Tolkien's Biblical Ties to Gemstones

Throughout history, in every civilization, gemstones have been highly prized and sought after. The Bible makes numerous references to jewels and precious stones and their roles. In Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, jewels are holy in much the same way they were in Middle Ages. Tolkien’s mythology is very similar to the Christian mythology with gemstones and numerous comparisons can be seen. First, gemstones are made of some special substance. Another comparison is that the jewel is mostly a shell and it is rooted in the realm of God, and in the bible, it is seen to be indirectly rooted in God himself. This origin in paradise gives rise to the conception that jewels not only contain holy beauty and vitality, but wisdom as well. This is why jewels are seen as having holy status.

The first of many precious stones in the Bible is mentioned in the book of Genesis. It is referenced in relation to the creation of man and the Garden of Eden. In the Bible, jewels are said to be made from “moisture and fire,” they are said to have a life of their own, and Eden is said to be filled with them. Gems are described as being alive. Tolkien continues his description of the Silmarils saying, “… Yet that crystal was to the Silmarils but as is the body to the Children of Illuvatar: the house of its inner fire, that is within it and yet in all parts of it, and is its life…” The life of gems comes from God, in a similar way to the life of God’s children. The life which jewels possess is holy in itself because that life is of God, but jewels are special for another reason as well, they are remnants of Eden itself (or in Tolkien’s case, of Valinor).

In the Silmarillion, we can see these important elements in the Silmarils themselves. The physical form of jewels is important. Even if a physical gem is nothing more than a case for something more important inside, that casing must still be worthy and is therefore special in its own right. Tolkien describes the Silmarils by stating, “As three great jewels they were in form. But not until the End… shall it be known of what substance they were made…” Even though the Silmarils are so much more important than their mere physical forms, those physical forms are mighty indeed. They cannot be marred or broken by any art in Arda, which makes further sense in the medieval Christianity in which Tolkien frames his work. Jewels were too hard to cut in the middle ages. No tools were great enough to shape them in the modern sense, so it is logical to say that people thought gems were super powerful and indestructible.

Furthermore, the Bible claims that Satan hates jewels because they come from Eden and hold the light of God, which burns him. Tolkien’s gems are the same. The Silmarillion says, “And Varda hallowed the Silmarils, so that thereafter no mortal flesh, nor hands unclean, nor anything of evil will might touch them, but it was scorched and withered…” It cannot be overlooked that gems are holy in the Christian mythology, and are actively the same in Tolkien’s.