BIRTHSTONES
January - Garnet
February - Amethyst
March - Aquamarine or Bloodstone
April - Diamond
May - Emerald
June - Moonstone, pearl or a lexandrite
July - Ruby
August - Peridot or Sardonyx
September - Sapphire
October - Opal or tourmaline
November -Topaz or Citrine
December - Turquoise or Zircon
Gemstones are measured in carats. 142 carats is equal to one ounce. Gold is also measured in carats. For instance, 24K gold means that 24 of the 24 parts of the metal are gold. 18K means that 18 parts of the 24 are gold.
What is the origin of the birthstones and their corresponding months?
The origin of our twelve birthstones and their colors is rooted in the twelve colored stones in the breast-plate (bosom) of the high priest of ancient Israel. The fact that our birthstones are not only associated with different tribes, but also with different months, shows that there is a strong tradition that each of the 12 songs of Jacob were born at a distinct time of year.
How do we find a definitive correlation of all 12 stones to their modern names, colors, and tribes of Israel?
The solution is based on birth dates and birth constellations.
Ezekiel 28:13 (NASB) - "You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz, the diamond; the Beryl, and the onyx, and the Jasper, the lapis Lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald and the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets was in you. On that day you were created, they were prepared.
Those nine stones are nine of the 12 stones of the High Priest. He says the Stones were the 'Covering" in the Garden of Eden suggesting he might be referring to the Canopy of Heavens, and that each stone is associated with a Zodiac Constellation.
Twelve Tribes
The 12 stones in the Breastplate correspond to the original 12 sons of Jacob, not to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, which were later adopted as sons, effectively doubling the inheritance for their father Joseph.
Twelve Foundations
The 12 Foundations of the New Jerusalem are garnished with the same 12 precious stones, as named by John in Revelation 21:19-20. While those stones are associated with the 12 apostles, they are also near the 12 gates which are named for the 12 Tribes of Israel.
Revelation 21:19the foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
John wrote in Greek some 1500 years after Moses. He's referring to stones which he recognized and understood. John knew his gems well, right down to recognizing Sardonyx as a specific form of onyx. The 12 colors of the Stones and the representative stones were chosen for the color and had to be large enough to engrave the tribe's names on it. The 12 Zodiac constellations also each had a unique color for the figure and the 12 stones also correspond to those colors.
The names of the tribes were engraved on stones on the shoulder of the priests with six on each shoulder according to their birth (Exodus 28). Hebrew meanings change with the different colors and it’s hard to decipher the colors and tribes.
Hebrew Name King James Septuagint Other References
Odem Sardius Sardius red; not ruby
Pitdah Topaz Topaz from Ethiopia (Job 28:19)
Bareqeth Carbuncle/Garnet Emerald (Daniel 10:6) Color of lightening "Green" Greek
Nophek Emerald Anthrax/Garnet (Ezekiel 27:16) Precious "Coal" Greek
Sappiyr Sapphire Sapphire Exodus 24:10 "Sky Blue"
Yahalom Diamond Jasper None-many
Leshem Ligure Ligure none, Ligure unknown
Shebuw Agate Agate none
Aclamah Amethyst Amethyst none
Tarshish Beryl Chrysolite (Ezekiel 1:16, 10:9) Color of Heavenly Chariot Wheels
Shoham Onyx Beryl 'Whiten" (Hebrew)
Jashepheh Jasper Onyx none
Identify colors of Stones from table:
Odem (Red)- First Stone Odem means 'Red' in Hebrew and nearly all translations refer to it as sard (also called Sardius), which is a very red stone. Some translations refer to it as a Ruby. One would be hard pressed to find a ruby large enough to engrave a name on it, and even then it would require a diamond to write it. Most rubies are not as red as Sard. First Stone and Color are well identified.
Sappiyr (Blue) - Our word Sapphire comes from the Greek, which in turn comes from the Hebrew Sappiyr. At the time of john the Revelator, the name referred to Lapis Lazuli, a very Blue Stone. The confirmation that the ancient stone was also blue came in a vision at the time of Moses when the lord appeared on a pavement of Sappiyr, described as being as blue as a clear blue sky. (Exodus 24:10) 'And they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.'
Aclamah (Purple) - All the translations agree that Aclamah refers to Amethyst and there seems to be almost no doubt about this identification. While the scriptures don't specify that the color is purple, that is the only color of Amethyst.
Pitdah (Yellow Brown) - The other stone on which all translations agree is that the second stone Pitdah is the Topaz. Although Topaz comes in many colors, the principal color associated with the most common variety is a very light yellowish brown color.
Tarshish (Yellow) -This stone is most likely a golden color, matching the translation in the Septuagint of Chrysolite ('golden stone' in Greek). It is the color used by Daniel to describe a man seen in a heavenly vision, whose face is described to be like lightening (Daniel 10:6). The name of the third stone is derived from the same word for 'lightening' (Daniel 10:6) and is presumably a similar golden color. The name Tarshish is the same as the Mediterranean country (Jonah 1:3) probably Spain and hence also came to mean "Merchant Vessel" (2 Chronicles 9:21, Psalm 48:7, Isaiah 23:1).
Shoham (White) -The 11th stone Shoham almost certainly refers to a white stone because the root of the name means 'to whiten." It has been translated both as Onyx and Beryl, both of which have white varieties. Thus, only six of the stones are clearly identified with colors by the stone itself, by other passages or by name derivations.
Note also that there are some serious questions about some of the King James translations. "Diamond" almost certainly is not correct because nothing would be available hard enough to inscribe the name in it (other than another diamond) and it would have to be a very large diamond! The name "Jasper" was probably chosen only because it is similar to the Hebrew word. Nine of the names of the stones only appear in being a precious stone, with no other clues at all to identify other characteristics.
Beryl symbolized white or clear. Chrysolite was yellow. Sardius is red. Emerald is a synonym for Green. Sapphire is a synonym for Blue. Amethyst only comes in Purple.
Carbuncle (Glowing Coal) - Usually means Garnet: The color of the Tribe of Dan. Greek translation of 'nophek' is 'anthrax' translates into Carbuncle in English.
New Jerusalem 12 foundation Stones (Revelation 21:14)
Greek Modern Stone Color Other References
Amethyst Amethyst Purple none
Beryl Beryl White or Cream none
Chalcedony Chalcedony Light Blue none
Crysolite Crysolite Light Blue none
Chrysoprase Chrysoprase/Peridot Yellow Green (Gold) "Golden Stone"
Jacinth Jacinth (Hyacinth) Garnet Reddish Black Color of smoke (Revelation 9:17)
Jasper Jasper Orange or Fiery Red Yellow-red (Rev. 4:3, Ezekiel 1:27)
Sapphire Lapis Lazuli Royal Blue "Blue"
Sardius Sard Red "Red" Revelation 4:3
Sardonyx Sardonyx Red & White layers none
Topaz Topaz Yellow Brown none
Emerald Emerald Green 'Green'
A cameo is carved from Sardonyx by cutting away one colored layer to form a background for the picture. If we compare these 12 Greek names for the foundation stones to the Greek translation of the Breastplate Stones given in the Septuagint, we find that nine are identical.
The remaining stones that are mentioned in Revelation which need to be matched to Hebrew names are: Chrysoprase (yellow-green), Chalcedony (Light Blue), and Jacinth (Also called Hyacinth), referring to either a red or blue form of Zircon.
Jacinth is Carbuncle- In Greek, Jacinth sometimes refers to a dark red color and sometimes a dark blue.
Revelation 9:17 - And thus I saw the Horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone; and the heads of the horses were as heads of lions and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
Here we are told the horsemen had breastplates of fire (red), and Jacinth (unstated), and brimstone (sulfur or yellow). But then in a parallel construction we are told they breathed out fire, smoke, and brimstone. That strongly suggests that the color of Jacinth corresponds to the color of the smoke accompanying the fire. That favors the dark red interpretation. Moreover, now that we know the meaning of 'carbuncle', it is a perfect match of glowing ember because smoke often contains glowing sparks. So let us equate jacinth to Carbuncle (Greek Anthrax).
Yellow/Red Jasper - The stone Jasper comes in a wide variety of colors, but John gives us enough clues to deduce that it is the yellow variety with red streaks (silex). The being on the throne is described by John as being the color of Sard and jasper (Revelation 4:3). Sard is red, but what color is Jasper? In parallel revelation given to Ezekiel, the being is described as colored like Amber (yellow) filled with swirling fire (red) in the upper body, and like fire in the lower (Ezekiel 1:27). So here again a being with two colors is described, even as John compared the colors to stones. Clearly the red fire corresponds to Sard, which leaves the red swirling within yellow to be the Jasper.
Golden-Green Chrysoprase - One of the new stones on john's list is Chrysoprase, which means "Golden Green" or Yellow-Green in Greek. This color fits well to be that of Bareqeth (Stone #3) which was described both as 'Lightening', a golden color and also as green (Emerald). This identification would refer to the modern gem stone Peridot or Olivine.
Sky Blue Chalcedony - There are two sacred colors of blue in the scriptures and there are two blue stones of those colors. John adds Chalcedony to the list, which is a light blue (sky blue) stone. The other blue stone he lists is called Sapphire in Greek, which during his time referred to the stone we call Lapis lazuli which is a Royal Blue Color. In the O.T. the stone Sappiyr is compared to the Azure Blue Sky, so let's equate that stone to Chalcedony.
Royal Blue Ligure - In the temple, the blue color used for the high priest's robe (Exodus 28:31) was a royal blue color which exactly matches that of Lapis Lazuli. Let us equate the unknown Green "Ligure"
to Lapis Lazuli. Most translators equate Ligure to the blue form of Jacinth (Blue Zircon), but that would yield too many stones.
Green Agate - By elimination we are left to equate the Hebrew Shebuw, translated as "Agate" in the Septuagint, with the stone John describes as Emerald. One green form of Agate is called Moss Agate, which could be the foundation stone. Another possibility is called 'Emerald Quartz.'
Red/White Sardonyx - It is worth noting how much info was added by John the Revelator when he named one stone as 'Sardonyx' rather than merely onyx. Onyx refers to a layered rock which usually has white, red, or black layers. Sometimes, it is all white or all black, so the name onyx alone does not specify color. But the variety with alternate red and white stripes has the specific name "Sardonyx." Sardonyx is used to make cameos. The same is done with Onyx made of black and white layers of stone.
The table below lists the 12 Breastplate stones with their Greek translations from the Septuagint:
Hebrew Greek Foundation Gem Color
Odem Sardius Sard Ruby Red
Pitdah Topaz Topaz Topaz Tan
Bareqeth Emerald Chrysoprase Peridot Yellow Green (Golden)
Nophek Anthrax Jacinth Garnet Reddish black
Sappiyr Sapphire Chalcedony Aqua-Marine Light Blue
Yahalom Jasper Jasper Fire-Opal Orange
Leshem Ligure Lapis Lazuli Sapphire Royal Blue
Shebuw Agate Emerald Emerald Green
Aclamah Amethyst Amethyst Amethyst Purple
Tarshish Chrysolite Chrysolite Chrysoberyl Yellow
Shoham Beryl Beryl, Onyx Diamond, Beryl White
Jashepheh Onyx Sardonyx, Rose Quartz Pink Tourmaline Red/White Stripes or Pink
Twelve Tribes of Israel which correspond to 12 constellations:
Hebrew Foundation Color Zodiak Tribe
Odem Sard Red Lion Judah
Pitdah Topaz tan Crab Issachar
Bareqeth Chrysoprase Yellow-Green Ram Zebulon
Nophek Jacinth Red-Black Scorpion Dan
Sappiyr Chalcedony Light-Blue Maiden Naphtali
Yahalom Jasper Orange Archer Gad
Leshem Lapis Lazuli Royal Blue Water Bearer Reuben
Shebuw Emerald Quartz Green Sea Goat Simeon
Aclamah Amethyst Purple Fishes Levi
Tarshish Chrysolite Yellow Scales Asher
Shoham Beryl White Bull Joseph
Jashepheh Sardonyx Red & White Twins Benjamin
What is the order of these stones?
Exodus 28:10 - "According to their birth." A careful reading of Genesis 29-30 shows the order of birth by Jacob's wives. The order of birth of Leah's six sons was: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulon. The birth order of Bilhah's sons were: Dan and Naphtali; of Zilpah's sons were: Gad and Asher; of Rachel's sons were Joseph and Benjamin.
The shoulder stone order is usually assumed to be the same order as the stones on the breastplate according to Jewish interpretation. Leah's children are grouped together and order of birth. If the priest faced east (Sacred Direction), then his right shoulder would face south, which was Reuben's direction, and the left should be north, which was Dan's direction. Thus, the stone on the right shoulder would start with Reuben's name with Dan leading the list on the left shoulder. That also fits with Reuben being the firstborn, which is associated with the son of the right hand. We know because of his actions, Reuben lost that blessing of being the firstborn, but that does not change the birth order.
Encampment Order:
Consider the order of their names when the tribes encamped in a square fashion, which three tribes in each direction. The order given is Judah, Issachar, Zebulon (east), Reuben, Simeon, Gad (south), Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin (west), and Dan, Asher, Naphtali (north). Numbers 2:3-29
The order is almost the same as proposed for the two shoulder stones. Judah, Issachar, and Zebulon are the last three on Leah's stone in the same order.
Why would Judah's three be listed first?
Perhaps it is because Judah is associated with the east, and east is the most important direction. Then Reuben, Simeon, and Levi would have been the next three, except that Levi was removed from this list. When he became head of the priestly tribe, which was protected in the middle of these armies. It would make sense for Gad; the firstborn of Leah's handmaid, Zilpah, to take Levi's place. If so, then the next three are explained. Asher would then move up one place and we'd expect the north there to be Dan, Naphtali and Asher. Maybe the reason Naphtali and Asher's order reversed was due to migration.
Finally, the tribe of Joseph was split into Ephraim and Manasseh, which perfectly explains the order of the west encampment. Thus, with the exception of Naphtali/Asher swap, the encampment order is perfectly explained by starting with the proposed shoulder order and then replacing Levi. The four "cornerstone" tribes of Reuben, Judah, Dan, and Joseph (Ephraim) are each at the head of one of the four cardinal directions in the encampment order. That is in agreement with their each being the leaders for that direction, and their colors of blue, red, black, and white representing those four directions.
Breastplate Order:
Three (3) Two (2) One (1) Yellow-Green Tan Red Zebulon Issachar Judah
Six (6) Five (5) Four (4) Orange Sky Blue Red-Black Gad Naphtali Dan
Nine (9) Eight (8) Seven (7) Purple Green Royal Blue Levi Simeon Reuben
Twelve (12) Eleven (11) Ten (10) Red/White White Yellow Benjamin Joseph Asher
How does this all relate to our modern list of 12 Birthstones? The last column lists the gems proposed above to represent each of the 12 constellations and tribes.
In the table, Ruby (red) is associated with late June, but it really fits most of July well too. That is how the stones matched birth dates 3,800 years ago when these twelve men were born.
Month Modern Ancient Tribe Birthday Proposed
January Garnet Garnet
February Amethyst Amethyst Levi 5 February Amethyst
March Aqua-Marine Jasper Zebulon 4 March Peridot
April Diamond Sapphire Joseph 6 April Diamond
May Emerald Agate Benjamin/Issachar 25 May/29May Pink, Topaz Tourmaline
June Moonstone Emerald Judah 19 June Ruby
July Ruby Onyx
August Peridot Carnelian Naphtali 17 August Aqua-marine
September Sapphire Peridot Asher 23 September Chrysoberyl
October Opal, Pink Tourmaline(Aqua-Marine) Dan 9 October Garnet
November Topaz, Citrine Topaz Gad 2 November Fire, Opal
December Turquoise, Blue TopazRuby Simeon/Reuben 16 December/23 Dec. Emerald/Sapphire
Four of the modern stones seem to be 'Correct' in that they match from the research. Amethyst for February, Diamond for April, Ruby for July, and Blue Topaz for December all match colors well.
Everything in the color blue was WRITTEN BY: John P. Pratt, '12 Sons, 12 Constellations'
Exodus 28:16-21 -It is to be square and folded double, nine inches long and nine inches wide. Mount four rows of precious stones on it; in you shall set in it four rows of stones: A Sardius, a Topaz, and a Carbuncle shall be the first row. The second row an Emerald, a Sapphire, and a Diamond. The third row a Jacinth, an Agate, and an Amethyst; and the Fourth row a Beryl, an Onyx, and a Jasper. They shall be set in gold filigree. And the stones shall be twelve, according to the names of the sons of Israel like the engravings of a signet, each with its name for the twelve tribes.
Exodus 28:15 -You shall make a breastplate of judgment, in skilled work; like the workmanship of the Ephod shall you make it, of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet, and of fine twined linen.
God's people were so special and precious to them that each tribe and nation was equated with a precious gemstone. We only see dimly as to the things, purposes, and plans of God. But maybe, just maybe by setting these precious gemstones in pure gold (holiness-costly) to wear upon the priest's chest (The Father's bosom), we, His children, could grasp how costly, priceless, and valuable of treasures we are to His heart.
I also find it very interesting that a diamond is set in pure gold and worn on the left hand on the fourth finger that is in the direct alignment to the heart.
The circle has no beginning and no end and is a strong symbol for eternity. After all a 'bow' - complete circle-surrounds the throne of God.
Revelation 4:3 - "...and there was a rainbow round about the throne..."
Have you ever heard of a scribbling ring?
In 16th century England, uncut diamond crystals were set into rings and exchanged by lovers. The wearers of these Scribbling Rings would use the points of the Diamonds to etch (or 'scribble') romantic writings to each other in glass, mirrors, or windows.
Romans 2:15 - Since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.
2 Corinthians 3:2 - You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.
2 Corinthians 3:3 - You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the Living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
An engagement ring is a symbol of the promise of marriage. It is also a symbol of the commitment to join as one in a lifelong relationship as husband and wife. The tradition of the engagement ring dates back many years. It was once believed that the fourth finger of the left hand contained the vena amoris (or vein of love) and that this vein connected directly to the heart. This tradition has endured and that is why both engagement rings and wedding rings are placed on that particular finger. in this way then the wedded couple was believed to be 'joined at the heart.'
Most men today buy diamond rings for their beloved. The tradition of the diamond engagement ring began with the Italians. In Italy it was once believed that diamonds were derived from the "Flames of love" and therefore, clearly represented the bonds of everlasting love. Both wedding bands and Diamond engagement rings are symbols of many meanings.
LOVE, COMMITMENT, FIDELITY, ETERNITY, and HONOR.
For centuries, however, diamonds were too rare and expensive to be widely available or affordable. The first recorded diamond engagement ring was given to Mary of Burgundy by her betrothed, Archduke Maximillian of Austria, in 1477. Diamonds were considered at that time to have magical powers relative to love, purity, and fidelity.
In the late 19th century extensive diamond deposits were discovered in South Africa, effectively making the gems more widely available and cheaper for the general public to purchase. Because of the sudden abundance of diamonds, designs became more elaborate and intricate and more brides-to-be began to receive diamond engagement rings. The tradition of giving diamond engagement rings actually only started in the years of the Depression when the marketing Dept. at DeBeers actually hit on the slogan, "Diamonds are Forever."
In the late 1880's, the diamond fields in South Africa had been discovered and were in full operation with DeBeers finally assuming control of the import of diamonds into the country. It then became a commercial necessity to sell as many as possible for as much as possible and this is where the marketing department came into action and backed by commercial movies and music releases such as, "Diamonds are Forever."
No matter what the truth is behind the tradition of giving a diamond engagement ring, it is a fact that almost 80% of engagement rings are in fact diamond rings. No matter what the roots of giving tradition, a diamond ring does symbolize the love, commitment, and union of two people forever.
Hosea 2:19-20 - "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in Righteousness and justice, in loving-kindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord.
For thousands of years, diamonds have set the standard when it comes to fine gemstones. Unmistakable in their radiance, they are the very definition of prized beauty. Colorless and near-colored diamonds are referred to as "white" in contrast to fancy-colored diamonds, but among the fancy colors is a rare appearance described as Fancy White Diamonds.
White Diamonds have a perceived color hue resembling snow, refined sugar, or pasteurized whole milk. Such diamonds contain a high concentration of submicroscopic inclusions that scatter light, yielding a translucent 'milky' white face-up color. The nature of these inclusions is unknown. White is the lightest color perception evident to the eye and the mind. White is also known as a neutral (achromatic) color having no saturation yet having a measurable range of lightness.
Popular names for different mixtures of white are cream, ivory, milk, moonstone, opalescent, pearl, salt, snow, sugar. Fancy white diamonds are diamonds with a milky color similar like white moonstone. They contain minute particles which scatter the light, thus leave the stone slightly turbid white. These diamonds are often called 'opalescent' because the dispersion of the stones looks somewhat like the play of color of opals. These diamonds are very rare, as rare as pinks or certain blues, but normally not very attractive and much, much cheaper. The stones are usually very hydrogen rich diamonds (pure type lab).
White Diamonds can have a brownish, bluish, yellowish, and grayish appearance. The ability of a diamond to refract and disperse white light into all the rainbow colors of the spectrum is sometimes called 'FIRE' and it is one of the desirable qualities of diamonds. Well-polished diamonds SPARKLE and FLASH with lots of FIRE.
White diamonds are produced by mines all over the world in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The white diamond recovered from the Argyle mine are particularly brilliant and of high quality.
Diamonds - The word alone conjures up a thousand images...
-RARE -PRECIOUS -DESIRABLE -BEAUTIFUL -SPARKLING -TOKENS OF LOVE
Created deep within the core of the earth more than three billion years ago and brought to the surface by volcanic eruption, most of the diamonds sparkling on fingers today are more than 100 million years old!
Rare and fascinating, mysterious and magical, the diamond has ignited fires of war and romantic passion throughout history.
What makes a Diamond special?
Beauty- The colorless beauty and INNER Fire of the diamond has made this precious gem prized for centuries. Each stone's complex characteristics cannot be duplicated and not two diamonds CAN EVER BE the SAME. Each stone, like its owner, is endowed with a personality and character uniquely its own.
Durability - A diamond is the hardest substance known to man, making it resistant to deterioration. When cared for properly, diamond jewelry can be worn everyday and passed on as an heirloom to the next generation.
Purity - Although new resources for diamonds are being explored and discovered, the supply of these gems remain limited. This is understandable once you learn that more than 250 tons of ore need to be blasted, crushed, processed to yield one carat of rough diamonds. Further, only 20 percent of all rough diamonds are suitable for gem cutting.
Enduring Value -Like many precious products, diamond prices fluctuate. But it is important to know that these sparkling gemstones still retain value after years of being worn and enjoyed.
Cut - Each diamond is cut according to an exact mathematical formula. The most common cut, the round brilliant, has 58 facets, or small, flat, polished planes designed to yield the maximum amount of light to be reflected back to the viewer. This reflection, known as brilliance, is an extremely important factor in evaluating the quality of a diamond. A poorly cut diamond will actually loose light and appear dull.
Did you ever hear the saying, "You're a diamond cut in the rough?"
The phrase is a metaphor for the original unpolished state of diamond gemstones, especially those that have the potential to become high quality jewels. It is more commonly expressed in the form 'rough diamond.'
Rough diamonds are any and all diamonds which have not yet been polished. They are often called simply 'rough' in the trade, although the words uncut or unpolished are also used. The term 'rough' is used for all qualities of diamonds. It does not indicate any particular quality, except for the fact that they have not yet been cut or polished.
When I first became a Christian, I was a 'rough diamond' -uncut and unpolished. I was very rough. God brought Godly Brilliant Shining White Diamonds into my life and used their lives to begin cutting many new facets into me. Their strength and excellent spirit began scratching against my rough surface and I saw many Proverbs 31 Women; Shining Brilliantly before my eyes.
Proverbs 31:10-31 (The Message)
A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises. She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day. She looks over a field and buys it, then, with the money she's put aside, plants a garden. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. She's quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor. She doesn't worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks. Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops. Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile. When she speaks, she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone n her household, and keeps them all busy and productive. Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in words of praise: "Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed them all!" Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God. Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!
A rough diamond is divided into two parts by sawing or cleaving. Most stones are sawed across the 'grain' (visible evidence of the diamond's crystal structure) by a paper-thing metal disc coated with diamond dust revolving at high speed or by laser. The stones are marked for cleaving are split along the grain by a single blow from a steel blade.
Not only do diamonds cut diamonds but when diamonds are cut they cleave when cut.
Genesis 2:24 (Amp) -Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Deuteronomy 11:22 - For if you diligently keep all this commandment which I command you to o, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave to him.
After cleaving or sawing, the corners of the diamonds are rounded off by a process known as bruting or girdling (only round brilliant cuts require this step). The most popular cut is the round brilliance because of its ability to give the stone the greatest possible brilliance and FIRE. A well-cut diamond will be FIERY, BRILLIANT, and BEAUTIFUL!
Daniel 12:3 (The Message) - "Men and women who have lived wisely and well will SHINE BRILLIANTLY like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will GLOW like stars forever.
1 King 4:29 (CEV) - God had blessed him with insight and understanding.
1 Timothy 6:16 (NLT) - He alone can never die, and he lives in light so BRILLIANT that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen
Revelation 4:3 - The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones-like Jasper and Carnelian. And the GLOW of an Emerald circled His throne like a rainbow.
Ezekiel 1:13 - The living beings looked like bright coals of FIRE or BRILLIANT torches, and lightening seems to flash back and forth among them.
Ezekiel 1:4 - I looked, I saw a great storm coming from the North, driving before it a huge cloud that flashed lightening and shone with BRILLIANT light. There was FIRE inside the cloud, and in the middle of the fire glowed something like gleaming Amber.
Exodus 24:19 - By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so they could travel by day and night.
God is the Diamond Miner, the Great Jeweler. He extracts many of us out of deep pits, riverbeds or ocean beaches, where we have stayed hidden in the River of His joy in the Ocean of His love and in deep pits of despair. He allows the pressures of life -the fiery furnaces and the eruptions of life to bring us up out of darkness into His glorious light. Many of us are rough and need cut and polished. He allows other diamonds to grind against us in order for us to glisten in His Son's light.
He knows exactly where we need cut so we can cleave to him. He wills for each of us to be quality diamonds that display a High Standard of Excellence in quality where He can then set us in. His rings of Golden Glory. He wants to let His love and light shine through His Brilliant Gemstones. He wants to grant us favor with Kings and Priests and set us in high places of honor and favor. Diamonds have been set in Royal Crowns as shimmering gems in palaces. They have been set in royal scepters and laid to rest in the most remote palaces and kingdoms.
We are indeed God's treasured gemstones. We are very precious to Him. There is no other Diamond like you.
Daniel 12:3 (AMP) - And the teachers and those who are wise shall SHINE like the BRIGHTNESS of the firmament and those who turn many to righteousness (to uprightness and right-standing with God) [Shall give forth light] like the stars forever and ever.
The reason I took so much time with describing the colors in Hebrew and Greek and trying to pinpoint the modern birthstones in correlation to the 12 tribes of Israel is because there is much debate on precise colors and gems and tribal names. The prior study of the 12 stones and 12 tribes of Judah seem to line up. The following info is according to the Midrash and only two of the colors and tribes match the prior study. I've also included info as to where the Midrash originated.
In the Tabernacle in the desert, each of the 12 tribes had their own banner (Numbers 2:34). Each had their banners with the tribe logo and the family name on them. If you were looking form the air and saw the Tabernacle and all the color, it would have been an awesome sight. "...So the Israelites did everything as the Lord commanded Moses..."
Benjamin's stone was Jasper and the color of his flag was a combination of all the 12 colors, embroidered thereon was a Wolf.
The 12 Tribal flags according to the Midrash:
Asher's flag was a Beryl and the color of his flag was like the precious stone with which women adorn themselves, embroidered thereon was an Olive Tree.
Joseph's flag was an Onyx and the color of his flag was jet black; the embroidered design thereon for both princes Ephraim and Manasseh was Egypt because they were born there. A wild ox was embroidered on the flag of the tribe of Manasseh. A bullock was embroidered on the flag of Ephraim
Dan's flag was Jacinth and the color of his flag was similar to Sapphire; embroidered on it was a serpent.
Gad's flag was an Agate and the color of his flag was neither black nor white but a blend of black and white; on it was embroidered a camp.
Naphtali's flag was all Amethyst and the color of his flag was like clarified wine of a not very deep red; on it was embroidered a hind.
According to the Midrash: [Midrash - Hebrew-plural midrashim {to investigate or study} is a Hebrew term referring to the not exact, but comparative [homiletic] method of exegesis [hermeneutic] of Biblical texts, which is one of four methods cumulatively called Pardes. The term midrash can also refer to a compilation of homiletic teachings [commentaries] on the Tanakh [Hebrew Bible], in the form of legal and ritual [Halakhah] and legendary, moralizing, folkloristic, and anecdotal [Aggadah] parts.
While the midrashim are a valuable source of Jewish interpretations of the Bible, they are not the only source. The Midrash is mostly derived from, and based upon, the teachings of the Tannaim.
How the midrash describes the banners of the 12 tribes:
There were distinguishing signs for each prince; each had a flag (mappah) and a different color for every flag corresponding to the precious stones on the breastplate (heart) of Aaron. It was from these that governments learned to provide themselves with flags of various colors. Each tribe had its own prince and its flag whose color corresponded to the color of its stone.
Reuben's stone was ruby, the color of his flag was red, and embroidered thereon were mandrakes
Simeon's stone was topaz and his flag was green, with the town of Shechem embroidered thereon.
Levi's stone was smaragd and the color of his flag was a third white, a third black, and a third red; embroidered thereon were the Urim and Thummim.
Judah's stone was Carbuncle, and the color of his flag resembled that of the heavens; embroidered on it was a lion.
Issachar's stone was a Sapphire and the color of his flag was black like stibium; embroidered thereon were the sun and the moon.
Zebulun's stone was an Emerald and the color of his flag was white; with a ship embroidered thereon.
God is so specifically detailed. You are not a mistake. Your birthdate is not a mistake. Your personality is not a mistake. You are a precious gem unto the Lord. His treasure. His reward. Beauty unspeakable. A rare a costly gem to his heart. Blessings and love to you!
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