Definition and Description:
The term "carbuncle" in the Bible refers to a precious gemstone, often associated with a deep red or fiery color. In ancient times, carbuncles were highly valued for their beauty and rarity. The word "carbuncle" is derived from the Latin "carbunculus," meaning "small coal," which reflects its glowing, ember-like appearance.

Biblical References:
Carbuncles are mentioned in several passages of the Bible, primarily in the context of describing the splendor and beauty of precious stones. In the Berean Standard Bible, the term appears in the following verses:

1. Exodus 28:18 : "The second row shall be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond." While the BSB does not explicitly mention "carbuncle" in this verse, other translations and interpretations suggest that the "turquoise" or "sapphire" may refer to a stone similar to the carbuncle, given the historical variations in gemstone identification.

2. Ezekiel 28:13 : "You were in Eden, the garden of God; every kind of precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, and diamond; beryl, onyx, and jasper; sapphire, turquoise, and emerald; and gold. The workmanship of your tambourines and flutes was prepared for you on the day you were created." In this passage, the carbuncle is often associated with the "ruby" or "sapphire," highlighting its significance as a stone of great value and beauty.

3. Isaiah 54:12 : "I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones." Here, the term "rubies" is sometimes interpreted as carbuncles, emphasizing the glory and magnificence of the New Jerusalem.

Symbolism and Significance:
In biblical symbolism, carbuncles represent beauty, wealth, and divine favor. They are often used to describe the splendor of God's creation and the opulence of heavenly realms. The use of carbuncles in the high priest's breastplate (Exodus 28) signifies the importance of these stones in religious and ceremonial contexts, symbolizing the tribes of Israel and their relationship with God.

Historical and Cultural Context:
In ancient cultures, carbuncles were believed to possess protective and healing properties. They were often worn as amulets or set in jewelry to ward off evil and bring good fortune. The fiery appearance of the carbuncle made it a symbol of light and purity, often associated with the divine presence.

Theological Implications:
From a theological perspective, the mention of carbuncles in the Bible underscores the richness of God's creation and the beauty of His divine order. The precious stones, including carbuncles, serve as metaphors for the spiritual wealth and glory that believers are promised in the Kingdom of God. The imagery of carbuncles in prophetic and apocalyptic literature, such as in Isaiah and Ezekiel, points to the ultimate restoration and glorification of God's people.

Conclusion:
While the exact identification of the carbuncle in modern terms remains uncertain, its symbolic and theological significance in the Bible is clear. As a representation of divine beauty and favor, the carbuncle continues to inspire awe and reverence among believers, reflecting the eternal splendor of God's promises.Carbuncle

This word represents two Hebrew words. The first may he a general term to denote any bright,sparkling gem , (Isaiah 54:12) the second, (Exodus 28:17; 39:10; Ezekiel 28:13) is supposed to be and smaragdus or emerald.

Carbuncle

A precious stone, like a large ruby or garnet, of a dark, deep red color, said to glitter even in the dark, and to sparkle more than the ruby. The word is put to represent two different Hebrew words, one of which, Exodus 28:17; Ezekiel 28:13, is commonly thought to mean the emerald; and the other, Isaiah 54:12, may mean a brilliant species of ruby.

(Exodus 28:17; 39:10; Ezek. 28:13). Hebrews barkath; LXX. smaragdos; Vulgate, smaragdus; Revised Version, marg., "emerald." The Hebrew word is from a root meaning "to glitter," "lighten," "flash." When held up to the sun, this gem shines like a burning coal, a dark-red glowing coal, and hence is called "carbunculus", i.e., a little coal. It was one of the jewels in the first row of the high priest's breastplate. It has been conjectured by some that the garnet is meant. In Isaiah 54:12 the Hebrew word is 'ekdah, used in the prophetic description of the glory and beauty of the mansions above. Next to the diamond it is the hardest and most costly of all precious stones. 1. (n.) A beautiful gem of a deep red color (with a mixture of scarlet) called by the Greeks anthrax; found in the East Indies. When held up to the sun, it loses its deep tinge, and becomes of the color of burning coal. The name belongs for the most part to ruby sapphire, though it has been also given to red spinel and garnet.

2. (n.) A very painful acute local inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue, esp. of the trunk or back of the neck, characterized by brawny hardness of the affected parts, sloughing of the skin and deeper tissues, and marked constitutional depression. It differs from a boil in size, tendency to spread, and the absence of a central core, and is frequently fatal. It is also called anthrax.

3. (n.) A charge or bearing supposed to represent the precious stone. It has eight scepters or staves radiating from a common center. Called also escarbuncle.

CARBUNCLE

kar'-bun-k'-l.

See STONES, PRECIOUS.

688. eqdach -- a fiery glow, sparkle
... carbuncle. From qiddah; burning, ie A carbuncle or other fiery gem -- carbuncle.
see HEBREW qiddah. 687, 688. eqdach. 689 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/688.htm - 6k

1304. bareqeth -- an emerald
... 1303, 1304. bareqeth. 1304a . an emerald. Transliteration: bareqeth Phonetic
Spelling: (baw-reh'-keth) Short Definition: carbuncle. carbuncle ...
/hebrew/1304.htm - 5k

68. eben -- a stone
... From the root of banah through the meaning to build; a stone -- + carbuncle, + mason, +
plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-)stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s). ...
/hebrew/68.htm - 6k

Introduction.
... carbuncle carbuncle or emerald ii. anthrax ii. ... emerald or carbuncle sappheiros sapphirus
sapphire sapphire iaspis jaspis diamond diamond or sardonyx iii. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/introduction 4.htm

The Misfortunes which Happened in Connection with These Things, in ...
... addition to this a pestilence, and another severe disease consisting of an ulcer,
which on account of its fiery appearance was appropriately called a carbuncle ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter viii the misfortunes which happened.htm

How those are to be Admonished who have had Experience of the Sins ...
... For who, considering the very outward appearance of things, can be ignorant that
in the nature of gems the carbuncle is preferred to the jacinth? ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xxviii how those are.htm

How Ptolemy Philadelphus Procured the Laws of the Jews to be ...
... but upon the table itself they engraved a meander, inserting into it very valuable
stones in the middle like stars, of various colors; the carbuncle and the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 how ptolemy philadelphus.htm

Genesis.
... Swells, and with hoarse tide wears [1262] conspicuous gems,. This prasinus, [1263]
that glowing carbuncle, [1264]. By name; and raves, transparent in its shoals ...
/.../unknown/fathers of the third century tertullian appendix/3 genesis.htm

A Pressed Man Yielding to Christ
... benediction. Faith is that window of agate and gate of carbuncle by which the
divine light of Jesu's love comes streaming into the soul. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 46 1900/a pressed man yielding to.htm

The Promises Addressed to Jerusalem in the Prophets Refer to the ...
... The prophecies of Isaiah which we mentioned are the following: [5131] "Behold I
prepare for thy stone carbuncle and for thy foundation sapphire; and I will ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of john/26 the promises addressed to.htm

Another Cavil Met, IE , the Devil who Instigated Man to Sin ...
... stone was thy covering, the sardius, the topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the
onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle; and with ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter x another cavil met i e.htm

The Knowledge Both of Language and Things is Helpful for the ...
... And so in regard to minerals and plants: knowledge of the carbuncle, for instance,
which shines in the dark, throws light upon many of the dark places in books ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 16 the knowledge both of.htm

Ignorance of Things, Too, Renders Figurative Expressions Obscure.. ...
... And so in regard to minerals and plants: knowledge of the carbuncle, for instance,
which shines in the dark, throws light upon many of the dark places in books ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 24 ignorance of things.htm

Carbuncle (6 Occurrences)
... Called also escarbuncle. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CARBUNCLE. kar'-bun-k'-
l. See STONES, PRECIOUS. Multi-Version Concordance Carbuncle (6 Occurrences). ...
/c/carbuncle.htm - 10k

Sardius (5 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones:
the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be ...
/s/sardius.htm - 8k

Smaragd (3 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a
row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row; (See JPS). ...
/s/smaragd.htm - 7k

Carnelian (5 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a
row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row; (See JPS). ...
/c/carnelian.htm - 8k

Precious (128 Occurrences)
... Anthrax (anthrax): in Tobit 13:17; Ecclesiasticus 32:5, English Versions of the
Bible translates "carbuncle." According to the Septuagint, anthrax was also a ...
/p/precious.htm - 71k

Stones (244 Occurrences)
... Anthrax (anthrax): in Tobit 13:17; Ecclesiasticus 32:5, English Versions of the
Bible translates "carbuncle." According to the Septuagint, anthrax was also a ...
/s/stones.htm - 74k

Issachar (40 Occurrences)
... 2:5), this group forming the van of the host (Numbers 10:14 f). The rabbis say that
this standard was of 3 colors, sardine, topaz and carbuncle, on which were ...
/i/issachar.htm - 26k

Tambours (8 Occurrences)
... Every precious stone was thy covering: the sardius, the topaz, and the diamond,
the chrysolite, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the carbuncle, and the ...
/t/tambours.htm - 9k

Tabrets (6 Occurrences)
... stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx,
and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the ...
/t/tabrets.htm - 8k

Ruby (5 Occurrences)
... red tint. 3. (n.) That which has the color of the ruby, as red wine. Hence,
a red blain or carbuncle. 4. (n.) See Agate, n., 2. 5 ...
/r/ruby.htm - 9k

Carbuncle: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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