jasper Summary and Overview

(Heb. yashpheh, "glittering"), a gem of various colours, one of the twelve inserted in the high priest's breast-plate (Ex. 28:20). It is named in the building of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:18, 19). It was "most precious," "clear as crystal" (21:11). It was emblematic of the glory of God (4:3).

a precious stone frequently noticed in Scripture. It was the last of the twelve inserted in the high priest's breastplate, #Ex 28:20; 39:13| and the first of the twelve used in the foundations of the new Jerusalem. #Re 21:19| The characteristics of the stone as far as they are specified in Scripture, #Re 21:11| are that it "was most precious," and "like crystal;" we may also infer from #Re 4:3| that it was a stone of brilliant and transparent light. The stone which we name "jasper" does not accord with this description. There can be no doubt that the diamond would more adequately answer to the description in the book of Revelation.

JAS'PER , the last stone in the breastplate of the high priest, and the first in the foundations of the new Jerusalem. Ex 28:20; Rev 21:19. Jasper is an opaque species of quartz, of different colors, often banded or spotted, and susceptible of a high polish. The darkgreen kind is supposed to be the variety of the Bible. From the apparent inconsistency of Rev 4:3; Rev 21:11 with the opaque character of this stone, it has been suggested that some transparent gem was denoted by jasper in the N.T. -- perhaps the diamond or the translucent chalcedony. See Stones, Precious.

Last of the gems in the high priest's breastplate (Exodus 28:20), probably the green jasper. In Revelation 21:19 it is first of New Jerusalem's foundations. It represents watery crystalline brightness, symbol of purity: Revelation 21:11, "her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.""He that sat upon the throne (Revelation 4:3) was to look upon like a jasper." Ebrard thinks the diamond is meant. The common jasper has various wavy colors, somewhat transparent. The king of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:13) has the jasper with eight other of the high-priest's 12. precious stones, as type of antichrist who usurps Christ's high-priesthood combined with kingship (Zechariah 6:13).