Revelation 21:11
What does Revelation 21:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 21:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 21:11 means
The city shines with the very “glory of God.” Its brilliance, likened to jasper clear as crystal, suggests radiant purity and transparency. This is not ordinary light; God’s own presence illuminates and beautifies the whole. The comparison to precious stone communicates value, durability, and perfection. Nothing is opaque or shadowed; everything reflects divine splendor. The holiness that once excluded sinners now adorns a redeemed people made fit for God’s presence. The city is not self-lit; it radiates because God is there. Beauty here is the visible expression of God’s character pervading the entire community.
Revelation 21:11 in context
Revelation 21 — A New Heaven and a New Earth
John's final vision. The first heaven and earth pass away, and the New Jerusalem comes down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. God himself dwells with his people; he wipes away every tear; there is no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain. The former things are passed away. The light of the city is the glory of God; its lamp is the Lamb. The story that began in the garden of Genesis ends in the city of Revelation, and the gates are never shut.
- New creation
- God dwelling with man
- End of death and sorrow
- Eternal worship
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal:
KJV
King James Version · 1611Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Having the glory of God: and her light was like a stone of great price, a jasper stone, clear as glass:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862having the glory of God, and her light <FI>is<Fi> like a stone most precious, as a jasper stone clear as crystal,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Having the glory of God, and the light thereof was like to a precious stone, as to the jasper stone even as crystal.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890having the glory ofGod. Her shining [was] like a most precious stone, as a crystal-like jasper stone;
Context
Having set the vantage point, John first notes the city’s overall radiance before turning to particulars. The next verses (12–14) will describe the walls, gates, angels, and the inscribed names of the twelve tribes and the twelve apostles. This shift from light to structure shows that God’s glory orders the city’s life—its access points, security, and identity—rooted in His covenant dealings with Israel and the apostolic witness to the Lamb.
v.10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
v.11This passage
v.12having a wall great and high; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee.
- Ezekiel 28:13
Thou wast in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, the topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was in thee; in the day that thou wast created they were prepared.
- Ezekiel 48:35
It shall be eighteen thousand reeds round about: and the name of the city from that day shall be, Jehovah is there.
- Revelation 15:8
And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and none was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels should be finished.
- Revelation 22:5
And there shall be night no more; and they need no light of lamp, neither light of sun; for the Lord God shall give them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
- Isaiah 4:5
And Jehovah will create over the whole habitation of mount Zion, and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory shall be spread a covering.
Sermon ideas from Revelation 21:11
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What Revelation 21:11 teaches us about new creation
What Revelation 21:11 teaches us about god dwelling with man
What Revelation 21:11 teaches us about end of death and sorrow
What Revelation 21:11 teaches us about eternal worship
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Revelation 21
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Revelation 21.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Adoption as Sons
God’s plan for us includes adoption into his family, bringing us from spiritual orphanhood to beloved children.
Topic
Bible Verses About Glorification
Glorification is the final stage of salvation, where believers receive perfect, incorruptible bodies and are made completely like Christ.
Topic
Bible Verses About God as Light
Exploring how God reveals Himself as light, symbolizing His holiness, truth, and presence in scripture
What the Bible says about…
Verses for this moment
Verses for
Bible Verses for the Fear of Death
When you're afraid to die — what scripture promises about the last enemy.
Verses for
Bible Verses for Grief After Losing Someone You Love
When the room is empty — verses that grieve with you, not around you.
Verses for
Bible Verses for Grief After a Miscarriage
A holy ache the world rarely names — scripture for the weight you're carrying.