Sapphire is a precious gemstone mentioned several times in the Bible, known for its deep blue color and remarkable beauty. It holds significant symbolic and literal importance in the biblical narrative, often associated with divine attributes and heavenly realms.

Biblical References:

1. Exodus 24:10 · In the account of Moses and the elders of Israel encountering God on Mount Sinai, the sapphire is described as part of the divine vision: "and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself." This imagery suggests the purity and majesty of God's presence, with the sapphire symbolizing the heavenly realm.

2. Ezekiel 1:26 · The prophet Ezekiel describes his vision of the divine throne: "Above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; and on the throne high above was a figure like that of a man." Here, the sapphire signifies the glory and authority of God, emphasizing the transcendence and holiness of His throne.

3. Isaiah 54:11 · In a prophetic promise of restoration, God speaks to Jerusalem: "O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires." The use of sapphire in this context symbolizes strength, stability, and the precious nature of God's covenant with His people.

4. Revelation 21:19 · In the vision of the New Jerusalem, the foundations of the city wall are adorned with various precious stones, including sapphire: "The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald." This depiction underscores the eternal beauty and perfection of the heavenly city.

Symbolism and Significance:

Sapphire is often associated with divine truth, wisdom, and purity. Its deep blue color is reminiscent of the sky and the sea, symbolizing the vastness and depth of God's creation and His eternal nature. In biblical literature, sapphire is used to convey the splendor and majesty of God's presence, as well as the enduring nature of His promises.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient times, sapphire was highly valued and sought after for its beauty and rarity. It was often used in royal and religious settings, signifying wealth and divine favor. The biblical references to sapphire reflect its esteemed status and its role as a symbol of divine authority and heavenly glory.

Theological Implications:

The use of sapphire in biblical imagery serves to remind believers of the holiness and majesty of God. It calls attention to the beauty and perfection of His creation and His eternal kingdom. The references to sapphire in prophetic and apocalyptic literature highlight the hope of restoration and the promise of a future where God's glory is fully revealed.

In summary, sapphire in the Bible is a multifaceted symbol of divine beauty, authority, and promise, reflecting the character and kingdom of God throughout the scriptural narrative.Sapphire

(Heb. sappir), a precious stone, apparently of a bright-blue color, set: (Exodus 24:10) the second stone in the second row of the high priest's breastplate, (Exodus 28:18) extremely precious, (Job 28:16) it was one of the precious stones that ornamented the king of Tyre. (Ezekiel 28:13) The sapphire of the ancients was not our gem of that name, viz. the azure or indigo-blue, crystalline variety of corundum, but our lapis lazuli (ultra-marine).

Sapphire

A gem next in hardness and value to the diamond, and comprising, as varieties, all those precious stones known by the name of oriental gems, namely, the oriental ruby, oriental topaz, and oriental emerald, John 21:25. In general the name of sapphire is given to the blue variety, which is either of deep indigo blue, or of various lighter tints, Exodus 24:10, and sometimes gradually passes into perfectly white or colorless, which, when cut, may also pass for a diamond, Exodus 28:18; 39:11; Revelation 21:19.

Associated with diamonds (Exodus 28:18) and emeralds (Ezek. 28:13); one of the stones in the high priest's breastplate. It is a precious stone of a sky-blue colour, probably the lapis lazuli, brought from Babylon. The throne of God is described as of the colour of a sapphire (Exodus 24:10; Comp. Ezek. 1:26). 1. (n.) Native alumina or aluminium sesquioxide, Al2O3; corundum; esp., the blue transparent variety of corundum, highly prized as a gem.

2. (n.) The color of the gem; bright blue.

3. (n.) Any humming bird of the genus Hylocharis, native of South America. The throat and breast are usually bright blue.

4. (a.) of or resembling sapphire; sapphirine; blue.

SAPPHIRE

saf'-ir.

See STONES, PRECIOUS.

4552. sapphiros -- sapphire, perhaps lapis lazuli
... sapphire, perhaps lapis lazuli. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
sapphiros Phonetic Spelling: (sap'-fi-ros) Short Definition: a sapphire ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4552.htm - 6k

4551. Sapphire -- Sapphira, a Christian woman
... 4550, 4551. Sapphire. 4552 . ... Sapphira. Feminine of sappheiros; Sapphire, an
Israelitess -- Sapphira. see GREEK sappheiros. (sapphire) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4551.htm - 6k

5601. sappir -- a sapphire
... 5600, 5601. sappir. 5602 . a sapphire. Transliteration: sappir Phonetic
Spelling: (sap-peer') Short Definition: sapphire. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/5601.htm - 6k

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

Christ the Redeemer
... For holiness and undefiledness it is compared to pure gold, and to the
sapphire and emerald. Revelation 21:19. The sapphire has ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/8 christ the redeemer.htm

'The Love of Thine Espousals'
... And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under His feet as it were a pared
work of a sapphire- stone, and as it were the body of heaven in His clearness.11 ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the love of thine espousals.htm

Further Proofs, from Ezekiel. Summary of the Prophetic Argument ...
... axe of dispersion was in his hand: and one man in the midst of them, clothed with
a garment reaching to the feet, [1369] and a girdle of sapphire about his ...
/.../tertullian/an answer to the jews/chapter xi further proofs from ezekiel.htm

Modern Examples of Prayer
... XI. MODERN EXAMPLES OF PRAYER. "When the dragon-fly rends his husk and harnesses
himself, in a clean plate of sapphire mail, his is a pilgrimage of one or two ...
/.../bounds/the weapon of prayer/xi modern examples of prayer.htm

The Beauty and Glory of the Risen Body.
... thimbleful of coal-dust! Again, what are other gems, such as the ruby, the sapphire,
the topaz, the emerald, and others? They are nothing ...
/.../boudreaux/the happiness of heaven/chapter v the beauty and.htm

The Ninth Commandment
... This sin highly provokes God. Ananias and Sapphire were struck dead for telling
a lie. Acts 5:5. The furnace of hell is heated for liars. ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 9 the ninth commandment.htm

The Crucifixion
... human voice; He was the God of Israel, whom the Jewish elders saw with their bodily
eyes upon Mount Sinai, and under His feet a pavement as of a sapphire stone ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon xvi the crucifixion.htm

On Counter Promises.
... walls constructed of jasper, and its battlements of crystal; that it is to have
a wall composed of many precious stones, as jasper, and sapphire, and chalcedony ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/chapter xi on counter promises.htm

Trust in God --True Wisdom
... weighted for the price thereof. It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir,
with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. The gold and the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/trust in godtrue wisdom.htm

Sapphire (11 Occurrences)
... The throne of God is described as of the colour of a sapphire (Exodus 24:10; Comp.
Ezek. 1:26). ... 4. (a.) of or resembling sapphire; sapphirine; blue. Int. ...
/s/sapphire.htm - 11k

Sapphire-stone (1 Occurrence)
Sapphire-stone. Sapphires, Sapphire-stone. Sara . Multi-Version
Concordance Sapphire-stone (1 Occurrence). Exodus 24 ...
/s/sapphire-stone.htm - 6k

Onyx (16 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:18 The second, a ruby, a sapphire, and an onyx; (BBE). ... Exodus
39:11 In the second, a ruby, a sapphire, and an onyx; (BBE). ...
/o/onyx.htm - 12k

Emerald (8 Occurrences)
... The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the
fourth, emerald; (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/e/emerald.htm - 10k

Carbuncle (6 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/c/carbuncle.htm - 10k

Lapis (3 Occurrences)
... Lamentations 4:7 Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They
were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire. ...
/l/lapis.htm - 7k

Lazuli (3 Occurrences)
... Lamentations 4:7 Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They
were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire. ...
/l/lazuli.htm - 7k

Turquoise (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Turquoise (5 Occurrences). Exodus 28:18 and the second
row a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald; (WEB NAS NIV). ...
/t/turquoise.htm - 8k

Ruby (5 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:18 The second, a ruby, a sapphire, and an onyx; (BBE). ... Exodus
39:11 In the second, a ruby, a sapphire, and an onyx; (BBE). ...
/r/ruby.htm - 9k

Diamond (5 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. ... Exodus
39:11 And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. ...
/d/diamond.htm - 9k

Is there any spiritual significance to birthstones? | GotQuestions.org

Summary of the Book of Ezekiel - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

What does God look like? | GotQuestions.org

Sapphire: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus