Emerald

EMERALD, a precious stone of a green colour, called in Latin, Smaragdus. This, in our opinion, is the Sohem mentioned by Moses, Gen. ii. 12. and in the Vulgate translated lapis Onychinus. The Emerald is again spoken of Exod. xxviii. 17. among the other stones, which were fixed upon the High Priest’s pectoral. But the Hebrewברקת Baraketh. word is Baraketh, which signifies a flash of lightning, the glittering of a Star ; whereby we may conjecture that the stone meant here, is that called Ceraunia, Astroïtes, or Iris, whereof Pliny relates several species. The reader may remember what has been already said, that we have nothing certain concerning the signification of the generality of those Hebrew names, which denote precious stones. In the histories of the East we find several Kings, whose names were Soëm or Sohem, which, as we believe, signifies an Emerald.

Read this article in its place on the printed pages