Exodus 25:7 - Exposition

Onyx stones . On the need of onyx stones, see Exodus 28:9 , Exodus 28:20 . Stones to be set in the ephod, etc. Rather, "stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastplate." The only stones required for the ephod were two large onyx stones; for the breastplate twelve jewels were needed ( Exodus 28:17-20 ), one of them being an onyx. It has been proposed to translate the Hebrew shoham by "beryl" instead of "onyx;" but onyx, which is more suitable for engraving, is probably right.