The Hebrew that is translated into a wide and often differing variety of gemstones on Aaron’s breastpiece in English and other translations, was translated with a focus on their colors in a West African language:
Row One: a red stone, a stone the color of the yellow fruit inside the pod of the African locust bean (parkia biglobosa ), and a blue colored stone mixed with the color of fresh growth on trees (green)
Row Two: deep red stone, a blue colored stone, diamond
Row Three: a stone the color of an orange, a stone with many colored stripes, a stone the color of a local purple fruit
Row Four: a stone of deep green color, a stone with splotches of color, and a green stone.
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 28:17:
Kupsabiny: “On the upper side of that thing, someone tie twelve stones. Someone line those stones in fours and threes. And on the front edge, someone line on it a stone called ruby, topaz and garnet.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “On it put precious stones, four rows. ruby, topaz and beryl on the first row,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Have-(someone)-attached-to it four rows of expensive stones. The first row, put ruby/[rubi], topaz/[topas], and beryl/[beril];” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Bariai: “And when it’s done, then take twelve stones having a very great price. And affix them onto their base’s holder on this small cloth toward the outside. Arrange these stones in four groups. In the group which goes first, arrange a red rubi stone, and a yellow topas stone, and a very red beril stone.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
Opo: “They must sew gem good on it, arrange it for three times four. Gem three which be present its top, let it be gem which be called odem, with pitdah, with bareqet, and gem three which be present underneath it, let it be gem which be called nopek, and sapir, and yahalom, and gem three which be present underneath it, let it be gem which be called lesem, and sebo, and ahlamah, and gem three which end it, let it be gem which be called tarsis, and soham, and yospeh.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
English: “The skilled workman must fasten four rows of valuable stones onto the pouch. In the first row he must put a red ruby, a yellow topaz, and a red garnet.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
And you shall set it in four rows of stones is literally “And you [singular] shall fill in it a filling of stones, four rows of stones.” The word for “fill” here means to set, to “mount” (Good News Translation), or to “arrange” (Revised English Bible). It is not necessary to repeat the words as American Standard Version has done, “And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones.” Good News Translation is clearer: “Mount four rows of precious stones on it.” The word for rows suggests they were to be arranged horizontally, three stones to a row.
Twelve different kinds of “precious stones” are listed in verses 17-20. It is impossible to identify them with certainty. Care should be taken to follow the general consensus of scholarship. In some cases the choice may have to be made on the basis of what stones are known in the translator’s culture. In other cases it may be necessary to transliterate a well-known term in either English or a national language. One may say “a stone called sardius,” or “a stone called topaz.” (Translators will be helped by the article on “Jewels” in The International Dictionary of the Bible, volume 2, pages 898-905, and especially the chart on page 902.)
Sardius (sard, or sardin) is a transparent reddish stone, a bit darker than carnelian. The Hebrew word suggests the meaning of “redness.” The “ruby” (Good News Translation), though well known today, was probably not known in the ancient Near East, for no samples have been found in any of the excavated sites.
Topaz is a translucent stone, usually yellow or brownish yellow. Some scholars equate it with chrysolite, which usually is olive greenish in color. The Hebrew word does not suggest any color, but the Septuagint translates it as topazion.
Carbuncle is an archaic word for any one of several red precious stones. “Garnet” (Good News Translation) is a translucent dark reddish brown stone. But the Septuagint identifies it as green beryl, possibly emerald.
Emerald is a rich green stone, a superior quality of beryl. Some scholars have suggested the Hebrew word refers to malachite, which is green, or turquoise, and usually a bluish green. The Hebrew word gives no indication as to color.
Sapphire is the only one of the twelve stones on which there is general agreement in the eight translations listed. But it is an extremely hard stone, making it difficult for engraving. Some have suggested it could have been lapis lazuli. The color, however, was probably an azure blue. (See the comment at 24.10.)
The word for diamond has the root meaning to strike or hammer, suggesting hardness. The Septuagint suggests jasper, a stone widely used for engraving in the ancient world. Many scholars believe this is what is intended here, but then this conflicts with the last stone in the fourth row. The color may have been clear.
Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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