1 Chronicles 29:2

The six designations of stones in this verse are as follows: —

1 . Onyx stones ; שֹׁהַם ( Genesis 2:12 ; Exodus 25:7 ; Exodus 28:9 ; Exodus 35:9 ; Exodus 39:6 ; Job 28:16 ; Ezekiel 28:13 ).

2 . Stones to be set מִלּוּאִים or מִלֻּאִים ( Exodus 25:7 ; Exodus 35:9 , Exodus 35:27 ; the feminine form of the same word is found in Exodus 28:17 , Exodus 28:20 ; Exodus 39:13 ). The other meanings of this word are inauguration to the priest's office (Le 1 Chronicles 8:33 ), and the sacrifice of inauguration (Le 1 Chronicles 7:37 ).

3 . Glistering stones ; פִּוּךְ Gesenius says this is the same root with φῦκος , seaweed. From this seaweed an alkaline pigment was prepared, which came to be called by the same word. This Hebrew word also meant a "dye" made from stribium , the Latin name of antimony , with which Hebrew women stained their eyelashes (see also 2 Kings 9:30 ; Isaiah 54:11 ; Jeremiah 4:30 ). Gesenius would translate here "stones of pigment," and understands them to mean possibly marble for covering, as though with a solid paint, the walls.

4 . Stones of divers colours ; רִקְמָה . This word, which means "variegated," is only in this passage applied to stones. It is applied once to the feathers of the eagle ( Ezekiel 17:3 ); but almost always to needlework or garments, often being translated in the Authorized Version as "broidered" ( 5:30 ; Psalms 45:15 ; Ezekiel 16:10 , Ezekiel 16:13 , Ezekiel 16:18 ; Ezekiel 26:16 ; Ezekiel 27:7 , Ezekiel 27:16 , Ezekiel 27:24 ).

5 . All manner of precious stones . The feminine form, יִקָרָה . The simplest idea of the word is "heavy," thence precious, dear, rare ( 2 Samuel 12:30 ; 1 Kings 5:1-18 :31; 1 Kings 7:9 ; 1 Kings 10:2 ; 1 Chronicles 20:2 ; 2 Chronicles 3:6 ; 2 Chronicles 9:1 ; Job 28:16 ; Job 31:26 ; Proverbs 1:13 ; Proverbs 3:15 ; Isaiah 28:16 ; Ezekiel 28:13 ; Daniel 11:38 ).

6 . Marble stones ; שַׁיִשׁ , the elementary idea of which is whiteness. This word is found only here; Septuagint and Vulgate, "Parian marble." A word akin ( שֵׁשׁ ), meaning also "white marble" is found in Esther 1:6 ; So 5:16. The further treatment of these stones will be found on 2 Chronicles 3:6 .