onyx Summary and Overview

a hail; claw; hoof, (Heb. shoham), a precious stone adorning the breast-plate of the high priest and the shoulders of the ephod (Ex. 28:9-12, 20; 35:27; Job 28:16; Ezek. 28:13). It was found in the land of Havilah (Gen. 2:12). The LXX. translates the Hebrew word by smaragdos, an emerald. Some think that the sardonyx is meant. But the onyx differs from the sardonyx in this, that while the latter has two layers (black and white) the former has three (black, white, and red).

(a nail) is the translation of the Hebrew shoham; but there is some doubt as to its signification. Some writers believe that the "beryl" is intended; but the balance of authority is in favor of some variety of the onyx. ("The onyx is not a transparent stone, but as the color of the flesh appears through the nail (Greek onyx) on the human body, so the reddish mass which is below shines delicately through the whitish surface of the onyx. There are several varieties. White and reddish stripes alternating form the sardonyx; white and reddish gray, the chalcedony. When polished it has a fine lustre, and is easily wrought into a gem of great beauty."-Rosenmiller.

O'NYX , one kind of chalcedony; a precious stone, Ex 25:7; Eze 28:13, exhibiting two or more colors disposed in parallel bands or layers. The Hebrew word shoham is uniformly so translated in the Bible. Opinion is divided as to the exact meaning of the term. Josephus says the onyx is meant. It was found in the land of Havilah, Gen 2:12, and was evidently of high value, as it is mentioned among precious stones and metals. Job 28:16; Eze 28:13. It adorned the breastplate of the high priest and the two shoulders of his ephod.Ex 28:9-12, Ruth 4:20. David also collected onyx-stones for the adornment of the temple. 1 Chr 29:2.

shoham. Found in the land of Havilah (Genesis 2:12). Onyx means "nail"; then the agate, resembling in color a man's nail. Two onyx stones, with six names of Israel's tribes engraven on each, were on the high priest's shoulders as "stones of memorial unto Israel" (Exodus 28:9-12). The onyx was the second stone in the fourth row on his breast-plate (Exodus 28:20). Josephus (Ant. 3:7, section 5) calls the shoulder stones "sardonyxes" (compounded of sard or chalcedony and onyx, deep red and milkwhite layers alternating).

David's onyxes "prepared for the house of his God" (1 Chronicles 29:2) probably came from Tyre (Ezekiel 28:13). Tyre's king, like the high priest with his precious stones, was the type of humanity in its unfallen perfection in Eden; antichrist will usurp the divine King Priest's office (Zechariah 6:13; compare Acts 12:21-23). Job (Job 28:16) calls it "precious," but not so much so as "wisdom," priceless in worth. The Arabian sardonyxes have a black ground color, sachma, is Arabic "blackness"; opaque white covers black or blue strata. Sahara in Arabic means "to be pale"; from whence Gesenius derives shoham. The kinds of onyx and sardonyx vary so as to answer to either derivation. The onyx has two strata, the sardonyx has three.