HYACINTH, by this word we understand a precious Stone, a sort of Flower, and a particular kind of Colour. The Flower Hyacinth is not spoken of in Scripture, but the Colour only, and Stone of this Cant. v. 14. Rev. xxi. 20.name, which we are now going to take notice of in their proper Articles.
The Hyacinth Stone. The Spouse in Solomon’s Song says, that her Beloved’s hands were as gold rings set with Hyacinths; and St. John, in the Revelations, says, that the eleventh foundation of the heavenly Jerusalem is of Hyacinth. Now there are reckoned four sorts of Hyacinths. The first has something of the colour of a Ruby; the second is of a gilded yellow; the third of a citron yellow; the fourth of the colour of a granate. The Hebrew Text of the Canticles instead of Hyacinth, reads the Stone of Tarshish. It is again mentioned in Exodus1. We do not well know what Stone it is, but the generality explain it Chrysolite.
As to the Hyacinth Colour, Moses often speaks of it2. He makes use of the Hebrew word Techeloth, which, according to the most learned Interpreters3, was an azure blue, or very deep purple, like a violet colour. This colour was dyed with the blood of a kind of oister, called in Latin, Murex, and in Hebrew, Chilson.
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