Agate

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A precious stone said to take its name from the river Achates in Sicily, where it abounded. Agates, which are several kinds, are likewise procured in India, in various parts of Europe, and at the Cape of Good Hope. They are semi-transparent, and often are beautifully veined and clouded, and present in miniature the picture of many natural objects. The agate was the second stone in the third row of the high priest's breastplate, Exodus 28:19  ; 39:12 .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Exodus 28:19 39:12 Isaiah 54:12 Ezekiel 27:16

This word is from the Greek name of a stone found in the river Achates in Sicily.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Hebrew kadkod , from kadad , "to sparkle". The "windows" being of this gem ( Isaiah 54:12 ) implies transparency. Gesenius thinks the ruby or carbuncle is meant. It was imported from Syria to Tyre ( Ezekiel 27:16 ). Hebrew Sheba (from Sheba whence it came to Tyre), Exodus 28:19  ; Exodus 39:12 , is rightly translated "agate," a semi-transparent uncrystallized quartz, mainly silica, with concentric layers of various tints; the second stone of the third row on the high priest's breast-plate. The English term is drawn from that of the Greeks, who found agate in the river Acheres , in Sicily, and hence named it.

Holman Bible Dictionary

Exodus 28:19 Exodus 39:12 Isaiah 54:12 Ezekiel 27:16 Revelation 21:19 <a> Jewels, Jewelry </a> <a> Minerals and Metals </a>

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

AGATE . See Jewels and Precious Stones.

King James Dictionary

AGA'TE, adv. a and gate. On the way going. Obs.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. kadkod, ἴασπις: from the root to strike fire, and hence a "sparkling gem, ruby." (Ges.) "A shining, sparkling precious stone, probably a carbuncle, so called from its red sparkling colour." (Fürst.) It occurs but twice: Isaiah 54:12 , "I will make thy windows of agates." This might be thought to signify that the agate was transparent, and that the windows were to be 'glazed' with agates; but windows were not then glazed. Others translate the word 'minarets, pinnacles, battlements,' and instead of ' agates' many prefer rubies. The other passage is Ezekiel 27:16  : Syria was thy merchant for coral, the agate, etc.; they came from Damascus. The Revised Version and others again translate 'rubies' which well agrees with the signification of the word.

2. shebo, ἀχάτης, achates, Vul., from 'to burn, to glow.' (Fürst.) "A composite stone formed of quartz, chalcedony, cornelian, flint, jasper, etc. and therefore glittering with different colours." (Delitzsch.) Bochart traces the word to a root signifying 'to be spotted.' This gem has been described as a semi-pellucid, uncrystallized variety of quartz; it is found in parallel or concentric layers of various colours, and presents different tints in the same specimen. It is generally, translated 'agate.' It was the stone chosen for the second place in the third row of the breastplate of the high priest. Exodus 28:19  ; Exodus 39:12 .

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Agate. A beautifully-veined semi-transparent precious stone, a variety of quartz. Its colors are delicately arranged in stripes or bands or blended in clouds. It is mentioned four times in the text of the Authorized Version, namely, in Exodus 28:19  ; Exodus 39:12  ; Isaiah 54:12  ; Ezekiel 27:16 .

In the two former passages; where it is represented by the Hebrew word, 'shebo' , it is spoken of as forming the second stone in the third row of the high priest's breastplate; in each of the two latter places, the original word is 'cadced' , by which, no doubt, is intended a different stone. See <a> Ruby </a> . Our English agate derives its name from the Achates, on the banks of which it was first found.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

שבו , Exodus 28:19  ; Exodus 39:12 . In the Septuagint αχατης , and Vulgate, achates. A precious stone, semi-pellucid. Its variegations are sometimes most beautifully disposed, representing plants, trees, rivers, clouds, &c. Its Hebrew name is, perhaps, derived from the country whence the Jews imported it; for the merchants of Sheba brought to the market of Tyre all kinds of precious stones, Ezekiel 27:22 . The agate was the second stone in the third row of the pectoral of the high priest, Exodus 28:19  ; Exodus 39:12 .

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

<translit> ag´ā̇t </translit> . See <links> STONES </links> , <a> PRECIOUS </a> .

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Agate, a precious or rather ornamental stone, which was one of those in the breast-plate of the high-priest ( Exodus 28:19  ; Exodus 39:12 ). This stone is popularly known in this country under the name of Scotch pebble. There are few countries in which agates of some quality or other are not produced. The finest are those of India; they are plentiful, and sometimes fine, in Italy, Spain, and Germany; but those found in this country are seldom good.

Agate is one of the numerous modifications of form under which silica presents itself, almost in a state of purity, forming 98 per cent, of the entire mineral. The siliceous particles are not so arranged as to produce the transparency of rock crystal, but a semi-pellucid, sometimes almost opaque substance, with a resinous or waxy fracture; and various shades of color are produced by minute quantities of iron. The same stone sometimes contains parts of different degrees of translucency, and of various shades of color; and the endless combinations of these produce the beautiful and singular internal forms, for which, together with the high polish they are capable of receiving, agates obtain their value as precious stones. The Scripture text shows the early use of this stone for engraving; and several antique agates, engraved with exquisite beauty, are still preserved in the cabinets of the curious.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( שְׁבוֹ , shebo', signif. unknown; Sept. ἀχάτης , Vulg. achates), a precious, or rather ornamental stone, which was one of those in the breastplate (see Braunii Vest. Sacerd. Hebrews 2:15 ) of the high-priest ( Exodus 28:19  ; Exodus 39:12 ). The word agate, indeed, occurs also in Isaiah 54:12 , and Ezekiel 27:6 , in our translation; but in the original the word is כִּדְכֹּד , kadkod. See RUBY. Theophrastus describes the agate as "an elegant stone, which took its name from the river Achates (now the Drillo, in the Val di Noto), in Sicily, and was sold at a great price" (58). But it must have been known long before in the East, and, in fact, there are few countries in which agates of some quality or other are not produced. The finest are those of India; they are plentiful, and sometimes fine, in Italy, Spain, and Germany. We have no evidence that agates were found in Palestine. Those used in the desert were doubtless brought from Egypt. Pliny says that those found in the neighborhood of Thebes were usually red veined with white. He adds that these, as well as most other agates, were deemed to be effectual against scorpions, and gives some curious accounts of the pictorial delineations which the variegations of agates occasionally assumed. Agate is one of the numerous modifications of form under which silica presents itself, almost in a state of purity, forming 98 per cent. of the entire mineral. The silicious particles are not so arranged as to produce the transparency of rock crystal, but a semi-pellucid, sometimes almost opaque substance, with a resinous or waxy fracture, and the various shades of color arise from minute quantities of iron. The same stone sometimes contains parts of different degrees of translucency, and of various shades of color; and the endless combinations of these produce the beautiful and singular internal forms, from which, together with the high polish they are capable of receiving, agates acquire their value as precious stones. Agates are usually found in detached rounded nodules in that variety of the trap rocks called amygdaloid or mandelstein, and occasionally in other rocks. Some of the most marvellous specimens on record were probably merely fancied, and possibly some were the work of art, as it is known that agates may be artificially stained. From Pliny we learn that in his time agates were less valued than they had been in more ancient times (Hist. Nat. 37, 10). The varieties of the agate are numerous, and are now, as in the time of Pliny, arranged according to the color of their ground. The Scripture text shows the early use of this stone for engraving; and several antique agates, engraved with exquisite beauty, are still preserved in the cabinets of the curious. (For a further account of the modern agate, see the Penny Cyclopcedia, s.v.). (See <a> GEM </a> ).