* the likeness.
26 10:1 Ex 24:10 Job 37:22 Re 4:3,6 21:11
* crystal.
The Hebrew {kerach,} which generally denotes ice, doubtless
here signifies crystal, ([krystallos,] from [kryos,] cold,
ice, and [stellomai,] to concrete,) as it is rendered by the
LXX. and Vulgate. It is a very large class of silicious
minerals, hard, pellucid, naturally colourless, of regularly
angular figures, and of simple plates; not flexible, nor
elastic, but giving fire with steel; not fermenting by acid
menstrua, but calcinable in a strong fire. There are three
orders of pure crystal: the first is perfect columnar
crystals, with double pyramids, of eighteen planes, in an
hexangular pyramid at each end; the second is that of perfect
crystals, without a column, of twelve or sixteen planes, in
two hexangular pyramids: and the third is that of imperfect
crystals, with single pyramids, of ten or twelve planes, in an
hexangular or pentangular column. Terrible crystal seems to
denote that which was well cut and polished, vividly
refracting the rays of light.
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