Smith's Bible Dictionary
Amber(Heb. chasmal) occurs only in (Ezekiel 1:4,27; 8:2) It is usually supposed that the Hebrew word chasmal (denotes a metal) and not the fossil resin called amber .
ATS Bible Dictionary
AmberIs a yellow or straw-colored gummy substance, originally a vegetable production, but reckoned in the mineral kingdom. It is found in lumps in the sea and on the shores of Prussia, Sicily, Turkey, etc. Externally it is rough; it is very transparent, and on being rubbed, yields a fragrant odor. It was formerly supposed to be medicinal, but is now employed only in the manufacture of trinkets, ornaments, etc.
The Hebrew word chasmil is translated by the Septuagint and Vulgate electrum, that is, amber, because the Hebrew denotes a very brilliant amber-like metal, composed of silver and gold, which was much prized in antiquity, Ezekiel 1:4,27; 8:2. Others, as Bochart, refer here to the mixture of gold and brass, of which the ancients had several kinds, some of which exhibited a high degree of luster. Something similar to this was probably also the "fine brass," in Ezra 8:27; Revelation 1:15.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
AMBERam'-ber. See STONES, PRECIOUS.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(
Ezek. 1:4, 27;
8:2. Hebrews, hashmal, rendered by the LXX. elektron, and by the Vulgate electrum), a metal compounded of silver and gold. Some translate the word by "polished brass," others "fine brass," as in
Revelation 1:15;
2:18. It was probably the mixture now called electrum. The word has no connection, however, with what is now called amber, which is a gummy substance, reckoned as belonging to the mineral kingdom though of vegetable origin, a fossil resin.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A yellowish translucent resin resembling copal, found as a fossil in alluvial soils, with beds of lignite, or on the seashore in many places. It takes a fine polish, and is used for pipe mouthpieces, beads, etc., and as a basis for a fine varnish. By friction, it becomes strongly electric.
2. (n.) Amber color, or anything amber-colored; a clear light yellow; as, the amber of the sky.
3. (n.) Ambergris.
4. (n.) The balsam, liquidambar.
5. (a.) Consisting of amber; made of amber.
6. (a.) Resembling amber, especially in color; amber-colored.
7. (v. t.) To scent or flavor with ambergris; as, ambered wine.
8. (v. t.) To preserve in amber; as, an ambered fly.
Strong's Hebrew
2830. chashmal -- perhaps amber... << 2829, 2830. chashmal. 2831 >>. perhaps
amber. Transliteration: chashmal Phonetic
Spelling: (khash-mal') Short Definition: metal.
... amber.
... /hebrew/2830.htm - 5k 3958. leshem -- (a precious stone) perhaps amber or jacinth
... << 3957, 3958. leshem. 3959 >>. (a precious stone) perhaps amber or jacinth.
Transliteration: leshem Phonetic Spelling: (leh'-shem) Short Definition: jacinth. ...
/hebrew/3958.htm - 6k
916. bedolach -- probably bdellium
... bdellium. Probably from badal; something in pieces, ie Bdellium, a (fragrant) gum
(perhaps amber); others a pearl -- bdellium. see HEBREW badal. << 915, 916. ...
/hebrew/916.htm - 6k
