amethyst Summary and Overview

one of the precious stones in the breastplate of the high priest (Ex. 28:19; 39:12), and in the foundation of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:20). The ancients thought that this stone had the power of dispelling drunkenness in all who wore or touched it, and hence its Greek name formed from "a", "privative," and "methuo", "to get drunk." Its Jewish name, "ahlamah'", was derived by the rabbins from the Hebrew word "halam", "to dream," from its supposed power of causing the wearer to dream. It is a pale-blue crystallized quartz, varying to a dark purple blue. It is found in Persia and India, also in different parts of Europe.

(Heb. achlamah) a subspecies of quartz of a bluish-violet color. Mention is made of this precious stone, which formed the third in the third row of the high priestly breastplate, in #Ex 28:19; 39:12| It occurs also in #Re 21:20|

AM'ETHYST . Ex 39:12; Rev 21:20. A precious stone consisting of crystallized quartz, of a purple or bluish-violet color. Oriental amethyst, a variety of sapphire, is probably included under this latter name.

Hebrew root, "dream"; supposed to cause dreams to those who wore it. Greek, "protecting against drunkenness" Pliny says, because it approaches the color of wine without reaching it. The third jewel in the third row of the breast-plate of judgment. The twelfth of the precious foundation stones of the heavenly Jerusalem's walls (Revelation 21:20). A violet, or in the East a deep red, quartz; the eastern is a rare variety of the adamantine spar or corundum; the hardest substance next to the diamond, containing 90 per cent. alumine, with iron and silica. It loses color in the fire, and becomes like a diamond.