The Biblical Meaning of 12 Birthstones

The High Priest’s Vestments

'High priest' is an Old Testament term.  Aaron was consecrated by Moses as the first levitical high priest which meant that he alone had special vestments, duties and privileges. The high priest had a set of vestments that were called his "golden vestments". The description of how they were to be made was given to Moses

"Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor… These are the garments they are to make: a breaatpiece (breastplate), an ephod (a type of apron), a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen" (Ex 28:2-5). 

The breastplate had mounted on it 12 gem stones. Each stone had one of the names of the 12 sons of Israel etched into it. In this way, the breastplate signified that the high priest was a mediator before God on behalf of all the people in every tribe. 

 “Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions—the work of skilled hands. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. It is to be square—a span long and a span wide—and folded double. Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. The first row shall be carnelian, chrysolite and beryl; he second row shall be turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald; the third row shall be jacinth, agate and amethyst; the fourth row shall be topaz, onyx and jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings. There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes" (Exodus 28:15-21).

12 Stones to Mark the Passage

In another part of the Bible. 12 stones were used to mark another miraculous portal or passage through water. Joshua chapter 4, the Israelites are about to cross the Jordan to get to the Promised Land.  The 12 stones marked the passage where the people crossed the Jordan from the desert of Sin into the promised land and the waters were parted.

The Apostles as 12 Living Stones

The apostles were standing and staring in awe on the Mount of olives as they watched Jesus dissapear in the clouds. They were the 12 living stones that marked Jesus’ passage from earth to heaven in his ascension. Like Joshua's stones, they were to memorialize the miraculous passage for generations to come.

Peter was the first to be called a ‘rock’ a ‘petros’. He is the rock or foundation stone on which the Church is built. Later in the book of Revelation all 12 apostles are called foundation stones. This foundation of the church in the new heaven and new earth is described as made up of 12 layers of different precious stones listed below. 

“... The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Rev 21:10-14). 

"The foundations of the city wall were decorated with every precious stone; the first course of stones was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh hyacinth, and the twelfth amethyst" (Rev 21:19-20).

Tradition has made the connection between each individual apostles and the 12 foundation stones in the Book of Revelation...

Peter- jasper

Andrew- sapphire

James-chalcedon

John-emerald

Philip-sardonyx

Bartholomew-sard

Matthew-chrysolite

Thomas-beryl

James the Less-topaz

Jude-chrysoprase

Simon the Zealot-hyacynth

Mathias (replacement for Judas)-amethyst. 

Over the years certain stones were associated with certain months. These stones and others were used as birthstones to mark the 12 months in the year. By 1912 the official birthstone list was made and has remained unchanged since.

Eastern religions and New Age pagans have adopted crystals and gems to emit energy which they believe aligns with a person's chakras, the seven centers of spiritual power in the human body. They may be seen as amulets used to ward off evil. The Catechism of the Catholic Church stricly warns us not to associate with these occultic witchcraft symbols and objects since they violate the first commandment.

For Catholics these stones have a religious, biblical significance which we can recover. When blessed, they can become sacramentals, reminders and signs of the holiness of God and his presence in our life. Some people have had family rosaries made using the birthstones of family members for each of the the five sets of beads. Others have mother's rings with their children's birthstones. This is acceptable as long as it is done with the intention of honoring God. Mother's rings may be blessed by a priest as well.