Where are jacinths found in modern times? What makes them unique? What part do they play in end time prophecy? What are some of the myths and folklore surrounding jacinths?
Description of Gem
Jacinth gems are made of zirconium silicate, one of the oldest minerals on Earth. They form in igneous and metamorphic rocks.
This Bible precious stone possessed a variety of warm colors.
"a transparent stone chiefly of an orange color, but running sometimes into a reddish brown, at other times into a brownish or pale red, and sometimes into an approach to a pistachio green." (Keil and Delitzsch's Commentary).
Theophrastus was a Greek philosopher and naturalist who lived from 370 to 287 B.C. He wrote a major treatise describing every gemstone known at the time. In his work he describes the seventh stone in the High Priest's breastplate was "pellucid and of a fire (purra) color."
Sources
Modern sources of jacinth are found in Cambodia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Australia, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
How Hard Is it?
Jacinth has a hardness of 6 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale where 10 is the hardest gemstone. It is the only Biblical precious stone that has this hardness range.
Biblical Occurrences
Jacinths are mentioned twice by name, in the King James Bible, in two verses. These references are related to prophecy and found only in the book of Revelation.
In the end time, four powerful demonic spirits will be set free and allowed to kill a third of all humanity. The army they will deceive to do their killing for them will number 200 million fighters. Their fierceness is symbolized by their use of jacinth.
And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth (Greek huakinthos, Strong's #G5192), and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. (Revelation 9:17, KJV).
The eleventh foundation stone of the New Jerusalem, built by God for his new spiritual family, is made of jacinth!
And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. (Revelation 21:19 - 20, KJV).
Hidden References
Exodus 28:19 in the King James, and its parellel passage in 39:11, states the first stone in the third row of the High Priest's breastplate (the seventh stone) is a ligure. It is highly likely, however, that the gem being referenced is a jacinth.
And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it . . .
And the third row a ligure (Hebrew leshem, Strong's Concordance #H3958), an agate, and an amethyst. (Exodus 28:15, 19, KJV).
Both Strong's and the Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions states leshem can also refer to a jacinth gemstone. These two reference works, however, do not define the coloration of the stone mentioned.
Other Uses
Theophrastus stated the following about the jacinth.
" . . . (it was) used for engraving seals . . . has the attractive power like amber . . ." (Gemstones in the Breastplate, page 24).
Jacinths were used by ancient Greeks for intaglios (ibid.). An engraved or carved gem with either an image or inscription is called an intaglio.
Facts and Folklore
Of all the gemstones in the Bible, pearls possess the widest range of Mohs hardness with between a 2.5 and 4.5 rating. The second biggest range are jacinths from between 6 to 7.5.
Jacinths have one of the fewest mentions in the KJV Scriptures of any gem. It is tied with corals with only two recorded by name. Only chalcedony and chrysolite are mentioned once.
The names jacinth and hyacinth are historically related and have sometimes been used interchangeably for reddish-orange gemstones.
Theophrastus stated that jacinths had the trait that, "the polishing of these stones are a work of great trouble" (Gemstones in the Breastplate, page 24).
Amulets containing jacinth were thought to protect travelers against the plague and any wounds or injuries they would otherwise experience during their trip (Curious Lore of Precious Stones, pages 81 - 82).
The jacinth gem was thought to ensure a warm reception at any inn a person visited along the way and even protect the wearer from being hit by lightning (ibid.).