Isaiah 54:12

“And I will make thy windows of agates, &c.] Some sort of which stones, Plinyf1088 says, were valued for their clearness like glass; but the stone which bears this name with us is not clear and lucid enough to make windows of. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, render it, “of jasper”, a stone more fit for that purpose; and it is interpreted of the jasper in the Talmudf1089; so “the light” of the New Jerusalem is said to be like unto the “jasper stone”, (<662111>Revelation 21:11). Some take the crystal to be meant, which suits well with windows; the wordf1090 for which has its name from the sun, because by means of them the rays and light of the sun are let into a…”

“windows--rather, "battlements"; literally, "suns"; applied to battlements from their radiated appearance. agates--rather, "rubies." carbuncles--literally, "sparkling gems"; the carbuncle when held to the sun becomes like a burning coal. all thy borders--rather, "thy whole circuit," consisting of precious stones. The glory of the Church on earth, when the Hebrew Church, according to the original design, shall be the metropolis of Christendom.”

“And I will make thy windows - The word rendered here ‘windows’ is rendered by Jerome propugnacula - ‘fortresses,’ bulwarks, ramparts; and by the Septuagint, Επαλξεις Epalcheis - ‘Bulwarks,’ or rather, pinnacles on the walls. The Hebrew word שׁמשׁות shı̂mâshôt) is evidently derived from שׁמשׁ shemesh (the sun); and has some relation in signification to the sun, either as letting in light, or as having a radiated appearance like the sun. Gesenius renders it, ‘notched battlements, the same as sun, or rays of the sun.’ Faber (Hebrew Archaeol., p. 294) supposes that the name was given to the turrets or battlements here referred to, because they had some resemblance to the rays of the sun. I…”

“Agates - The proper signification of the Hebrew names of precious stones is unknown to the Jews themselves. It may suffice us to know that this was some very clear and transparent, and precious stone. Thy borders - The utmost parts or walls. Isaiah 54:13”