{
  "id": "dict_003322",
  "term": "Ligure",
  "slug": "ligure",
  "letter": "L",
  "entry_type": "gemstone_term",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "An older Bible-translation name for one of the stones in the high priest’s breastpiece; its exact modern identification is uncertain.",
  "simple_one_line": "A biblical gemstone name found in some older translations of Exodus.",
  "tooltip_text": "In some older translations, ligure names a stone listed among the gems of the high priest’s breastpiece in Exodus. The exact mineral equivalent is debated.",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [
    "Breastpiece of judgment",
    "High priest",
    "Precious stones",
    "Exodus 28",
    "Exodus 39"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "Jacinth",
    "Onyx",
    "Sardius",
    "Topaz"
  ],
  "lede_intro": "Ligure is an older translation term for one of the precious stones named in Exodus in connection with the high priest’s breastpiece. Because ancient gemstone names do not always map neatly onto modern minerals, its exact identification remains uncertain.",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "A biblical gemstone name used in some older English translations, especially in the breastpiece passages of Exodus.",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [
    "Appears in older translation tradition, not as a major theological concept.",
    "Refers to one of the stones in the high priest’s breastpiece.",
    "The exact modern gemstone identification is uncertain.",
    "Useful mainly for biblical background and translation study."
  ],
  "description_academic_short": "Ligure is not ordinarily treated as a theological term. In biblical contexts, it is best understood as an older translation name for one of the precious stones listed in connection with the high priest’s breastpiece in Exodus, though the exact modern mineral identification is debated.",
  "description_academic_full": "Ligure does not function as a theological concept in the ordinary sense and is better treated as a biblical gemstone or translation term. In older English Bible traditions, it appears as the name of one of the precious stones associated with the high priest’s breastpiece in Exodus. Because ancient gemstone terminology is often imprecise by modern standards, interpreters should avoid dogmatic claims about the exact mineral equivalent. The term is valuable mainly for understanding older translations, priestly symbolism, and the limits of certainty when matching ancient stone names to modern gem classifications.",
  "background_biblical_context": "In Exodus, the high priest’s breastpiece was set with twelve stones representing the tribes of Israel. Ligure appears in some older translations as the name of one of those stones, making it part of the broader priestly and symbolic imagery of the tabernacle materials.",
  "background_historical_context": "Older English translations sometimes preserved traditional gemstone names that later versions replaced with other renderings or transliterations. This reflects the long history of uncertainty in identifying ancient stones and the way translation traditions develop over time.",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "Ancient Near Eastern and Jewish references to gemstones often use names that are difficult to match precisely with modern minerals. The biblical emphasis is not on modern gemology but on sacred symbolism, craftsmanship, and representation in the priestly setting.",
  "key_texts_primary": [
    "Exodus 28:19",
    "Exodus 39:12"
  ],
  "key_texts_secondary": [
    "Exodus 28:17-21",
    "Exodus 39:10-14"
  ],
  "original_language_note": "Older translations render one of the Hebrew gemstone names as \"ligure.\" The underlying stone is not identified with certainty, and modern equivalents vary.",
  "theological_significance": "Ligure matters chiefly as a background term in the priestly clothing of Exodus. It illustrates the detailed, symbolic design of the high priest’s breastpiece and the care taken in Israel’s worship, without carrying independent doctrinal weight.",
  "philosophical_explanation": "This term shows how ancient categories do not always map neatly onto modern taxonomy. A biblical dictionary should preserve the term’s historical and literary value while resisting overconfident claims about exact scientific identification.",
  "interpretive_cautions": "Do not build doctrine on speculative mineral identifications. The biblical meaning lies in the text’s symbolic and liturgical context, not in a certainty about which modern gemstone the name represents.",
  "major_views_note": "Translators and scholars differ on the exact stone intended by the older term. Some modern versions avoid \"ligure\" altogether and use a different gemstone name or a transliterated equivalent.",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "No core doctrine depends on the precise modern identification of ligure. The passage’s theological emphasis is the priestly symbolism established by God, not gem classification.",
  "practical_significance": "Helpful for readers comparing Bible translations and studying the tabernacle, priestly garments, and the symbolism of Exodus.",
  "meta_description": "Older Bible-translation name for one of the stones in the high priest’s breastpiece; exact identification uncertain.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/ligure/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/ligure.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}