שֹׁ֖הַם
𐤔𐤄𐤌
shôham
onyx
A precious stone listed among the gems adorning the high priest's breastpiece and the settings on the priestly ephod; the specific variety is uncertain, but it is most often identified as onyx, though alternative identifications such as beryl, sardonyx, or malachite have been proposed due to the ambiguity of gem names in biblical Hebrew. The word refers consistently to an ornamental or ceremonial gemstone, likely valued for its color and rarity.
Exodus 39:13 · Word #4
Lexicon H7718
| Lemma | שֹׁהַם |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤔𐤄𐤌 |
| Transliteration | shôham |
| Strong's | H7718 |
| Definition | A precious stone listed among the gems adorning the high priest's breastpiece and the settings on the priestly ephod; the specific variety is uncertain, but it is most often identified as onyx, though alternative identifications such as beryl, sardonyx, or malachite have been proposed due to the ambiguity of gem names in biblical Hebrew. The word refers consistently to an ornamental or ceremonial gemstone, likely valued for its color and rarity. |
Morphology HNcmsa
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Subtype | c — Common — Common noun |
| Gender | m — Masculine — Masculine |
| Number | s — Singular — Singular |
| State | a — Absolute — The noun stands independently |
Common Translation
| Phrase | onyx |
SIBI-P1 Translation H7718-03
precious gemstone
| Morphological Notes | Masculine singular common noun, absolute state. |
| Rendering Rationale | The term denotes a specific valued ornamental stone used in priestly adornment, though its exact mineral identity is uncertain. "Precious gemstone" preserves its status as a singular, masculine, ceremonial gem without forcing a speculative identification like onyx. |
View full lexicon entry for H7718 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
onyx
| Same as P1 | No — adjusted for context |
| Rationale | P1 'precious gemstone' is too generic. The SILEX and standard context of שֹׁ֖הַם here indicate 'onyx' is the most probable and specific in context, matching common and SILEX usage for the breastpiece stones. |