Revelation 21:23
What does Revelation 21:23 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 21:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 21:23 means
The city needs no sun or moon; God’s glory provides its light, and the Lamb is its lamp. This is perpetual day—life sustained and gladdened by God Himself. The Lamb’s role as lamp means that the light of God reaches the city through Jesus, the mediator and revealer. No created light is required; the Creator’s radiance suffices. Light signifies truth, purity, joy, and guidance. Here, illumination is not merely physical but spiritual and relational: the redeemed live by, in, and for the radiance of God as made known in the Lamb.
Revelation 21:23 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 · 2000And the city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine upon it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamp thereof is the Lamb.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine upon it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamp thereof is the Lamb.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the town has no need of the sun, or of the moon, to give it light: for the glory of God did make it light, and the light of it is the Lamb.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the city hath no need of the sun, nor of the moon, that they may shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamp of it <FI>is<Fi> the Lamb;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the city hath no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it. For the glory of God hath enlightened it: and the Lamb is the lamp thereof.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon, that they should shine for it; for the glory ofGod has enlightened it, and the lamp thereof [is] the Lamb.
Context
Building on the absence of a temple, this verse shows that even the city’s illumination is God-centered and Christ-mediated. The imagery sets up the next two verses (24–25), which picture nations and kings walking by this light and the city’s gates standing open. The flow presents the effects of divine light: movement toward God, honor brought in, and unthreatened security.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 21:11
having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal:
- Matthew 16:27
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds.
- Isaiah 2:21
to go into the caverns of the rocks, and into the clefts of the ragged rocks, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake mightily the earth.
- Luke 2:32
A light for revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel.
- Acts 22:11
And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me I came into Damascus.
- Isaiah 60:19
The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but Jehovah will be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
Sermon ideas from Revelation 21:23
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What Revelation 21:23 teaches us about new creation
What Revelation 21:23 teaches us about god dwelling with man
What Revelation 21:23 teaches us about end of death and sorrow
What Revelation 21:23 teaches us about eternal worship
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