Emerald

The emerald was among the most prized gemstones of the ancient world, valued for its deep green color. In the Old Testament the Hebrew nophek appears in the second row of the high priest's breastplate, though its precise identification is disputed—some scholars render it as carbuncle or turquoise rather than emerald. The Septuagint renders it as anthrax (carbuncle or garnet), while the Vulgate gives carbunculus.

In the New Testament, the Greek smaragdos appears in the Apocalypse: Revelation 4:3 describes a rainbow around the throne of God that looked like an emerald in appearance, evoking a vivid green radiance surrounding the divine throne. The emerald also appears in the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:19. Ezekiel's description of the king of Tyre's covering includes precious stones with nophek among them. The rarity and brilliance of the emerald made it a natural symbol of divine glory and the consummate beauty of celestial realities.