Lexical Summary kadkod: Ruby, Agate, or Carbuncle Original Word: כְּדַכֹּד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance agate From the same as kad in the sense of striking fire from a metal forged; a sparkling gem, probably the ruby -- agate. see HEBREW kad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as kad Definition (a precious stone) perhaps ruby NASB Translation rubies (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs כַּדְכֹּד noun [masculine] a precious stone, perhaps ruby (from sparkle ?; Aramaic "" is כַּדְכְּדָנָא); ׳כ Ezekiel 27:16 as article of commerce; כַּדְכֹֿד Isaiah 54:12 figurative in promise to Zion. כְּדֵי see דַּי. כדר (√ of following; compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Meaning and Identification The term כְּדַכֹּד is the name of a precious red-hued stone whose precise mineral equivalent is uncertain. English versions render it “rubies,” “agate,” “garnet,” or “carbuncle.” Whatever the modern scientific label, the word points to a brilliant gem prized in the ancient Near East for its fiery luster and high commercial value. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Isaiah 54:12 – “I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones.” Historical and Cultural Background Trade routes radiating from Arabia and India funneled exotic stones northward through Damascus to Phoenician ports. Tyre’s merchants (Ezekiel 27) stocked כְּדַכֹּד alongside turquoise and coral, confirming its status among luxury commodities of the first millennium B.C. In Isaiah’s vision, the Lord promises a future Jerusalem whose very parapets gleam with the stone, evoking the opulence reserved for royal palaces and underscoring divine commitment to downtrodden Zion after exile. Symbolic and Theological Significance • Restoration and Security – Rubies in battlements portray walls that both shine and shield. The image assures the people that their rebuilt community will be simultaneously beautiful and impregnable, reflecting the covenant faithfulness of God (compare Zechariah 2:5). Christological Perspective The crimson brilliance of the stone naturally invites meditation on the atoning blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:12), by which He secures the city “whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). As earthly walls glisten with red gemstones, so believers are reminded that their ultimate security and beauty rest in the finished work of the Redeemer. Ministry Applications • Encouragement in Church Building – Pastors and church planters may draw from Isaiah 54:12 to depict congregational life fashioned with spiritual excellence, not merely utilitarian structure. Related References for Study Revelation 21:19, Proverbs 8:11, Job 28:18, Lamentations 4:7, 1 Peter 2:4-6. Forms and Transliterations וְכַדְכֹּ֔ד וכדכד כַּֽדְכֹד֙ כדכד kaḏ·ḵōḏ kadChod kaḏḵōḏ vechadKod wə·ḵaḏ·kōḏ wəḵaḏkōḏLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 54:12 HEB: וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י כַּֽדְכֹד֙ שִׁמְשֹׁתַ֔יִךְ וּשְׁעָרַ֖יִךְ NAS: your battlements of rubies, And your gates KJV: thy windows of agates, and thy gates INT: will make of rubies your battlements and your gates Ezekiel 27:16 2 Occurrences |