JASPER, in Latin, and in Greek, Jaspis, in Hebrew, Jaspé, is commonly taken in Scripture for a precious Stone; though, according to the usage of other Languages, Jasper is reckon’d rather among marbles. The most beautiful are green, and the most esteemed are full of little red spots, here and there scattered upon the green. They are likewise much in request, which come near the colour of Lacca or Purple. We see some of a carnation colour, red, rose-colour’d, striped, white, and some of several colours: Nature in some has represented trees, flowers and landskips, as if they had been painted. Jasper is not transparent, and comes pretty near the nature of Agate. There is Jasper found in Persia, the Indies, Syria, Cappadocia, and in many other places of the East. There are some found likewise in Armenia, and even in the Pyrenees, and in Bohemia. Several properties are ascribed to it, as that it stops bleeding, helps women in labour, and is of use as a preservative and counter-charm. In Exod. xxviii. 18. where we read Jaspis in the Vulgate, the Hebrew has Saphir1. And ver. 202, where we read Beryllus in the Vulgate, in the Hebrew it is Jaspé, which in the Septuagint is translated Onyx, in Josephus, Beryl, in Jonathan, Panther, because of the variety of colours in the Jasper. The Septuagint are not uniform in their manner of translating the names of such precious Stones as are in the Hebrew; and we have already observed, that the Hebrews themselves generally do not know the true signification of them. They translate them at random. They who please may consult Lewis de Dieu upon the xxviiith ch. of Exodus, where he has very well examined this matter.
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