ἴασπ-ῐς G2393
Jasper; a precious or semi-precious stone, used in Revelation to symbolize divine radiance and heavenly splendor.
An opaque gemstone known in antiquity in various colors, jasper appears exclusively in Revelation's visions of heavenly glory. The one seated on the throne radiates light 'like jasper and carnelian' (Rev 4:3), and the New Jerusalem's radiance is compared to jasper, 'clear as crystal' (Rev 21:11). The city's wall is built of jasper (Rev 21:18), and jasper heads the list of foundation stones (Rev 21:19). The term is borrowed from Hebrew yashpheh and is uniformly transliterated across languages — French 'jaspis,' Spanish 'jaspe,' German 'Jaspis.'
Senses
1. sense 1 — A precious or semi-precious stone, likely an opaque quartz, used in Revelation as a primary symbol of divine luminosity. At Rev 4:3 the appearance of the enthroned God is compared to jasper and sardius; at Rev 21:11 the holy city has the glory of God shining like jasper 'clear as crystal'; the wall of the city is pure jasper (Rev 21:18) and jasper is the first foundation stone (Rev 21:19). The Hebrew cognate yashpheh appears on the high priest's breastplate (Exod 28:20), linking the New Testament imagery to priestly holiness. All major translations simply transliterate: Spanish 'jaspe,' German and French 'Jaspis.' 4×
AR["يَشْبٌ", "يَشْبٍ"]·ben["সূর্যকান্ত", "সূর্যকান্তমণি"]·DE["Jaspis"]·EN["jasper"]·FR["Jaspis"]·heb["יָשְׁפֵה"]·HI["यशब"]·ID["yaspis"]·IT["iaspidi", "iaspis"]·jav["yaspis"]·KO["벽옥", "벽옥에", "벽옥이다"]·PT["de-jaspe", "jaspe"]·RU["яспис", "яспису"]·ES["de-jaspe", "jaspe;"]·SW["la-yaspi", "yaspi;"]·TR["dört", "yeşim"]·urd["یشب"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἴασπ-ῐς, ιδος (but accusative ἴασπιν Refs 5th c.AD+, ἡ, jasper, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II ={χρυσόγονον}, Refs 1st c.AD+. (Cf. Hebrew yāšpheh).