Rubies--a Bible Study

Today, I was supposed to use a concordance to look at the different verses in the Bible that contain the word "rubies". I was surprised--only 6 verses had the name in it!  (My assignment was: "Use a concordance to find and study all Biblical references to rubies. List all qualities symbolized by or uses of the stone mentioned in these verses.") I did cheat a little, though: I used a computer website instead of paging through our 3-inch-thick Strong's Concordance. I really like having a handy Bible search without having to pull out that heavy book. I use Advanced Bible Search, over at Bibledatabase.org. I also really like their Online Bible, which is broken down into books and chapters. It makes it a LOT EASIER for writing projects! Anyway, here are the verses I found:

1. Job 28:18 "No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies."
2. Proverbs 3:15 "She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her."
3. Proverbs 8:11 "For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it."
4. Proverbs 20:15 "There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel."
5. Proverbs 31:10 "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."
6. Lamentations 4:7 "Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire..."

#1--Job 28:18. In this verse, the word "rubies" is compared to wisdom. The ruby is used as a symbol of wisdom

#2--Proverbs 3:15. In this verse, the ruby is symbolic of a godly woman.

#3--Proverbs 8:11. In this verse, wisdom is better than rubies. Rubies symbolize the world.

#4--Proverbs 20:15. In this verse, knowledge is "a precious jewel".

#5--Proverbs 31:10. The price of a virtuous woman is "far above" rubies. A woman living after God's way is worth more than all the jewels in the world!

#6--Lamentations 4:7. In this verse, the ruby symbolizes what Israel used to be (read the rest of Lamentations 4). They are now the rubble of the streets. The sickest of the sick--all because they turned from serving the LORD, and worshiped other gods. Once God's favorite people, now they stink like a filthy pig to Him because they ceased to worship Him. (Amos 4:10, "I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.")

Something I did find interesting is that a lot of the verses (well, half of them, anyway!) mention "wisdom". If wisdom is that precious, how precious are we in God's eyes? VERY PRECIOUS!