Chalcedony

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

(χαλκηδών)

Chalcedony is the precious stone with which the third foundation of the wall of the New Jerusalem is garnished ( Revelation 21:19). The ancient meaning of the word is uncertain. In modern mineralogy the chalcedony is ‘a micro-crystalline form of quartz … a translucent substance of rather waxy lustre, presenting great variety of colours, though usually white, grey, yellow or brown’ ( Encyclopaedia Britannica 11 v. 803). But the chalcedony of Pliny ( Historia Naturalis (Pliny) xxxvii. 72-73) was a green stone-an inferior kind of emerald-from the copper-mines of Chalcedon in Bithynia, whence its name. Flinders Petrie ( Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols) iv. 621a) suggests that it was ‘dioptase’ or silicate of copper.

James Strahan.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: χαλκηδών (Strong'S #5472 — Noun Masculine — chalkedon — khal-kay-dohn' )

the name of a gem, including several varities, one of which resembles a cornelian, is "supposed to denote a green silicate of copper found in the mines near Chalcedon" (Swete, on the Apocalypse),  Revelation 21:19 .

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Chalcedony. One of the stones described as forming the foundation of the new Jerusalem.  Revelation 21:19. Chalcedony is ordinarily understood to be a species of agate, milky white or pale yellow, often with a wavy internal structure. Some liken it in color and want of transparency to skimmed milk. Another description represents it as of the color of a pale flame, shining out of doors, obscure in a house, not easily cut, and attributes to it the tower of attracting light substances. Also it has been supposed to be turquoise, carbuncle, or ruby, or an inferior kind of emerald.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

 Revelation 21:19. With it the third foundation of the wall of New Jerusalem is adorned. An agate-like quartz in modern mineralogy, of pearly luster and transparent, found in the Travascus mine in Cornwall. Cups, plates, knife handles, etc. are formed of it in India. Pliny makes it resemble turquoise; others make it of a light brown. The chalcedony of Theophrastus is called from Chalcedon in ancient Thrace, and was the copper emerald obtained from the mines there.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

χαλκηδων ,  Revelation 21:19; a precious stone. Arethas, who has written an account of Bithynia, says that it was so called from Chalcedon, a city of that country, opposite to Byzantium; and it was in colour like a carbuncle. Some have supposed this also to be the stone called כפכּ? , translated "emerald,"  Exodus 28:18 .

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A precious stone, resembling the agate; of various colors, but often a light brown or blue,  Revelation 21:19 . It is found in most parts of the world, though named after Chalcedon in Bithynia opposite Constantinople; and is much used as a material for cups, vases, and other articles of taste. Carnelian is said to be one of its varieties.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Chalcedony. Chalcedony occurs only in  Revelation 21:19. The name is applied, in modern mineralogy, to one of the varieties of agate. It is generally translucent and exhibits a great variety of colors. So named because, it was found near the ancient Chalcedon, near Constantinople.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Revelation 21:19 Nophekh   Exodus 28:18 39:11 Ezekiel 27:16 28:13Carbuncle

King James Dictionary

Chalcedony, n. A subspecies of quartz, a mineral called also white agate, resembling milk diluted with water, and more or less clouded or opake, with veins, circles and spots. It is used in jewelry.

The varieties of chalcedony are common chalcedony, heliotrope, chrysoprase, plasma, onyx, sard and sardonyx.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

A precious stone, mentioned but once: it forms one of the foundations of the wall of the heavenly Jerusalem: it cannot be identified with any certainty.  Revelation 21:19 .

Webster's Dictionary

(n.) A cryptocrystalline, translucent variety of quartz, having usually a whitish color, and a luster nearly like wax.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Revelation 21:19

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(χαλκηδών ) occurs only in  Revelation 21:19, being the precious stone with which the third foundation of the wall of the New Jerusalem is garnished. According to Pliny (''H. N.'' 37:8, § 15), chalcedony is a gem resembling the Callais or turquoise, and some have judged it to be a kind of carbuncle or ruby. Salmasius differs from those who make the color of chalcedony to be like that of the carbuncle, and says that they confound τὸν καρχηδόνιον λίθον, which is a species of carbuncle, with τῇ χαλκηδονίῳ; but he confesses that it is by no means clear what stone the ancients called chalcedonius. Pignelius on Revelation ( Revelation 21:19) says that this stone has the color of a pallid lamp, shines in the open air, but is dark in a house, cannot be cut, and has powers of attraction. The etymology of the word is not less doubtful than its meaning. Some derive it from χαλκός, from a belief that it rings like brass when struck. Others have derived it from Χαλκηδών , as though from a locality where it is found, and others from Καρχηδών. (See Braun. de Vest. Hebrews 2, 100:2, p. 525) The Chalcedonius was so called from Chalcedon, and was obtained from the copper mines there; it was a small stone, and of no great value. It is described by Pliny as resembling the green and blue tints which are seen on a peacock's tail or on a pigeon's neck, Mr. King (Antique Gems, p. 8) says it was a kind of inferior emerald, as Pliny understood it. This mineral is supposed by some to be the same that occurs in the Hebrews Scriptures ( Exodus 28:18) under the name of נֹפֶךְ, no´ phek (translated "emerald"), but this is doubtful. (See Emerald). Chalcedony of modern lapidaries is a variety of amorphous quartz, and the distinction between it and agate is not very satisfactorily established. It is harder than flint (spec. grav. 2.04), commonly semi-transparent, and is generally of one uniform color throughout, usually a light brown, and often nearly white (and then termed "white cornelian"); but other shades of color are not infrequent, such as gray, yellow, green, and blue. Chalcedony occurs in irregular masses, commonly forming grotesque cavities, in trap rocks and even granite. It is found in most parts of the world; and in the East it is employed in the fabrication of cups and plates, and articles of taste, which are wrought with great skill and labor, and treasured among precious things. In Europe it is made into snuff-boxes, buttons, knife-handles, and other minor articles. (See Penny Cyclopaedia, s.v. Quartz.) (See Gem).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Chal´cedony (), a precious stone, forming a variety of amorphous quartz. It is harder than flint (specific gravity 2.04), commonly semi-transparent, and is generally of one uniform color throughout, usually a light brown and often nearly white; but other shades of color are not infrequent, such as grey, yellow, green, and blue. Chalcedony occurs in irregular masses, commonly forming grotesque cavities, in trap rocks and even granite. It is found in most parts of the world; and in the East is employed in the fabrication of cups and plates, and articles of taste, which are wrought with great skill and labor, and treasured among precious things. In Europe it is made into snuff-boxes, buttons, knife-handles, and other minor articles.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kal -sed´ō̇ -ni , kal´sē̇ -dō̇ -ni . See Stones , Precious .