יָשְׁפֵה
𐤉𐤔𐤐𐤄
yâshᵉphêh
H3471 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A precious stone, likely the jasper, known for its lustrous and variegated appearance. In biblical usage, refers to a gemstone of high value, typically mentioned within lists of precious stones, especially in descriptions of priestly garments and temple decoration. The term denotes a hard, opaque or translucent silica stone, often multicolored, but can refer more generally to a decorative or polished stone used for ornamental purposes.
Semantic Range
jasper-stone, a polished multicolored gemstone, precious stone used in ornamentation; sometimes rendered generically for a gem of variable color or appearance
Root / Etymology
From an unused root, possibly related to a notion of polishing or shining (etymology uncertain). The formation suggests a term connected to brightness or luster, correlating conceptually to the appearance of a polished gem, but the exact verbal root and derivational process are not attested.
Historical & Contextual Notes
יָשְׁפֵה appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, notably among the precious stones set in the High Priest’s breastpiece (Exodus 28:20; 39:13; Ezekiel 28:13). The identification with the mineral known as 'jasper' is based on later Greek (ἴασπις) and Latin translational tradition rather than direct mineralogical evidence from the biblical period. In the biblical context, the precise mineralogical identification is uncertain, as ancient classifications of gemstones were based chiefly on color and luster, not precise composition. The word's use marks it as a gemstone of high status among Israelites; it does not carry religious or ethnic connotations but functions as a term for ornament and status. Later Jewish and early Christian translators continued the jasper identification, cementing this equivalence in tradition. Some modern scholarship allows for a wider range of stone types under the biblical term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to polish; a gem supposed to be jasper (from the resemblance in name); jasper.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ישפה (y-š-p-h) — to be polished, to shine, brightness
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3471-01 |
וְ/יָשְׁפֵ֑ה | veyashefeh | HC/Ncmsa |
and jasper | polished jasper-stone | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3471-01 |
Exodus 28:20 | וְ/יָשְׁפֵ֑ה | veyashefeh | HC/Ncmsa |
and a jasper | polished jasper-stone |
H3471-01 |
Exodus 39:13 | וְ/יָשְׁפֵ֑ה | veyashefeh | HC/Ncmsa |
and jasper | polished jasper-stone |
H3471-01 |
Ezekiel 28:13 | וְ/יָ֣שְׁפֵ֔ה | veyashefeh | HC/Ncmsa |
and jasper | polished jasper-stone |