can compare to it, nor jewels of fine gold be exchanged for it. / Coral and quartz are unworthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. ...

Genesis 2:12
And the gold of that land is pure, and bdellium and onyx are found there.

1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:12
If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,

Revelation 4:3
The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne.

Revelation 17:4
The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.

Isaiah 60:17
Instead of bronze I will bring you gold; I will bring silver in place of iron, bronze instead of wood, and iron instead of stones. I will appoint peace as your governor and righteousness as your ruler.

Daniel 10:5-6
I lifted up my eyes, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. / His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.


Treasury of Scripture

And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.

emerald.

Exodus 39:11
And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.

Ezekiel 27:16
Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of thy making: they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate.

sapphire

Exodus 24:10
And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

Job 28:6,16
The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold…

Song of Solomon 5:14
His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.

diamond

Jeremiah 17:1
The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;

Ezekiel 28:13
Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

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Carbuncle Diamond Emerald Onyx Row Ruby Sapphire Second Turquoise
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Carbuncle Diamond Emerald Onyx Row Ruby Sapphire Second Turquoise
Exodus 28
1. Aaron and his sons are set apart for the priest's office
2. Holy garments are appointed
6. The ephod and girdle
15. The breast-plate with twelve precious stones
30. The Urim and Thummim
31. The robe of the ephod, with pomegranates and bells
36. The plate of the mitre
39. The embroidered coat
40. The garments for Aaron's sons














in the second row
The breastpiece of judgment, worn by the High Priest, contained four rows of stones, each representing one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The second row signifies the continuation of the divine order and the importance of each tribe in the covenant community. The arrangement of stones reflects God's meticulous design and the value He places on His people.

a turquoise
Turquoise, known for its vibrant blue-green color, was a precious stone in ancient times, often associated with protection and healing. Its inclusion in the breastpiece highlights the beauty and diversity of God's creation. Turquoise may symbolize the tribe of Simeon, though interpretations vary. The stone's color can remind believers of the heavenly realm and the peace that comes from God.

a sapphire
Sapphire, a deep blue gemstone, is frequently mentioned in the Bible, symbolizing divine favor and heavenly glory. It is associated with the throne of God in Ezekiel 1:26 and Revelation 21:19. The sapphire's presence in the breastpiece underscores the connection between the High Priest's role and the divine presence, pointing to the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, who intercedes for believers.

and a diamond
The diamond, known for its hardness and brilliance, represents strength and purity. In the context of the breastpiece, it may symbolize the tribe of Zebulun, though interpretations differ. The diamond's qualities can be seen as a reflection of God's unchanging nature and the purity required of His people. It also points to the enduring nature of God's promises and the eternal covenant established through Christ.

Persons / Places / Events
1. High Priest
The instructions in Exodus 28 are given for the garments of the High Priest, who served as the mediator between God and the Israelites. The breastplate, which includes the stones mentioned, is part of his sacred attire.

2. Breastplate of Judgment
This is the specific garment being described. It is a piece of the High Priest's attire that holds twelve stones, each representing one of the tribes of Israel.

3. Israelite Tribes
The twelve stones on the breastplate symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel, signifying their unity and representation before God.

4. Tabernacle
The context of these instructions is the construction and furnishing of the Tabernacle, the dwelling place of God among His people during their wilderness journey.

5. Moses
The leader of the Israelites who received these detailed instructions from God on Mount Sinai.
Teaching Points
Symbolism of Stones
Each stone on the breastplate represents a tribe of Israel, emphasizing the importance of each individual in the community of God's people. This teaches us about the value of unity and diversity within the body of Christ.

God's Attention to Detail
The specific instructions for the High Priest's garments reflect God's concern for order and beauty in worship. This encourages us to approach worship with reverence and intentionality.

Representation Before God
The High Priest bore the names of the tribes on his heart, symbolizing intercession. As believers, we are called to intercede for others, carrying them in prayer before God.

Christ as Our High Priest
The Old Testament priesthood points to Jesus, our eternal High Priest. Understanding this helps us appreciate the depth of Christ's sacrifice and His ongoing intercession for us.Verse 18. - The second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. Here all the names must be wrong, for none of these three stones could be cut by the ancient engravers. Probably, carbuncle (or garnet), lapis lazuli, and onyx are intended.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
in the second
הַשֵּׁנִ֑י (haš·šê·nî)
Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular
Strong's 8145: Second (an ordinal number)

row
וְהַטּ֖וּר (wə·haṭ·ṭūr)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2905: A row, a wall

a turquoise,
נֹ֥פֶךְ (nō·p̄eḵ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5306: (a precious stone) perhaps emerald

a sapphire,
סַפִּ֖יר (sap·pîr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5601: A gem, the sapphire

and a diamond;
וְיָהֲלֹֽם׃ (wə·yā·hă·lōm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3095: (a precious stone) perhaps jasper or onyx


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OT Law: Exodus 28:18 And the second row a turquoise (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 28:17
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