ONYX

A nail, the eleventh stone in the high priest’s breastplate, Ex 28:20. The modern onyx has some resemblance to the agate; and the color of the body of the stone is like that of the human nail; hence its name. The Hebrew word so translated is not known with certainty to signify the onyx; but denoted some valuable stone, Ge 2:12; Ex 25:7; 28:9-12,20. A species of marble resembling the onyx was known to the Greeks, and may have been the "onyx-stones" stored up by David for the temple, 1Ch 29:2.

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Onyx. Onyx
A hail; claw; hoof, (Heb. shoham), a precious stone adorning the breast-plate of the high priest and the shoulders of the ephod (Ex. 28:9-12, 20; 35:27; Job 28:16; Ezek. 28:13). It was found in the land of Havilah (Gen. 2:12). The LXX. translates the Hebrew word by smaragdos, an emerald. Some think that the sardonyx is meant. But the onyx differs from the sardonyx in this, that while the latter has two layers (black and white) the former has three (black, white, and red).

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ONYX. → Precious stone Job 28:16; Eze 28:13 → Used in erecting the temple 1Ch 29:2 → Seen in the foundations of the city of the New Jerusalem in John's apocalyptic vision Re 21:20 → Exported from Havilah Ge 2:12 → Used in the breastplate Ex 28:9-12,20; 39:6,13 → Contributed by Israelites for the priests' garments Ex 25:7; 35:9

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onyx. Onyx, n. a semi pellucid gem, nail, hoof, fore

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O″nyx (?), n. [[L., fr. Gr. � a claw, finger nail, a veined gem. See Nail, and cf. Onycha.]] (Min.) Chalcedony in parallel layers of different shades of color. It is used for making cameos, the figure being cut in one layer with the next as a ground. Onyx marble, a banded variety of marble or calcium carbonate resembling onyx. It is obtained from Mexico.