What Does Jade Symbolize In The Bible (Biblical Symbolism And Meaning)?

As a student of the Bible, I love watching Christian-related films since I find them quite informative. The other day, as I was watching one of them, I realized that one of the characters who played the role of a high priest had a breastplate that featured a jade gemstone around his chest.

Though I associate this gemstone with royalty, what does jade symbolize in the Bible?

In this post, I’ll share more about jade gemstone in the Bible, its symbolism, and its spiritual significance. Keep reading to learn more.

Is Jade in the Bible?

Yes, jade is mentioned in the Bible in Exodus 28:20 and Exodus 39:13, where it’s suggested that jade was one of the gemstones incorporated into the breastplate of judgment that the high priest wore.

It is believed that the breastplate had 12 gemstones attached to it, and jade, like the other individual stones, represented one of the 12 tribes of Israel. 

Additionally, Ezekiel 28:13 suggests that the gemstone was used as one of the decorations incorporated on the covering worn by the King of Tyre: “You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings.”

What Does Jade Mean In the Bible?

Good fortune and wealth 

It’s believed that the jade stone mentioned in the Bible symbolizes good fortune and knowledge because jade is believed to be one of the gemstones used to construct and decorate altars. Jade was also an essential mineral gemstone used in rituals.

As a result, it could also mean that the jade gemstone is a powerful, holy stone.

Nobility and Protection

Jade is also associated with wealth and nobility, even as many others believed that jade represents a symbol of protection across generations, including the dead and the living. It’s also believed to be the Supreme Gem or the Jewel of Heaven and the stone of the heart.

Its role as a nobility gemstone is suggested in Exodus 28:20, Exodus 39:13, and Ezekiel 28:13. In these verses; it’s implied that the gemstone was incorporated into the breastplate of judgment that the High Priests of Israel wore.

Here, it was believed that this gemstone represented one of the tribes of Israel. It was also part of the covering that the King of Tyre wore.

Therefore, it is believed that this gemstone was one of the most significant gemstones that represented more than its beauty because it was incorporated into objects deemed noble, holy, and even powerful. 

Bible verses about jade

Exodus 28:20 – “And the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold filigree. There shall be twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel.”

This is a verse that suggests the details of the gemstones that were incorporated into the breastplate of judgment designed to be worn by the High Priests. It also suggests that the stone incorporated on the breastplate was meant to represent one of the 12 tribes of Israel. 

Exodus 39:13 – “A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle was the first row; and the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in settings of gold filigree.”

This verse also gives suggestions about what the priestly garment was to look like, and it implies that Jade is one of the gemstones that were to be enclosed in the cloth’s settings as the name of one of the tribes of Israel.

Ezekiel 28:13 – “You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings.”

This verse is about lamenting over the king of Tyre, and it suggests that the King was the symbol of perfection, wearing clothes with every precious stone imaginable. One of these stones was jade, which was set in gold.

Here, jade is regarded as yet another gemstone of great value. 

3 symbolic meanings of jade in the Bible

Nobility 

Jade is mentioned and represented in the Bible as a gemstone representing nobility. It’s implied in the scriptures in Exodus 28:20, 39:13, and Ezekiel 28:13 that jade was one of the gemstones incorporated into the priestly breastplate to represent one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Jade was regarded as a precious or noble stone, hence its use in making the breastplate worn by the high priest and the clothing worn by the king of Tyre.  

Beauty

The use of jade as one of the gemstones on the high priest’s breastplate is believed to have been made possible by the fact that the gemstone is not only rare, valuable, and noble but also because it’s a beautiful stone. Jade could be seen as a sign of beauty, even in the Bible.

One of the Tribes of Israel

The incorporation of a jade gemstone on the high priest’s breastplate implies that jade is one of the stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel. The high priest that wore the breastplate was Aaron, and jade is regarded as one of the holy stones used to symbolize one of Israel’s tribes. 

Spiritual meaning of jade

Nobility

Jade is a rare gemstone that represents nobility. It has been around for thousands of years, with evidence of its use dating back to 5000 BCE in ancient China.

For years in ancient China and other parts of the world, jade was only worn by the upper class because they were the only ones who could afford to buy this gemstone.

With time, the stone became synonymous with nobility, and members of the higher echelons in society wore it for its beauty, as well as for the belief that the gemstone represented and would bring them good luck. 

Resurrection 

Jade is considered a symbol of resurrection. It was believed that keeping jade on the deceased would not only protect the body from decomposition but would also protect them from evil spirits, as well as desecration. 

Symbol of good luck

It’s believed that jade brings good luck to anyone who wears it or keeps it nearby in their home or office. It was believed that wearing jewelry containing jade would bring good luck and great fortune.

Jade is also regarded as a joyous gemstone that brings the wearer good luck and healing, so it’s recommended that anyone looking for a chance at positive luck and overall good health wears jade. 

Brings positive energy

Jade is considered a stone with spiritual solid vibes because it’s believed that this stone is rather strongly connected to the heart chakra.

Therefore, if you are looking for a way of flushing out the negativity from your heart, life, or space and to be in a state of harmony with the rest of the world, you should consider wearing jade. Jade cleanses out and rebalances the heart chakra and brings out positivity.

This happens because the heart carries love, trust, and compassion, and it also connects humans to the rest of the world. The heart chakra also allows for beautiful positive relationships in friendships, romantic relationships, and family ties. It also enhances that positive feeling of self-love.

A healthy heart chakra is believed to be associated with and enhanced by jade. 

Encourages Self Sufficiency 

This gemstone is considered one of the most intuitive stones that carry immense powers related to healing and enhancing an individual’s mental and emotional well-being.

Wearing jade around your neck may help you become more aware and feel self-sufficient because this stone is believed to have the power to nudge out negativity, replacing it with courage and wisdom to be self-sufficient and strong by yourself. Therefore, jade is also highly regarded when it comes to raising self-esteem and confidence levels. 

Peace and clarity of mind

Jade is also associated with purity, and it’s believed that this stone could help bring in an enhanced state of self-awareness, clarity of the mind, and, most importantly, a calm heart.

It’s also believed to be an important gemstone that would make you develop more self-love.

Inspiring Growth 

This gemstone is also associated with growth because the common green color of jade is connected to the earth, as well as the earth’s healing energies.

This strong earth connection is believed to be important in inspiring growth because the jade jewelry worn would mingle the earth’s energies with your energy field, creating the ideal environment for growth.

This, and the belief that jade could clear out negativity, mean that it creates a harmonious environment to bring out the best in you. 

Purification, Calm, and Spiritual Connection

It’s believed that jade’s connection to the fourth chakra, the heart chakra means enhanced feelings of empathy, forgiveness, love, and compassion. This could be because the heart chakra serves as a bridge between the upper and lower chakras.

It could also connect to the spiritual realm, bringing wisdom and calm by purifying the energies in and around an individual. To experience these benefits from an unblocked heart chakra, one must wear jade jewelry around their heart. 

Meaning and Symbolism of red jade

Red Jade isn’t the most popular version of the jade gemstone, but it’s believed to be one of the best gemstones with the power to stir up one’s soul and to awaken the chi, bringing down walls and fear walls that may have been holding you back.

These beneficial effects associated with red jade are believed to come from the fact that red jade unlocks potential, brings about good luck and fidelity, and brings reality to dreams.

Red jade, also called Jadeite, is hard and lustrous, and it’s made of sodium aluminum silicate. It’s also the rarest version of jade, and so it’s the most expensive version of jade.

The symbolism of Red Jade

Healing

Red jade is associated with healing energies thanks to the fact that the gemstone is known for having the most powerful life energy fields. As a result, red jade is symbolic and highly valuable for the healers and helps keep a high energy tempo for healing.

It’s also worth noting that the healing effects associated with red jade are believed to come from the fact that red jade is a tonic stone with the power to invigorate the entire body system while also cleansing the body, hence the enhancement of overall organ function.

Balance 

Red jade is also regarded as a powerful grounding stone thanks to its high restorative energy property. Therefore, this stone could help the body heal by restoring a state of equilibrium. The state of balance could also mean the absence of pain in the body.

Brings positive energy

Red jade is also believed to symbolize energy and power because it’s believed to be a gemstone that gets rid of lethargic feelings. It’s also believed to have the power to ramp up levels of activity.

Therefore, it’s considered an essential stone for use by someone who frequently needs mental and energy stimulation. 

Increased confidence levels

Red Jasper is also associated with enhanced levels of confidence because it radiates solid and protective energies, which could dispel negative energies.

Protection

Red jade is also believed to symbolize protection because it’s regarded as one of the most powerful protective talismans for your physical security, family, and possessions. It’s believed that this stone protects anyone who wears it from the negative vibrations that may have a negative influence over your life.

Overall, red jade is a stone associated with dreams coming true, manifesting and attracting the desires of the heart, balance, healing, and fidelity.

What does jade mean in different cultures?

Ancient Chinese

The ancient Chinese highly regarded the jade gemstone, and they considered the gemstone a symbol of good luck, good fortune, and a tool for cyclical resurrection. It’s believed that jade was crucial during the reign of the Han Dynasty between 206 and 220 BCE – mourners placed pigs made of jade in the deceased hands during their burials because they believed that the gemstones represented cyclical resurrection and they’d protect the deceased bodies from decomposition. 

And in the Shang Dynasty, they used jade as offerings for the ancestral spirits and would protect the deceased from desecration and evil spirits. 

For the living, jade was considered a symbol for prolonging life’s essence. It was also associated with wisdom, rectitude, charity, equity, and courage.

The Chinese also believed that jade was a noble stone that would cure all illnesses, protect their children, and bring them compassion. The latter was because they believed that the Chinese goddess of compassion highly valued jade.

According to the Chinese philosopher, the infamous Confucius, jade’s brightness represented the 11 effervescing virtues like loyalty, truth, and intelligence. 

Ancient Maori People of New Zealand 

According to the ancient people of New Zealand, the Maori people, jade was highly regarded and used in multiple ways because of the durability of the stone. They used it in weapons and fashioned tools and ornaments out of jade, and these items would be passed down through generations.

The Maori made cherished heirlooms as pendants and referred to them as hei-tiki. These pieces were made of green gemstones, which the Maori people called the pounamu. Hei-tiki was considered one of their spiritual objects used to help and guide families. 

Additionally, the Maori people used the mystical hei-tiki, believed to be made of jade in burials, as well as retrievals, because they believed that these gemstones would help their ancestors to be rejoined with their families. They believed that the ancestors lived in the jade pendants. 

Ancient Greeks

The ancient Greeks believed that jade was a powerful healing potion, and they used it to heal eye-related diseases. They also created a solution of jade that was placed over the eyes for healing.

Ancient Romans 

According to the ancient Romans, jade was a symbol of fertility. The ancient Romans considered jade a symbol of their fertility god, so wearing or using the jade stone in prayers would bring good fortune and children to the individuals struggling to bear kids. 

Ancient European Cultures

The British Isles and the Celts are believed to have used jade in weaponry and utensils because of its toughness.

Mayans

The Mayans also believed that jade was important to the water spirits, and they’d offer jade to these spirits because they believed that doing this would bring them healthy crops every season. 

Why is jade called the stone of Heaven?

Jade is believed to be a symbol of wealth, health, and nobility. Several cultures also believe that this gemstone offers protection to the dead and the living.

As a result, jade is often referred to as the Stone of Heaven, the Jewel of Heaven, or the Gem Supreme. Others also refer to jade as the heart stone. 

There also are several myths plus legends associated with jade, and they are why the stone is considered the stone of heaven.

These associations come from the belief that the stone bears the power of God, who would strike the ground and make contact with the earth using jade gemstone.

As a stone representing heaven, the polished jade gemstone would have a hole drilled through the middle.