Beryl: The rendering in the Authorized Version of the Hebrew word tarshish,
a precious stone; probably so called as being brought from Tarshish.
It was one of the stones on the breastplate of the high priest
(Exodus 28:20) R.V. marg., "chalcedony;"
(Exodus 39:13) The colour of
the wheels in Ezekiel's vision was as the colour of a beryl stone
(Ezekiel 1:16; 10:9) R.V., "stone of Tarshish". It is mentioned in
(The Song of Solomon 5:14; Daniel 10:6; Revelation 21:20). In
(Ezekiel 28:13) the LXX. render the word
by "chrysolite," which the Jewish historian Josephus regards as its
proper translation. This also is the rendering given in the
Authorized Version in the margin. That was a gold-coloured gem, the
topaz of ancient authors.
