Ruby

Ruby

"An excellent woman [one who is spiritual, capable, intelligent, and virtuous], who is he who can find her? Her value is more precious than jewels and her worth is far above rubies or pearls." Prov. 31:10 (Amplified Bible)

Now isn't that a great way to start a study about the gemstone ruby?

Part of piece called Over His Heart
6" x 6" acrylic on canvas panel 

Today is day 2 of the 30 in 30 painting challenge, with my theme being gems or stones mentioned in the Bible. Concerning a ruby, Wikipedia says "a clear stone will command a premium, but a ruby without any needle-like rutile inclusions may indicate that the stone has been treated". A ruby (according to the same source) is one of the four precious stones, along with diamond, emerald, and sapphire. 

I just love the idea that some of the imperfections of the ruby are actually part of how it is determined to be real and untreated. (I didn't study how they are treated. Would you have?) I think the same could be said for many people, don't you? Our imperfections, when they show, are how others know that we are real. 

Rubies are mentioned several places in the Bible, including Proverbs 3:15, Ex. 28:17, and Is. 54:11 - 15.