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פִּטְדָה

𐤐𐤈𐤃𐤄

piṭdâh

H6357 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain, denotes a valuable gemstone

Definition

A precious gemstone, most likely corresponding to an ancient 'topaz' or similar yellow-green stone, one of the twelve stones set in the breastpiece of the Israelite high priest. The precise identification with modern mineralogy is uncertain, but in biblical contexts it signifies a valuable and possibly yellowish jewel, held in high regard and considered ornamental.

Semantic Range

precious stone, gemstone, (probably) topaz, yellow-green gem, one of twelve priestly breastpiece stones

Root / Etymology

etymology uncertain. Appears to be a loanword, possibly from Egyptian or another ancient Near Eastern language, reflecting the foreign origin and trade connections involved in acquiring such rare gemstones for the Israelite cultic objects.

Historical & Contextual Notes

פִּטְדָה (piṭdâh) occurs in lists describing the precious stones embedded in the high priest's breastpiece (Exodus 28:17, 39:10, Ezekiel 28:13). Its exact identification has been debated; ancient versions variously associate it with 'topaz' (Greek topazion), but the ancient 'topaz' may differ from modern topaz minerals. Some scholars suggest a yellow-green or golden gem, possibly peridot (olivine), which was mined on Zabargad Island in the Red Sea and traded in Egypt. The use of a foreign-derived term underlines the luxury and non-local origin of such stones in Iron Age Israelite cultic practice. The term appears exclusively in lists, never in narrative poetry or prose, and does not bear additional metaphorical or symbolic sense beyond its identity as a rare gemstone. Later translations and rabbinic literature retain the ambiguity in identification. English Bible translations most often read 'topaz,' perpetuating a tradition begun in the Septuagint, but this may not correspond to the mineral called 'topaz' today.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of foreign derivation; a gem, probably the topaz; topaz.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פטדה (p-ṭ-d-h) — precious gemstone, yellow-green jewel, ornamental stone

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6357-01 פִּטְדָה֙ pitedah HNcfsa a topaz precious yellow-green gemstone 3
H6357-02 פִּטְדַת pitedat HNcfsc topaz of topaz-stone of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6357-01 Exodus 28:17 פִּטְדָה֙ pitedah HNcfsa a topaz precious yellow-green gemstone
H6357-01 Exodus 39:10 פִּטְדָה֙ pitedah HNcfsa a topaz precious yellow-green gemstone
H6357-01 Ezekiel 28:13 פִּטְדָ֞ה pitedah HNcfsa topaz precious yellow-green gemstone
H6357-02 Job 28:19 פִּטְדַת pitedat HNcfsc topaz of topaz-stone of
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