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 .