topaz in the Bible
Hebrew: פִטְדָה —transliteration: pitdah
Greek: τοπάζιον —transliteration: topazion
The ancient word pitdah appears only 4 times in Scripture. It is clearly a precious stone (a gem stone) and is perhaps topaz, as it is rendered by almost all translators. However, that translation is based on the Septuagint translation and is not absolutely definitive. Some suppose pitdah refers to the peridot or chrysoberyl.
Most authors seem to agree that the pitdah was yellow-brown.
Mentions of pitdah in Scripture
It is listed as one of the precious stones placed on the breastplate of the high priest (Exodus 28:17; 39:10).
It was the 2nd stone in the 1st row in the breastplate, and had the name of Simeon inscribed on it (Exodus 28:17).
- It is mentioned by Job and translated “topaz of Ethiopia” —Job 28:19
- “…Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold… —Ezek. 28:13 NKJV excerpt
Mention of topaz
The Greek word topazion (meaning: topaz) appears in the Apostle John’s decription of New Jerusalem . It is one of the precious stones that adorns the foundations (Rev. 21:20).
Topaz crystals are very hard and generally golden brown to yellow in color, although they can be colorless, and if certain additional materials are present natural crystals may be orange, red, green, blue, gray, pink, or pink-orange.