Stones in the Bible in general represent truths, or things we know concerning the Lord and what He wants from us and for us in life. This is why the people of Israel built altars of stone, and is also why stoning was a principal form of capital punishment (using truth to destroy falsity, or in the negative sense using falsity to destroy truth). It is also why precious stones are described in such detail on Aaron's breastplate and ephod, and also in the New Jerusalem in Revelation; precious stones represent true ideas directly from the Lord with the various colors showing various forms of love. Stones are not alone in representing truth, of course -- it sometimes seems that almost everything in the Bible represents either true ideas or desires for good. But that makes sense, since our thoughts and our desires together are everything we are in life, and the interplay between them is what life is all about. The many ways they are represented in the Bible reflect the incredible variety in our feelings and thoughts, though we can only distantly understand how those representations work. In the case of stones, in their weight, strength and permanence they tend to represent true ideas that come from a desire for good, the understanding we can have if we are truly good and loving -- and in the highest sense the exalted ideas that come from the Lord's love. Those ideas are ones that are not easily moved or changed, and make wonderful foundations for the things we want to build in our spiritual lives.

39. The Lord is called the God of Israel and the God of Jacob. This is apparent from the following:

Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which Jehovah has made with you....” ...and they saw the God of Israel, under whose feet was as it were a work of sapphire stone, and it was like the essence of heaven.... (Exodus 24:8-10)

...the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking..., the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:31)

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He visited and brought deliverance to His people (Israel), when He raised up a horn of our salvation in the house of David.... (Luke 1:68-69)

I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, Jehovah, who have called you by your name, am the God of Israel. (Isaiah 45:3)

...O house of Jacob..., who swear by the name of Jehovah and...of the God of Israel.... For they are called from the holy city, and rely on the God of Israel, Jehovah of Hosts His name. (Isaiah 48:1-2)

...(Jacob) will see his children..., in his midst they will hallow My name, and hallow the Holy One of Jacob, and fear the God of Israel. (Isaiah 29:23)

...at the end of days...many people shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob, who will teach us about His ways, that we may walk in His paths.” (Isaiah 2:2-3, Micah 4:1-2)

...that all flesh may know that I am Jehovah, your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. (Isaiah 49:26)

...I, Jehovah, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. (Isaiah 60:16)

Give birth, O earth, in the presence of the Lord, in the presence of the God of Jacob.... (Psalms 114:7)

(David) swore to Jehovah, he vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob: “I will not go into the shelter of my house...until I find a place for Jehovah, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” ...we heard of it in Ephrathah (Bethlehem). (Psalms 132:2-3, 5-6)

Blessed be...the God of Israel.... The whole earth will be filled with His glory. (Psalms 72:18-19)

And so on elsewhere where the Lord is called the God of Israel, its Redeemer and Savior, as for example in Luke 1:47, Isaiah 45:15, 54:5, and Psalms 78:35.

In many other places, too, where He is called simply the God of Israel, as in Isaiah 17:6, 21:10, 17, 24:15, 29:23; Jeremiah 7:3, 9:15, 11:3, 13:12, 16:9, 19:3, 15, 23:2, 24:5, 25:15, 27, 29:4, 8, 21, 25, 30:2, 31:23, 32:14-15, 36, 33:4, 34:2, 13, 35:13, 17-19, 37:7, 38:17, 39:16, 42:9, 15, 18, 43:10, 44:2, 7, 11, 25, 48:1, 50:18, 51:33; Ezekiel 8:4, 9:3, 10:19-20, 11:22, 43:2, 44:2; Zephaniah 2:9; Psalms 41:13, 59:5, 68:8.