Precious stones
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
— are frequently mentioned in the books of Holy Scripture, especially the Old Testament. The Queen of Sheba came to Jerusalem to see Solomon with various gifts, precious stones among them (1 Kings 10:2); the servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon brought gold from Ophir, as well as precious stones (2 Chron. 9:10); Solomon’s Temple was adorned for beauty with costly stones (2 Chron. 3:6); mysterious Babylon, according to Revelation, was decked with gold, precious stones, and pearls (Rev. 18:16); the foundation of the wall of the heavenly Jerusalem, according to Revelation, was adorned with every kind of precious stone (Rev. 21:19), and so on. For each precious stone individually, see under its own name.