Encyclopedia › Precious stones and metals
Encyclopedia
Precious stones and metals
The metals and gems of the Bible lands — how gold, silver, bronze and iron were mined, worked and traded, and what is known of the high priest’s stones, pearls and alabaster.
GoldHebrew zahav · Greek chrysos · the metal named most often in the Bible
SilverHebrew kesef (also “money”) · Greek argyrion · weighed out as money before coins
Bronze and copperHebrew nechoshet · bronze is copper alloyed with tin · “brass” in the KJV
IronHebrew barzel · Greek sidēros · in Canaan from about 1200 BC
Stones of the breastpieceHebrew choshen · twelve engraved stones in four rows · Exodus 28:15–21
PearlGreek margaritēs · grows inside the shells of some mollusks · prized in New Testament times
AlabasterGreek alabastron · a soft, banded white stone carved into flasks for perfume