Amethyst

A purple stone turns up at both ends of the Bible. In Exodus the amethyst is set in the third row of the high priest’s breastplate, beside a ligure and an agate, and the chapter is repeated when the garments are actually made. Then in Revelation, the twelfth foundation of the city wall is “an amethyst,” the last in a list of jewels that begins with jasper. The verses do not say what the stone means, only that it is counted among the precious things set apart for God’s service and God’s city. Compare Exodus 28 with the end of Revelation 21 to see the two lists together.

3 verses

Exodus

Exodus 28:19

And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.

Exodus 39:12

And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.

Revelation

Revelation 21:20

The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

One of the precious stones in the breastplate of the high priest (Ex. 28:19; 39:12), and in the foundation of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:20). The ancients thought that this stone had the power of dispelling drunkenness in all who wore or touched it, and hence its Greek name formed from a_, “privative,” and _methuo, “to get drunk.” Its Jewish name, ahlamah’, was derived by the rabbins from the Hebrew word halam, “to dream,” from its supposed power of causing the wearer to dream.

It is a pale-blue crystallized quartz, varying to a dark purple blue. It is found in Persia and India, also in different parts of Europe.

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From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

(Heb. achlamah) a subspecies of quartz of a bluish-violet color. Mention is made of this precious stone, which formed the third in the third row of the high priestly breastplate, in (Exodus 28:19; 39:12) It occurs also in (Revelation 21:20)