פִּטְדָה (pit.dah)
pit.dah
topaz
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun pitdah refers to a precious stone, traditionally identified as topaz or chrysolite. It appears in only three verses, marking it as a rare term in biblical literature. The sources suggest the word is likely of foreign origin, possibly deriving from a root meaning "yellow," which aligns with the typical coloration of these gems.
This stone holds significant visual weight in two key contexts. In Exodus 28:17 and 39:10, it is one of the twelve stones set in the breastplate worn by the high priest, symbolizing the tribes of Israel. Later, Ezekiel 28:13 lists pitdah among the precious materials adorning the king of Tyre’s imagined paradise, emphasizing wealth and beauty.
A distinct usage appears in Job 28:19, where the text specifies "pitdat-kush," or topaz of Ethiopia. This phrasing highlights the stone’s exotic origin and extreme value, noting that no gold can rival its worth. The specificity underscores how far traders traveled to acquire such rare materials.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pitdah, meaning topaz, appears only three times in Scripture, yet each instance carries significant weight. In Exodus, it forms part of the first row on the high priest’s breastplate, alongside ruby and beryl. This placement highlights its value and beauty within the sacred garments designed for intercession.
Ezekiel uses the term to describe the imagined paradise of the king of Tyre, listing it among materials that symbolize immense wealth and splendor. Meanwhile, Job contrasts the topaz of Ethiopia with wisdom, noting that no amount of gold can match its worth. These references remind us that while precious stones are rare and sought after, they serve as pointers to something greater—whether in worship, worldly power, or divine insight.
For your faith, this word invites reflection on what truly holds value. Just as pitdah was set with care in holy places, so too are the treasures of God’s kingdom laid out for those who seek understanding. May you find joy in recognizing how even rare things point toward His glory.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a topaz2×
- <the> topaz of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פִּטְדָה֙2×
- פִּטְדַת\־1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 28:17
You shall set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row of ruby, topaz, and beryl shall be the first row;
This verse places pitdah in the first row of the high priest’s breastplate, emphasizing its role in representing the tribes of Israel during worship.
-
Job 28:19
The topaz of Ethiopia will not equal it. It won’t be valued with pure gold.
Here, the topaz of Ethiopia is compared to wisdom, showing that even rare and valuable stones cannot rival the worth of divine understanding.