{
  "id": "dict_001424",
  "term": "DIAMOND",
  "slug": "diamond",
  "letter": "D",
  "entry_type": "gemstone",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "A precious hard stone named in some English Bible translations, though the underlying Hebrew term is not always certain.",
  "simple_one_line": "A gemstone term used in some Bible translations, often in lists of valuables or as an image of hardness.",
  "tooltip_text": "An English translation term for a very hard, valuable stone; in several passages the exact gemstone behind the Hebrew is uncertain.",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [
    "Precious Stones",
    "Jasper",
    "Onyx",
    "Adamant",
    "Jewelry"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "Gemstones",
    "Hardness",
    "Priestly Garments",
    "Translation Variants"
  ],
  "lede_intro": "Diamond is a translation-sensitive Bible term for a precious stone or very hard gem. In some passages the original word may refer to a different gemstone or hard mineral, so modern versions do not always render it as “diamond.”",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "A valuable, extremely hard gemstone mentioned in some Bible translations, sometimes literally in jewelry lists and sometimes figuratively to convey hardness.",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [
    "1) It is a translation-level term, not a major biblical theme. 2) Some underlying Hebrew words are difficult to identify precisely. 3) The imagery usually emphasizes beauty, value, or hardness."
  ],
  "description_academic_short": "In Scripture, “diamond” appears in some English translations as a precious stone or as an image of exceptional hardness. The underlying Hebrew terms are not always certain, so modern translations may render the passages differently. The main ideas are value, brilliance, and hardness rather than a developed theological symbol.",
  "description_academic_full": "In the Bible, “diamond” is best understood as a translation-sensitive term for a precious stone or a very hard mineral. It appears in some English versions in descriptions of ornamental splendor and in figurative language for hardness. Because the Hebrew terms behind these references are not always easy to identify with precision, the exact gemstone intended in a given passage can be uncertain, and modern translations sometimes choose different renderings. The biblical emphasis is usually practical and descriptive: the beauty and wealth associated with precious stones, or the stubborn hardness pictured by a very hard writing or cutting surface. Diamond is therefore not a major theological symbol in Scripture, but a useful material term that must be read with lexical caution.",
  "background_biblical_context": "Diamond occurs in passages that describe priestly adornment, royal or exalted splendor, and prophetic imagery of hardness. In those settings, the term functions as part of the Bible’s wider language of precious stones and durable materials.",
  "background_historical_context": "In the ancient world, precious stones were valued for beauty, rarity, and status, while very hard stones or minerals were associated with cutting, engraving, and resistance. English translations sometimes used “diamond” to express that idea, even where the exact ancient stone may have been different.",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "Jewish readers in the ancient world would have understood such references within the broader world of gems, jewelry, and hard mineral substances rather than through a modern gemological classification. The point of the text is usually the stone’s value or hardness, not its modern scientific identity.",
  "key_texts_primary": [
    "Exodus 28:18",
    "Exodus 39:11",
    "Ezekiel 28:13",
    "Jeremiah 17:1"
  ],
  "key_texts_secondary": [
    "Zechariah 7:12",
    "compare translation differences in passages that older versions render with “diamond” or “adamant” language"
  ],
  "original_language_note": "The English word “diamond” sometimes represents Hebrew terms whose exact identification is uncertain. In a few places the passage may refer to a different gemstone or a very hard mineral surface, so translation choices vary.",
  "theological_significance": "Diamond has limited direct theological significance. Its main biblical value lies in illustrating beauty, wealth, durability, or hardness. The term should not be treated as a doctrine-bearing symbol in itself.",
  "philosophical_explanation": "The term shows how Bible translation often involves matching ancient words to modern categories that do not line up perfectly. A faithful reading distinguishes the biblical sense from modern assumptions about gem classification.",
  "interpretive_cautions": "Do not overstate the certainty of any one gemstone identification. Older English translations may use “diamond” where newer versions choose a different stone or a general hard material. The meaning is usually contextual, not symbolic in a technical sense.",
  "major_views_note": "Most interpreters agree that the passages are translation-sensitive and that the central idea is either a precious stone or a hard cutting surface. The main disagreement concerns exact lexical identification, not doctrine.",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "This entry should not be used to build doctrine or speculative symbolism. Its authority is lexical and contextual, not theological in the strict sense.",
  "practical_significance": "The entry reminds readers to read Bible translations carefully and to avoid assuming that every English gemstone term exactly matches the ancient word behind it. It also illustrates the Bible’s use of vivid material imagery.",
  "meta_description": "Diamond in the Bible is a translation-sensitive term for a precious stone or very hard mineral, sometimes used in lists of valuables or as imagery of hardness.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/diamond/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/diamond.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}