marble Summary and Overview

as a mineral, consists of carbonate of lime, its texture varying from the highly crystalline to the compact. In Esther 1:6 there are four Hebrew words which are rendered marble:, (1.) Shesh, "pillars of marble." But this word probably designates dark-blue limestone rather than marble. (2.) Dar, some regard as Parian marble. It is here rendered "white marble." But nothing is certainly known of it. (3.) Bahat, "red marble," probably the verd-antique or half-porphyry of Egypt. (4.) Sohareth, "black marble," probably some spotted variety of marble. "The marble pillars and tesserae of various colours of the palace at Susa came doubtless from Persia itself, where marble of various colours is found, especially in the province of Hamadan Susiana." The marble of Solomon's architectural works may have been limestone from near Jerusalem, or from Lebanon, or possibly white marble from Arabia. Herod employed Parian marble in the temple, and marble columns still exist in great abundance at Jerusalem.

The Hebrew shesh, the generic term for marble, may probably be taken to mean almost any shining stone. The so-called marble of Solomon's architectural works may thus have been limestone. There can be no doubt that Herod both in the temple and elsewhere employed Parian or other marble. The marble pillars and tesserae of various colors of the palace at Susa came doubtless from Persia. #Es 1:8|

MAR'BLE , limestone of a compact texture and capable of receiving a high polish. Rev 18:12. The Bible word seems to be used, however, for almost any shining stone, and much of the material of Solomon's architectural work may have been common limestone. Some of it was doubtless true marble, as was certainly much of the stone used in Herod's temple. This substance was probably used in very early times for building material, 1 Kgs 6:7, 1 Kgs 6:36; 1 Kgs 7:9-12; 1 Chr 29:2, and for many kinds of vessels. The colors of marble are various and beautiful, and pieces of all sizes may be so wrought together as to resemble a beautiful painting. Such was probably the pavement and columns of the Persian palace described in Esth 1:6.