[Nell]

Exodus 28:2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
...
17-21
17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their
21 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.

I believe WL shared in the Exodus training (Chapter 28) that the 12 precious stones, named here, were on Aaron’s robe, worn into the Holy of Holies, representing the the 12 tribes, and the priestly intercession for God’s people, His precious stones...always on His heart.

This is a beautiful picture of God’s love for his people, comparing them to precious stones. Each stone is named. I would think any NT reference to precious stones would likely be based on this OT reference? I would think that my name is also on His heart and in that sense, I also am in his eyes a precious stone.

Notable is the nature of the stones. Twelve different stones with different properties and beautiful in different ways. No two people are the same. The tribe signified by the emerald stone surely can’t mean that all members of that tribe are the same: emerald. God’s people are “one” but not the “same”. God specifically made 12 different precious stones. We are each precious stones in God’s eyes.

That’s what I think.

Nell