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Revelation 21:9-27
New English Translation

The New Jerusalem Descends

9 Then[a] one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven final plagues came and spoke to me,[b] saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb!” 10 So[c] he took me away in the Spirit[d] to a huge, majestic mountain[e] and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. 11 The city possesses[f] the glory of God; its brilliance is like a precious jewel, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper.[g] 12 It has[h] a massive, high wall[i] with twelve gates,[j] with twelve angels at the gates, and the names of the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel[k] are written on the gates.[l] 13 There are[m] three gates on the east side, three gates on the north side, three gates on the south side and three gates on the west side.[n] 14 The[o] wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 The angel[p] who spoke to me had a golden measuring rod with which to measure the city and its foundation stones and wall. 16 Now[q] the city is laid out as a square,[r] its length and width the same. He[s] measured the city with the measuring rod[t] at 1,400 miles[u] (its length and width and height are equal). 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits[v] according to human measurement, which is also the angel’s.[w] 18 The city’s[x] wall is made[y] of jasper and the city is pure gold, like transparent glass.[z] 19 The foundations of the city’s wall are decorated[aa] with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation is jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate,[ab] the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx,[ac] the sixth carnelian,[ad] the seventh chrysolite,[ae] the eighth beryl,[af] the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase,[ag] the eleventh jacinth,[ah] and the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates are twelve pearls—each one of the gates is made from just one pearl! The[ai] main street[aj] of the city is pure gold, like transparent glass.

22 Now[ak] I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God—the All-Powerful[al]—and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God lights it up, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations[am] will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their grandeur[an] into it. 25 Its gates will never be closed during the day[ao] (and[ap] there will be no night there).[aq] 26 They will bring the grandeur and the wealth[ar] of the nations[as] into it, 27 but[at] nothing ritually unclean[au] will ever enter into it, nor anyone who does what is detestable[av] or practices falsehood,[aw] but only those whose names[ax] are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 21:9 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
  2. Revelation 21:9 tn Grk “with me.” The translation “with me” implies that John was engaged in a dialogue with the one speaking to him (e.g., Jesus or an angel) when in reality it was a one-sided conversation, with John doing all the listening. For this reason, μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ (met’ emou, “with me”) was translated as “to me.” See also v. 15.
  3. Revelation 21:10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the angel’s invitation.
  4. Revelation 21:10 tn Or “in the spirit.” “Spirit” could refer either to the Holy Spirit or the human spirit, but in either case John was in “a state of spiritual exaltation best described as a trance” (R. H. Mounce, Revelation [NICNT], 75).
  5. Revelation 21:10 tn Grk “to a mountain great and high.”
  6. Revelation 21:11 tn Grk “from God, having the glory of God.” Here a new sentence was started in the translation by supplying the words “the city” to refer back to the previous clause and translating the participle (“having”) as a finite verb.
  7. Revelation 21:11 tn On the term ἰάσπιδι (iaspidi) BDAG 465 s.v. ἴασπις states, “jasper, a precious stone found in various colors, mostly reddish, somet. green…brown, blue, yellow, and white. In antiquity the name was not limited to the variety of quartz now called jasper, but could designate any opaque precious stone. Rv 21:18f. W. λίθος 4:3 (TestSol C 11:8). λίθος ἴασπις κρυσταλλίζων a stone of crystal-clear jasper 21:11 (cp. Is 54:12); perh. the opal is meant here; acc. to some, the diamond.”
  8. Revelation 21:12 tn Grk “jasper, having.” Here a new sentence was started in the translation.
  9. Revelation 21:12 tn Grk “a (city) wall great and high.”
  10. Revelation 21:12 tn On this term BDAG 897 s.v. πυλών 1 states, “gate, esp. of the large, impressive gateways at the entrance of temples and palaces…of the entrances of the heavenly Jerusalem…οἱ πυλῶνες αὐτῆς οὐ μὴ κλεισθῶσιν its entrances shall never be shut Rv 21:25; cp. vss. 12ab, 13abcd, 15, 21ab; 22:14.”
  11. Revelation 21:12 tn Grk “of the sons of Israel.” The translation “nation of Israel” is given in L&N 11.58.
  12. Revelation 21:12 tn Grk “on them”; the referent (the gates) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  13. Revelation 21:13 tn The words “There are” have been supplied to make a complete English sentence. This is a continuation of the previous sentence, a lengthy and complicated one in Greek.
  14. Revelation 21:13 tn The word “side” has been supplied four times in this verse for clarity.
  15. Revelation 21:14 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  16. Revelation 21:15 tn Grk “the one”; the referent (the angel of v. 9) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  17. Revelation 21:16 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the somewhat parenthetical nature of the description of the city.
  18. Revelation 21:16 tn Or “the city lies square.” On κεῖμαι (keimai) in this context, BDAG 537 s.v. 2 states, “lie, of things…ἡ πόλις τετράγωνος κεῖται is laid out as a square Rv 21:16.”
  19. Revelation 21:16 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  20. Revelation 21:16 tn Grk “with the rod”; the word “measuring” is supplied from the description in v. 15.
  21. Revelation 21:16 tn Or “2,200 kilometers,” Grk “12,000 stades.” A stade was a measure of length about 607 ft (185 m).
  22. Revelation 21:17 tn Here the measurement was kept in cubits in the translation because of the possible symbolic significance of the number 144 (12 times 12). This is about 216 ft (65 m).
  23. Revelation 21:17 tn Here L&N 81.1 translate the phrase μέτρον ἀνθρώπου, ὅ ἐστιν ἀγγέλου (metron anthrōpou, ho estin angelou) “‘the unit of measurement used by a person, that is, by an angel’ Re 21:17.” It is more likely that μέτρον is an accusative of respect or reference.
  24. Revelation 21:18 tn Grk “and its wall”; the referent of the pronoun (the city) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  25. Revelation 21:18 tn The phrase ἡ ἐνδώμησις τοῦ τείχους (hē endōmēsis tou teichous) is difficult to translate precisely. BDAG 334 s.v. ἐνδώμησις states, “primary mng. ‘interior structure’; in our lit. prob.=construction, hence material τοῦ τείχους Rv 21:18.” The phrase could then be translated, “the foundation of the city wall was jasper” or “the material used for the wall of the city was jasper.” The latter alternative has been used in the translation because the text goes on to discuss the foundation in 21:19 (using the term θεμέλιος [themelios]), which is somewhat redundant if the foundation is mentioned here.
  26. Revelation 21:18 tn Or “transparent crystal.” See L&N 6.222, which notes the emphasis is on transparency here. The same Greek word, καθαρός (katharos), means both “pure” (referring to the gold) and “transparent” (referring to the glass).
  27. Revelation 21:19 tn The perfect participle here has been translated as an intensive (resultative) perfect.
  28. Revelation 21:19 sn Agate (also called chalcedony) is a semiprecious stone usually milky or gray in color (L&N 2.32).
  29. Revelation 21:20 sn Onyx (also called sardonyx) is a semiprecious stone that comes in various colors (L&N 2.35).
  30. Revelation 21:20 sn Carnelian is a semiprecious gemstone, usually red in color (L&N 2.36).
  31. Revelation 21:20 sn Chrysolite refers to either quartz or topaz, golden yellow in color (L&N 2.37).
  32. Revelation 21:20 sn Beryl is a semiprecious stone, usually blue-green or green in color (L&N 2.38).
  33. Revelation 21:20 sn Chrysoprase is a greenish type of quartz (L&N 2.40).
  34. Revelation 21:20 sn Jacinth is a semiprecious stone, probably blue in color (also called “hyacinth,” but that translation is not used here because of possible confusion with the flower of the same name). See L&N 2.41.
  35. Revelation 21:21 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  36. Revelation 21:21 tn The Greek word πλατεῖα (plateia) refers to a major (broad) street (L&N 1.103).
  37. Revelation 21:22 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic. Every verse from here to the end of this chapter begins with καί in Greek, but due to differences between Greek and contemporary English style, these have not been translated.
  38. Revelation 21:22 tn On this word BDAG 755 s.v. παντοκράτωρ states, “the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One) only of God…(ὁ) κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ π.…Rv 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7; 21:22.”
  39. Revelation 21:24 tn Or “the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
  40. Revelation 21:24 tn Or “splendor”; Grk “glory.”
  41. Revelation 21:25 tn On the translation “during the day” see BDAG 436 s.v. ἡμέρα 1.a, “But also, as in Thu. et al., of time within which someth. occurs, ἡμέρας during the day Rv 21:25.”
  42. Revelation 21:25 tn The Greek connective γάρ (gar) most often expresses some sort of causal connection. However, in this context there is no causal force to the second phrase; γάρ simply expresses continuation or connection. Because of this it has been translated as “and.” See BDAG 189-90 s.v. 2.
  43. Revelation 21:25 tn The clause has virtually the force of a parenthetical comment.
  44. Revelation 21:26 tn Grk “honor,” but BDAG 1005 s.v. τιμή 2.b states, “An outstanding feature of the use of τ., as already shown in several passages, is its combination w. δόξα…of earthly possessions τὴν δόξαν καὶ τὴν τιμὴν τῶν ἐθνῶν Rv 21:26 (τιμή concr.=an object of value: Ezk 22:25).”
  45. Revelation 21:26 tn Or “the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
  46. Revelation 21:27 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
  47. Revelation 21:27 tn Here BDAG 552 s.v. κοινός 2 states, “pert. to being of little value because of being common, common, ordinary, profane…b. specifically, of that which is ceremonially impure: Rv 21:27.”
  48. Revelation 21:27 tn Or “what is abhorrent”; Grk “who practices abominations.”
  49. Revelation 21:27 tn Grk “practicing abomination or falsehood.” Because of the way βδέλυγμα (bdelugma) has been translated (“does what is detestable”) it was necessary to repeat the idea from the participle ποιῶν (poiōn, “practices”) before the term “falsehood.” On this term, BDAG 1097 s.v. ψεῦδος states, “ποιεῖν ψεῦδος practice (the things that go with) falsehood Rv 21:27; 22:15.” Cf. Rev 3:9.
  50. Revelation 21:27 tn Grk “those who are written”; the word “names” is implied.
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Revelation 21:9-27
World English Bible

9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were loaded with the seven last plagues came, and he spoke with me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the wife, the Lamb’s bride.” 10 He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 having a great and high wall; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. 13 On the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. 15 He who spoke with me had for a measure a golden reed to measure the city, its gates, and its walls. 16 The city is square, and its length is as great as its width. He measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand twelve stadia.[a] Its length, width, and height are equal. 17 Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits,[b] by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18 The construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure glass. 19 The foundations of the city’s wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire;[c] the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; and the twelfth, amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each one of the gates was made of one pearl. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. 23 The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 25 Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there), 26 and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it so that they may enter. 27 There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

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Footnotes

  1. 21:16 12,012 stadia = or 2,221 kilometers or 1,380 miles. TR reads 12,000 stadia instead of 12,012 stadia.
  2. 21:17 144 cubits is about 65.8 meters or 216 feet
  3. 21:19 or, lapis lazuli
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