Original Word: שְׁבוּ
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: shbuw
Pronunciation: sheh-BO
Phonetic Spelling: (sheb-oo')
KJV: agate
NASB: agate
Word Origin: [from an unused root (probably identical with that of H7617 (שָׁבָה - taken) through the idea of subdivision into flashes or streamers) meaning to flame]

1. a gem (from its sparkle), probably the agate

agate

From an unused root (probably identical with that of shabah through the idea of subdivision into flashes or streamers (compare shabiyb) meaning to flame; a gem (from its sparkle), probably the agate -- agate.

see HEBREW shabiyb

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
(a precious stone) perhaps agate
NASB Translation
agate (2).

שְׁבוֺ noun [feminine] a precious stone (relation to above √ dubious; = Assyrian šubû ᵐ5 ᵑ9 agate); — Exodus 28:19=Exodus 39:12 (+לֶשֶׁם, אַחְלָ֑מָה).

Identification of the Stone

Shebu is commonly rendered “agate,” a banded variety of quartz valued for its hardness, durability, and variegated colors. The Hebrew term appears only in contexts describing the gemstones set into the High Priest’s breastpiece (Exodus 28:19; Exodus 39:12). Ancient writers such as Pliny admired agate for its concentric layers and capacity to take a high polish, traits that made it suitable for engraving names—precisely the function required for the tribal engravings on the breastpiece. Quarry sites in Egypt’s Eastern Desert and the Arabian Peninsula would have supplied agate to Israel during the wilderness era, providing historical plausibility for its inclusion among Israel’s sacred treasures.

Occurrences in Scripture

• Exodus 28:19 – “and the third row shall be a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;”
• Exodus 39:12 – “the third row was a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;”

Both verses appear in passages prescribing and then recording the construction of the “breastpiece of judgment” worn by Aaron. No other Old Testament text employs the word.

Placement within the Breastpiece of Judgment

The breastpiece contained four rows of three stones each, corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel and carried “over Aaron’s heart” when he ministered before the Lord (Exodus 28:29). Agate occupied the central position of the third row. Jewish tradition (following Exodus Rabbah and later commentators) typically links this stone to the tribe of Naphtali. If that association is correct, the agate bore the engraved name “Naphtali,” memorializing the tribe every time the High Priest sought guidance from God.

Symbolic Significance

1. Permanence of Covenant Memory

Agate’s layered bands evoke the idea of continuity. When the agate bearing a tribal name was placed over the High Priest’s heart, it testified that the Lord’s covenant promises encompass every generation of that tribe, “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).

2. Diversity in Unity

Each breastpiece stone differed in color and texture, yet all were set “in gold filigree settings” (Exodus 28:20). The variegated bands of the agate display diversity within a unified gem, reflecting the corporate identity of Israel as “one nation under God” composed of distinct tribes (Ezekiel 37:22).

3. Beauty in Refinement

Natural agate must be cut, ground, and polished to reveal its splendor. Likewise, Israel’s national experience of wilderness testing would refine the people until their true beauty emerged (Deuteronomy 8:2). By placing polished agate upon Aaron, the Lord showed His intent to perfect His people.

Historical Background and Trade

Archaeological finds confirm that agate was traded across the Near East in the Late Bronze Age. Egyptian scarabs and Mesopotamian cylinder seals carved from agate illustrate its widespread use for inscribed jewelry—precisely the skill Israel “filled with the Spirit of God” artisans possessed (Exodus 31:3). The presence of agate in Israel’s sanctuary therefore underscores God’s provision: He brought precious materials out of Egypt (Exodus 12:35-36) and supplied the craftspeople to fashion them for worship.

Typological and Christological Reflections

The breastpiece stones ultimately foreshadow the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ. As Aaron bore the engraved agate close to his heart, so the Lord Jesus “ever lives to intercede” for every believer (Hebrews 7:25). The multicolored stones anticipate the final vision of Revelation, where “the foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone” (Revelation 21:19). Although agate is not explicitly named in that list, its earthly function points forward to the heavenly reality: redeemed humanity, perfected and eternally remembered before God.

Lessons for Ministry Today

• Intercession embraces individuality. Just as each tribe had a distinct gemstone, faithful intercessors should recognize the unique calling and needs of those they carry before God.
• Beauty follows craftsmanship. The Spirit equips believers with diverse gifts so that the living temple of God may display manifold splendor (1 Peter 4:10-11).
• Remembrance leads to confidence. Seeing agate in Scripture reassures Christians that their names, like Israel’s tribes, are engraved upon the true High Priest’s heart, encouraging boldness in prayer (Hebrews 4:16).

Summary

Shebu—the agate—though mentioned only twice, carries rich theological weight. Set in gold upon Aaron’s breastpiece, it embodied covenant remembrance, diversity within Israel, and the promise of refinement and beauty through God’s redemptive work, all culminating in the perfect High Priesthood of Christ.

שְׁב֖וֹ שבו šə·ḇōw šəḇōw sheVoInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts