The Yale University coat of arms is the primary emblem of

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...

. It has a field of the color Yale Blue with an open book and the

Hebrew Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...

words Urim and Thummim inscribed upon it in Hebrew letters. Below the

shield A shield is a piece of personal armour held in the hand, which may or may not be strapped to the wrist or forearm. Shields are used to intercept specific attacks, whether from close-ranged weaponry like spears or long ranged projectiles suc ...

on a scroll appears Yale's official motto, ''Lux et Veritas'' (

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

for "Light and Truth").

History

The first known seal of Yale appears on the master's diploma of its future president Ezra Stiles in 1746. In addition to the Hebrew words "Urim ve'Thummim" inscribed on an open book on a shield, it had the Latin words ''Lux et Veritas'' surrounding the shield. The Hebrew words ''Urim'' and ''Thummim'' are used due to a belief among scholars at the time that "Light and Truth" was an adequate translation for these words. According to the Hebrew Bible, the priests used tools called the Urim and Thummim to discern the will of God.

Sources

{{Academic heraldry Yale Coats of arms of Yale University Yale University

History

See also

Sources