Emeralds have long been associated with royalty, wealth, and prestige. In the Bible, emeralds are mentioned a few times, often symbolizing beauty, wisdom, and God’s majesty. Here we explore the significance and meaning of emeralds in the Bible.
Emeralds in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, emeralds are referenced in Exodus 28 and 39, which describe the breastplate worn by the high priest Aaron. This breastplate contained 12 precious stones, each symbolizing one of the 12 tribes of Israel.
“And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.” (Exodus 28:17-20 KJV)
The emerald represented the tribe of Judah, Jacob’s fourth son who founded the tribe. Some scholars believe the emerald was chosen due to its regal green color, befitting the tribe of kings – King David and Jesus Christ were both descendants of Judah.
Emeralds are also referenced in Ezekiel 28, where God compares the pride and beauty of the king of Tyre to precious gems:
“By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches: Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee…They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.
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…” (Ezekiel 28:4-13 KJV)
Here, the emerald symbolizes the garden of Eden’s pristine beauty and the king’s arrogant pride before his prophesied downfall. The gemstones emphasize the height of blessing and privilege the king enjoyed before God humbled him.
Emeralds in the New Testament
In the New Testament, emeralds appear in Revelation 4’s vision of God’s throne room:
“And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.” (Revelation 4:3 KJV)
The emerald rainbow encircling God’s throne symbolizes His awesome majesty, holiness, covenant loyalty, and mercy. Green is the color of life and freshness, suiting the eternal vitality of God’s life-giving presence.
Revelation 21 also associates emeralds with God’s magnificent glory reflected in the New Jerusalem:
“Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald…” (Revelation 21:11-19 KJV)
The enormous walls of New Jerusalem are built from gleaming precious gemstones, with the emerald comprising the fourth foundation. These jewels reflect God’s light and glory in brilliant colors and variety.
Biblical emerald meaning and symbolism
Based on the scriptural references, here are some of the key symbolic meanings of emeralds in the Bible:
- Beauty and perfection – Emeralds represent the pristine beauty of the Garden of Eden and the New Jerusalem
- Majesty and glory of God – The emerald rainbow around God’s throne conveys His awesome majesty and holiness
- Life and vitality – The green color symbolizes new life and eternal vigor
- Wisdom and truth – Emeralds signify the wisdom of God and divine truth
- Royalty and honor – As a precious gem, emeralds are associated with kingship, honor, and prestige
- The tribe of Judah – The emerald represented Judah as the tribe of kings
- Arrogance and pride – The king of Tyre’s riches and emeralds conveyed his arrogance and pride before his downfall
In the Bible, the emerald stands out as a regal stone conveying value, splendor, life, and the glory of God’s creation and heavenly realms. Its lush green color evokes new life and the height of divine wisdom and truth. As a foundation stone of New Jerusalem and gem of the high priest, it strongly signifies God’s majesty and honor.
Emerald Properties and Symbolism
Beyond the biblical references, emeralds have meanings as a gemstone that make them fitting symbols:
- Color – Emeralds range from bluish-green to vivid grass green. The lush green evokes life, spring, and restful coolness.
- Beauty – Emeralds have long been prized for their sublime green tones and clarity when cut well.
- Rarity – High-quality emeralds are very rare, adding to their value and prestige.
- Hardness – With a rating of 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale, emeralds are durable, tough gemstones.
- Clarity – Transparent, clear emeralds are most valued. Flaws and inclusions are often visible.
- Luster – When polished or faceted, emeralds have an intensely bright vitreous luster.
These intrinsic properties make emeralds fitting symbols of life, resilience, prestige, wisdom, growth, and the divine light of God’s glory.
Emeralds in non-biblical ancient cultures
Beyond the Bible, emeralds had rich meaning in other ancient and classical civilizations:
- The Incas and Aztecs prized emeralds and claimed the mines of Colombia. They associated emeralds with fertility and life.
- In ancient Egypt, emeralds symbolized eternal life and were mined on the Red Sea coast. Emerald amulets were placed on mummies.
- The ancient Greeks linked emeralds to Aphrodite as the goddess of love, believing the gems enhanced love, intuition and foresight.
- To the Romans, emeralds stood for beauty and symbolized Venus, the goddess of Love and Beauty.
- In Hindu history, emerald represented the goddess Lakshmi and her goodness and prosperity. Emeralds adorned royal crowns.
- Emeralds have long been treasured in Persian culture and feature in Persian folklore, gifted by kings and worn by royalty.
Across the ancient world, emeralds were consistently valued as potent, divine symbols of life, fertility, wealth, foresight, and lofty nobility due to their lush color and rarity.
The meaning of emeralds through history
Here’s an overview of how emeralds have been viewed throughout history beyond biblical symbolism:
Middle Ages
– Believed to enhance intelligence, eloquence, and memory
– Thought to cure illness and protect against evil and spells
– Signified immortality and faith
Renaissance Period
– Embodied perfection due to lush green color
– Given to royalty and worn as amulets
– Believed to heal defects of eyesight
18th and 19th Centuries
– Highly sought after in ornate jewelry as a royal gem
– Set in crowns, swords, and other regalia as imperial symbols
– Signified foresight, intuition, love, and abundance
Today
– Still considered symbols of life, fertility, and growth
– Valued for vivid green color and brilliance
– Signify wisdom, patience, compassion and nobility
– Given on 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries
Across cultures and history, emeralds have maintained similar meanings related to vitality, prestige, and the highest virtues. Their rich color and allure make them enduring symbols of life’s goodness.
Conclusion
In summary, emeralds have carried important symbolism and meaning in the Bible and across the world. Their references in scripture associate them with the glory of God, the tribe of Judah, and the garden of Eden. Their striking green colors, rarity, and luminosity make them natural symbols of life, love, wisdom, faith, and divine blessing.
Across many ancient cultures and through history, emeralds have continued to signify key human virtues, positive values, and the divine gift of life and creation. As one of the most beloved and storied gems, the emerald endures as a testament to life’s profound beauty, freshness, and the majesty of God’s creative work.