What Were Rubies Worth In Biblical Times

Proverbs 3 15 view whole chapter see verse in context she is more precious than rubies.
What were rubies worth in biblical times. They believed such gems possessed special powers. In chinese literature from 200 bc. Rubies in the bible. The record of ruby mining in burma myanmar now can be traced before the biblical verses on ruby.
Although these pieces were carved in ancient times they didn t think humans worked them. In the ancient language of sanskrit ruby is called ratnaraj or king of precious stones in the first century ad the roman scholar pliny included rubies in his natural history describing their hardness and density. Her nazarites were purer than snow they were whiter than milk they were more ruddy in body than rubies their polishing was of sapphire. The hebrew word odem strong s h124 used in ezekiel 28 13 is translated as ruby in the.
For the price of wisdom is above rubies. 1 the world record paid at auction for a ruby is u s. By comparison a 62 carat flawless diamond recently sold for just over u s. Rubies because of their hardness and the inability of the ancient israelites to engrave on such a hard rock were likely not the bible gemstone used in the high priest s breastplate.
According to folklore rubies were gifts for giving superior strength to warriors. Job 28 18 view whole chapter see verse in context no mention shall be made of coral or of pearls. Rubies are the world s most expensive gemstones the best burmese rubies being valued more than an equivalent sized flawless diamond. The name ruby stems from the latin word ruber meaning red.
Since ancient times these gemstones have been highly esteemed believed to provide protection and good fortune. A good woman worth beauty and self worth value jewelry closure honour. The burmese use of rubies traces back to 2500 bc. And all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
However darker rubies were considered male and lighter gems female when people in the middle ages encountered gems with carved images they believed such stones occurred naturally. Ruby in chinese history. Job 28 18 job 28 18. 3 63 million in 1988 for a 15 97 carat burmese ruby u s.
Even today the most valuable rubies come from myanmar. This does not preclude however the likely use of them as the first gemstone god used to adorn lucifer ezekiel 28 13. Which makes me think that rubies must have been a big big deal in biblical times even more so than diamonds gold and other things. Since the worth of rubies has diminished over the last couple of centuries it makes me wonder how much more they were worth before then.
Proverbs 8 11 prov 8 11. Rubies are mentioned four times in the bible in association with attributes like beauty and wisdom. One of the earliest written mentions of this stone was in the bible were it is referenced four times.