onyx stones. The meaning of the word shoham is not easily determined. It has been variously rendered a beryl, emerald, prasius??, sapphire, sardius, ruby, carnelian, onyx, and sardonyx. It may signify both the onyx and sardonyx. The latter stone is a mixture of the chalcedony and carnelian, sometimes in strata, and at other times blended together, and is found striped with white and red strata, or layers. It is generally allowed that there is no real difference, except in hardness, between the carnelian, chalcedony, agate, sardonyx, and onyx. The onyx is of a darkish horny colour, resembling the nail or hoof, from which circumstance it has its name. It has often a plate of a blueish white or red in it, and when on one or both sides of this white there appears a plate of a reddish colour, the jewellers call the stone a sardonyx.

Exodus 25:7 Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.

Exodus 28:9 And you shall take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:

Exodus 35:9 And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate.

Job 28:16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

Ezekiel 28:13 You have been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl...

ouches. Mishbetzoth, strait places, sockets, to insert the stones in, from shavaltz, to straiten, enclose.