Rich, poetic imagery paints the picture of a wondrous and noble figure, whose very form is likened to masterpieces of pure gold and rare, precious gems. Beneath this vivid aesthetic description lie profound symbolic layers exploring God's governance of the universe, the giving of the Torah, practical commandments, and the inner workings of the human soul.
On a physical level, the primary approach among commentators is that the imagery describes clean, straight hands or fingers that resemble golden cylinders or wheels. These hands are set perfectly with precious stones, likely dark in color [אבן עזרא], representing beautiful, smooth nails [מצודת דוד]. The midsection is firm, pure, and bright, resembling a solid block of ivory adorned with sapphires. While many interpret this as a description of the body itself, others emphasize that the figure is clothed, wearing a white garment as pure as ivory and decorated with red sapphires [אבן עזרא].
Moving beyond the physical, the imagery reflects God's guidance over creation and the celestial realms. The golden hands symbolize the heavenly spheres that turn continuously, while the precious stones represent the bright stars or the angels that propel these spheres in their orbits. The midsection represents God's inner will, His attribute of mercy, or the hidden Mercy Seat. From this concealed core, a pure, sapphire-like light shines outward to the congregation of Israel [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, אבן עזרא].
Another primary approach connects these physical descriptions to the revelation of the Torah. The hands symbolize the two Tablets of the Covenant, with the ten fingers reflecting the Ten Commandments, pure and desirable as gold. The precious stones hint at the meticulous details and letters of the Torah, or perhaps the Talmud, which is vast and deep like the great sea. Following this theme, the midsection represents the Book of Leviticus. Just as the abdomen sits in the center of the body, Leviticus is positioned in the middle of the Five Books of Moses. It is a book dense with complex laws that demand exhausting, rigorous study—hard as sapphire—yet it radiates the deepest secrets of the Torah [תורה תמימה, מלבי״ם].
On a practical level, the hands allude to the phylacteries bound to the arm, while a pure midsection reflects strict adherence to dietary laws, which cleanses the body and prepares the soul to absorb wisdom [ספורנו]. The hands are also seen as an expression of God's divine judgment. This judgment is not meant for revenge, but rather to scour away sin, purifying the righteous until they are as pristine as ivory and sapphire [צרור המור]. Finally, the imagery serves as an allegory for human intellect. The hands, as the ultimate tools of action, represent practical intellect, while the inner midsection represents theoretical, contemplative intellect. Comparing these faculties to indestructible gems highlights the eternal, enduring nature of the human mind [רלב״ג].