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Bible Encyclopedias
Agate
The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia
or âBiblical Data:
A precious stone, mentioned four times in the Authorized Version of the Bibleâtwice as the translation of kadkod (Isaiah 54:12, Ezekiel 27:16), and twice of shebo (Exodus 28:19, 39:12). The Agate derives its name from the place where it was first foundâthe banks of the river Achates in Sicily; but it is not confined to that locality, being met with in many parts of the world. It occurs near the ancient Chalcedon, in Asia Minor (whence the name "chalcedony"), as the white Agate. The sard (brown), carnelian (red), onyx (white and black), and sardonyx (white and red) are other varieties of the same mineral. Delitzsch, "Hebrew Language," 36, connects shebo with the Assyrian shubu ("the shining").
âIn Rabbinical Literature:
According to Samuel bar Naḥmani (B. B. 75a), two angels, Gabriel and Michael, discussed in heaven the meaning of kadkod (Agate), occurring in Isaiah 54:12:2: "And I will make thy windows of agates [
]." One maintained that this precious stone is identical with beryl, while the other thought it to be a jasper. Whereupon God intervened with a paronomasia, saying: "Kadkod will contain both [
]." According to others, the discussion took place between the Palestinian amoraim Judah and Ezekiel, sons of R. Ḥiyya; see also Pesik. R. , and Midr. Teh.
These files are public domain.
Singer, Isidore, Ph.D, Projector and Managing Editor. Entry for 'Agate'. 1901 The Jewish Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tje/a/agate.html. 1901.
