Coat of arms of Yale University
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{{Notability|date=January 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox emblem|image=Yale University Shield 1.svg|image2=|image2_caption=|year_adopted={{Start date and age|1746}}|crest=|shield=Azure an open book Argent edges Or charged with the Hebrew words אורים וְתּמִים Sable.|motto=Lux et Veritas|armiger=Yale University|color=#00326C|text_color=#FFFFFF|name=Arms of Yale University|image2_width=|image_width=150}}The Yale University coat of arms is the primary emblem of Yale University. It has a field of the color Yale Blue with an open book and the Hebrew words Urim and Thummim inscribed upon it in Hebrew letters.{{cite web|title=How Hebrew Came to Yale|url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/how-hebrew-came-to-yale|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103012014/https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/how-hebrew-came-to-yale|archive-date=November 3, 2020|accessdate=2018-04-16|work=Jewish Virtual Library |publisher=American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise}} Below the shield on a scroll appears Yale's official motto, Lux et Veritas (Latin 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. {{Cite web|last=Oren|first=Dan|date=2001|title=Yale Alumni Magazine: The Yale Seal|url=http://archives.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/01_03/seal.html|url-status=live|accessdate=2015-11-24|website=archives.yalealumnimagazine.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018195125/http://archives.yalealumnimagazine.com:80/issues/01_03/seal.html |archive-date=2014-10-18 }} According to the Hebrew Bible, the priests used tools called the Urim and Thummim to discern the will of God.