Category:Beryl

Ber"yl, n. Etym: [F. béryl, OF. beril, L. beryllus, Gr., prob. fr. Skr. vaid. Cf. Brilliant.] (Min.)

Defn: A mineral of great hardness, and, when transparent, of much beauty. It occurs in hexagonal prisms, commonly of a green or bluish green color, but also yellow, pink, and white. It is a silicate of aluminium and glucinum (beryllium). The aquamarine is a transparent, sea-green variety used as a gem. The emerald is another variety highly prized in jewelry, and distinguished by its deep color, which is probably due to the presence of a little oxide of chromium.

---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Beryl - The rendering in the Authorized Version of the Hebrew word tarshish, a precious stone; probably so called as being brought from Tarshish. It was one of the stones on the breastplate of the high priest (Exodus 28:20; R.V. marg., "chalcedony;" Exodus 39:13). The color of the wheels in Ezekiel's vision was as the color of a beryl stone (Ezekiel 1:16; Ezekiel 10:9; R.V., "stone of Tarshish"). It is mentioned in Song of Songs 5:14; Daniel 10:6; Revelation 21:20. In Ezekiel 28:13 the LXX. render the word by "chrysolite," which the Jewish historian Josephus regards as its proper translation. This also is the rendering given in the Authorized Version in the margin. That was a gold-colored gem the topaz of ancient authors.