TURQUOISE
1. Turquoise
a) According to the Bible, the first gemstone listed in the second row of the High Priest's breastplate (Exodus 28:18) could possibly be turquoise. The word for the gemstone in this location is nophek. As stated in our entry for carbuncles, this word could refer to a precious stone known as a red garnet and not to turquoise.
b) The possibility exists, however, that this word could better be rendered as "turquoise" given that six out of the ten Bible versions used for comparison purposes in this series translate it as such. These same six Biblical translations also translate nophek, stated as the eighth stone which adorned the symbolic King of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:13) which represented a fallen Lucifer, as "turquoise."
c) The origin of the English word "turquoise" found in the Bible actually comes from the French word for Turkey (Turks or Turkish). At one time, it was believed that this location is where the gem was discovered and sent to Europe.
d) According to a USGS article on turquoise, a robin's egg blue version of this stone was worn by Aztec kings and the Pharaohs of Egypt. This gemstone is believed to have been one of the first ones found and utilized by man. Two of the oldest known areas for mining this stone are the Alimersai Mountain in Iran and in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. In modern times, the United States is the world's largest producer of gem-quality turquoise.
e) In the early seventeenth century it was stated that no Englishman (women rarely wore the gem) considered his hand "well adorned" unless he wore on it a quality turquoise stone.
f) Turquoise, like diamonds, were once believed to possess talisman-like powers. These powers, however, would only manifest themselves if the precious stone were received as a gift. If the gem was purchased, its power was believed to leave it and render it useless.
a) According to the Bible, the first gemstone listed in the second row of the High Priest's breastplate (Exodus 28:18) could possibly be turquoise. The word for the gemstone in this location is nophek. As stated in our entry for carbuncles, this word could refer to a precious stone known as a red garnet and not to turquoise.
b) The possibility exists, however, that this word could better be rendered as "turquoise" given that six out of the ten Bible versions used for comparison purposes in this series translate it as such. These same six Biblical translations also translate nophek, stated as the eighth stone which adorned the symbolic King of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:13) which represented a fallen Lucifer, as "turquoise."
c) The origin of the English word "turquoise" found in the Bible actually comes from the French word for Turkey (Turks or Turkish). At one time, it was believed that this location is where the gem was discovered and sent to Europe.
d) According to a USGS article on turquoise, a robin's egg blue version of this stone was worn by Aztec kings and the Pharaohs of Egypt. This gemstone is believed to have been one of the first ones found and utilized by man. Two of the oldest known areas for mining this stone are the Alimersai Mountain in Iran and in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. In modern times, the United States is the world's largest producer of gem-quality turquoise.
e) In the early seventeenth century it was stated that no Englishman (women rarely wore the gem) considered his hand "well adorned" unless he wore on it a quality turquoise stone.
f) Turquoise, like diamonds, were once believed to possess talisman-like powers. These powers, however, would only manifest themselves if the precious stone were received as a gift. If the gem was purchased, its power was believed to leave it and render it useless.
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