Reference: Agate
American
A precious stone said to take its name from the river Achates in Sicily, where it abounded. Agates, which are several kinds, are likewise procured in India, in various parts of Europe, and at the Cape of Good Hope. They are semi-transparent, and often are beautifully veined and clouded, and present in miniature the picture of many natural objects. The agate was the second stone in the third row of the high priest's breastplate, Ex 28:19; 39:12.
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Easton
(Heb. shebo), a precious stone in the breast-plate of the high priest (Ex 28:19; 39:12), the second in the third row. This may be the agate properly so called, a semi-transparent crystallized quartz, probably brought from Sheba, whence its name. In Isa 54:12 and Eze 27:16, this word is the rendering of the Hebrew cadcod, which means "ruddy," and denotes a variety of minutely crystalline silica more or less in bands of different tints.
This word is from the Greek name of a stone found in the river Achates in Sicily.
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Fausets
Hebrew kadkod, from kadad, "to sparkle". The "windows" being of this gem (Isa 54:12) implies transparency. Gesenius thinks the ruby or carbuncle is meant. It was imported from Syria to Tyre (Eze 27:16). Hebrew Sheba (from Sheba whence it came to Tyre), Ex 28:19; 39:12, is rightly translated "agate," a semi-transparent uncrystallized quartz, mainly silica, with concentric layers of various tints; the second stone of the third row on the high priest's breast-plate. The English term is drawn from that of the Greeks, who found agate in the river Acheres, in Sicily, and hence named it.
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Hastings
Morish
1. kadkod, aspi" -->??????: from the root to strike fire, and hence a "sparkling gem, ruby." (Ges.) "A shining, sparkling precious stone, probably a carbuncle, so called from its red sparkling colour." (F?rst.) It occurs but twice: Isa 54:12, "I will make thy windows of agates." This might be thought to signify that the agate was transparent, and that the windows were to be 'glazed' with agates; but windows were not then glazed. Others translate the word 'minarets, pinnacles, battlements,' and instead of ' agates' many prefer rubies. The other passage is Eze 27:16: Syria was thy merchant for coral, the agate, etc.; they came from Damascus. The Revised Version and others again translate 'rubies' which well agrees with the signification of the word.
2. shebo, ??????, achates, Vul., from 'to burn, to glow.' (F?rst.) "A composite stone formed of quartz, chalcedony, cornelian, flint, jasper, etc. and therefore glittering with different colours." (Delitzsch.) Bochart traces the word to a root signifying 'to be spotted.' This gem has been described as a semi-pellucid, uncrystallized variety of quartz; it is found in parallel or concentric layers of various colours, and presents different tints in the same specimen. It is generally, translated 'agate.' It was the stone chosen for the second place in the third row of the breastplate of the high priest. Ex 28:19; 39:12.
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Smith
Agate,
a beautifully-veined semi-transparent precious stone, a variety of quartz. Its colors are delicately arranged in stripes or bands or blended in clouds. It is mentioned four times in the text of the Authorized Version, viz., in
Ex 28:19; 39:12; Isa 54:12; Eze 27:16
In the two former passages; where it is represented by the Hebrew word shebo it is spoken of as forming the second stone in the third row of the high priest's breastplate; in each of the two latter places the original word is cadced, by which, no doubt, is intended a different stone. [RUBY] Our English agate derives its name from the Achates, on the banks of which it was first found.
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Watsons
AGATE, ???, Ex 28:19; 39:12. In the Septuagint ??????, and Vulgate, achates. A precious stone, semi-pellucid. Its variegations are sometimes most beautifully disposed, representing plants, trees, rivers, clouds, &c. Its Hebrew name is, perhaps, derived from the country whence the Jews imported it; for the merchants of Sheba brought to the market of Tyre all kinds of precious stones, Eze 27:22. The agate was the second stone in the third row of the pectoral of the high priest, Ex 28:19; 39:12.