אֹדֶם

The word "אֹדֶם" (odem) appears in the Bible as one of the stones in the breastplate (hoshen) worn by the High Priest (Exodus 28:17). It is mentioned first in the list of stones, in the first row: "A row of odem, pitdah, and bareket." The name is probably related to the root a-d-m, which indicates the color red, suggesting the red color of the stone. In the Septuagint Greek translation, the word "odem" was translated as "sardion" (σάρδιον), which is a type of red gemstone, likely carnelian or sardonyx. Later translations, such as the Latin Vulgate, translated the word as "sardius," again a type of red gemstone. The identification of "odem" with the modern ruby likely occurred during the Middle Ages or later. This connection was established in Modern Hebrew, and the gemstone "ruby" is called "odem" in modern Hebrew. The exact identification of the biblical breastplate stones remains in doubt, as the biblical text does not provide detailed descriptions of the stones, and the names of gemstones in ancient times changed throughout history and did not always refer to the same stones that we know today by the same names.