Diamond

Diamond in the KJV translates two distinct Hebrew terms. (1.) Yahalom (Exodus 28:18; 39:11; Ezekiel 28:13), the third stone in the second row of the high priest's breastplate, is now generally rendered as moonstone, jasper, or emerald by modern translators, since the hardness of true diamond was not exploited in ancient lapidary work and the exact mineral is uncertain. (2.) Shamir (Jeremiah 17:1; Ezekiel 3:9) is an extremely hard material used as a cutting or engraving tool — rendered as diamond, emery, or flint in various translations. Jeremiah uses it metaphorically: "The sin of Judah is written with an iron pen; with a point of diamond it is engraved on the tablet of their heart" (Jeremiah 17:1), conveying the indelible, deeply etched nature of Israel's spiritual corruption.