Devine Scripture

Revelation 21:4

What does Revelation 21:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 21:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 21:4 means

God personally removes every grief: He wipes away every tear, ends death, and abolishes mourning, crying, and pain. The old order—“the first things”—has passed. This is not mere improvement but a decisive end to all effects of sin and curse. The intimacy of God wiping tears underscores His tender, direct care. The great enemies of human life—death and sorrow—are not just restrained; they are gone. In this holy city, nothing remains to threaten joy or fracture fellowship. The redeemed will live in unhindered wholeness, with no shadow to dim the light of God’s presence.

Revelation 21:4 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 · 2000

and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he will put an end to all their weeping; and there will be no more death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain; for the first things have come to an end.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and the death shall not be any more, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor shall there be any more pain, because the first things did go away.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and death shall be no more. Nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former things are passed away.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall not exist any more, nor grief, nor cry, nor distress shall exist any more, for the former things have passed away.

Context

These promises flow naturally from the proclamation that God dwells with His people. If He is truly among them, then all causes of separation and pain must cease. The statement sets the emotional tone for the rest of the chapter: hope made tangible. Next, the One on the throne speaks directly, sealing the vision’s certainty and emphasizing that this total renewal is His work. Verses 5–8 will add divine authority, offer the water of life, and define who inherits this world—and who does not.

v.3And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and betheir God:

v.4This passage

v.5And he that sitteth on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he saith, Write: for these words are faithful and true.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Jeremiah 31:13

    Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

  • Matthew 24:35

    Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

  • Isaiah 65:18

    But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

  • Revelation 21:1

    And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more.

  • Hosea 13:14

    I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from death: O death, where are thy plagues? O Sheol, where is thy destruction? repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

  • Isaiah 51:11

    And the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Sermon ideas from Revelation 21:4

Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.

  • What Revelation 21:4 teaches us about new creation

  • What Revelation 21:4 teaches us about god dwelling with man

  • What Revelation 21:4 teaches us about end of death and sorrow

  • What Revelation 21:4 teaches us about eternal worship

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