Bible Dictionary
Jasper
Jasper was a precious, brilliantly shining stone. It was set in the high priest’s breastplate and is pictured in the foundations of the New Jerusalem, symbolizing the glory of God.
Definition
Jasper was a precious, glittering stone of various colors. It was one of the stones in the high priest’s breastplate and appears in the description of the foundations of the New Jerusalem.
Biblical Usage
Jasper symbolizes brilliant and transparent glory in the visions of Revelation. It is described as most precious and clear or like crystal, and is associated with the glory of God.
Historical Background
The stone described in Revelation does not accord with the characteristics of the stone commonly called jasper. The supplied material suggests that diamond would better fit the biblical description.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(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).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
a precious stone frequently noticed in Scripture. It was the last of the twelve inserted in the high priest’s breastplate, (Exodus 28:20; 39:13) and the first of the twelve used in the foundations of the new Jerusalem. (Revelation 21:19) The characteristics of the stone as far as they are specified in Scripture, (Revelation 21:11) are that it “was most precious,” and “like crystal;” we may also infer from (Revelation 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.