יַהֲלֹם
𐤉𐤄𐤋𐤌
yahălôm
H3095 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A precious stone, traditionally listed as one of the twelve stones in the high priest's breastpiece. The exact identification of the gemstone is uncertain; possibilities include diamond, onyx, rock crystal, jasper, or another hard, transparent or translucent mineral. The word refers to a gemstone notable for its hardness and brilliance as described in biblical contexts.
Semantic Range
hard gemstone, precious stone in priestly vestments, diamond (later meaning), onyx (traditional identification), hard translucent or transparent mineral
Root / Etymology
From the root הלם, meaning 'to strike, hammer, beat,' indicating perhaps the stone's hardness or resistance to force. The form יַהֲלֹם derives from this root, but it does not mean 'to strike'; it functions as a noun denoting a specific gemstone, likely chosen for its hardness.
Historical & Contextual Notes
יָהֲלֹם appears only in lists of precious stones, most notably as one of the twelve stones of the high priest's breastpiece (Exodus 28:18; 39:11; Ezekiel 28:13). Its precise mineralogical identification is debated, since the ancient classification of gemstones did not align perfectly with modern mineralogy. Some Jewish and Christian traditions translated it as 'diamond' (following the idea of hardness, associated with the root הלם), while other ancient sources (e.g., LXX, Vulgate) proposed various identifications such as jasper or onyx. In post-biblical Hebrew, יהלום became the standard term for 'diamond,' but in biblical times, the diamond may not have been known in the ancient Near East. English translations vary widely—'onyx,' 'diamond,' 'jasper,' 'rock crystal,' etc.—and none can be asserted with certainty for the biblical term. The placement and order of stones in priestly lists do not provide a reliable guide to identification, as the symbolism and order are themselves debated. The term is exclusively used for a precious stone and does not appear outside such lists.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from הָלַם (in the sense of hardness); a precious stone, probably onyx; diamond.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
הלם (h-l-m) — to strike, hammer, beat
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1986 | הָלַם | They struck me |
| H1987 | הֶלֶם | Smiter |
| H1988 | הֲלֹם | to this place |
| H1989 | הַלְמוּת | to a striking-hammer-of |
| H4112 | מַהֲלֻמָּה | for strike-wounds |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3095-01 |
וְ/יָהֲלֹֽם | veyahalom | HC/Ncmsa |
and-diamond | and strike-hardened gem | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3095-01 |
Exodus 28:18 | וְ/יָהֲלֹֽם | veyahalom | HC/Ncmsa |
and-diamond | and strike-hardened gem |
H3095-01 |
Exodus 39:11 | וְ/יָהֲלֹֽם | veyahalom | HC/Ncmsa |
and-diamond | and strike-hardened gem |
H3095-01 |
Ezekiel 28:13 | וְ/יָהֲלֹ֗ם | veyahalom | HC/Ncmsa |
and diamond | and strike-hardened gem |