"jasper, a precious stone of various colors, as purple, cerulian green, etc. Rev. 4:3; 21:11, 18, 19*"
Definition and meaning
jasper, a precious stone of various colors, as purple, cerulian green, etc. Rev. 4:3; 21:11, 18, 19*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἴασπις
Historical context
Domitian required people across the empire to address him as Dominus et Deus — Lord and God. Christians who refused to burn incense before the emperor's image faced economic exclusion and imprisonment. The book was written in apocalyptic imagery that believers would recognize but Roman authorities would not — a letter of resistance written to people being crushed by the most powerful empire on earth.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of iaspis (G2393) across the King James Bible.
And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
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Common questions
Strong's G2393 (iaspis) is a Greek word that means: jasper, a precious stone of various colors, as purple, cerulian green, etc. Rev. 4:3; 21:11, 18, 19* It appears 4 times in the King James Bible.
The word iaspis (G2393) appears 4 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2393 is iaspis, a Greek word defined as: jasper, a precious stone of various colors, as purple, cerulian green, etc. Rev. 4:3; 21:11, 18, 19*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
iaspis is a Greek word found in the New Testament.