God’s Word Translation
Revelation 21:11
11It had the glory of God. Its light was like a valuable gem, like gray quartz, as clear as crystal.
Revelation 21:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
- New International Version (NIV)It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
- English Standard Version (ESV)having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
- New King James Version (NKJV)having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
Context of Revelation 21:11
9One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the last seven plagues came to me and said, “Come! I will show you the bride, the wife of the lamb.” 10He carried me by his power away to a large, high mountain. He showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. It had the glory of God. Its light was like a valuable gem, like gray quartz, as clear as crystal. 12It had a large, high wall with 12 gates. Twelve angels were at the gates. The names of the 12 tribes of Israel were written on the gates. 13There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
Read all of Revelation 21Revelation 21:11 word by word
ἔχουσαν τὴν δόξαν τοῦ θεοῦ. ὁ φωστὴρ αὐτῆς ὅμοιος λίθῳ τιμιωτάτῳ ὡς λίθῳ ἰάσπιδι κρυσταλλίζοντιRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Havingἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- the gloryὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the gloryδόξαdoxa · gloryG1391
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- herαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- lightφωστήρphōstēr · lightG5458
- like untoὅμοιοςhomoios · likeG3664
- a stoneλίθοςlithos · stoneG3037
- most preciousτίμιοςtimios · preciousG5093
- even likeὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- a jasperἴασπιςiaspis · jasperG2393
- clear as crystalκρυσταλλίζωkrustallizō · be clearG2929
Cross-references for Revelation 21:11
- Revelation 21:22I did not see any temple in it, because the Lord God Almighty and the lamb are its temple.
- Revelation 22:5There will be no more night, and they will not need any light from lamps or the sun because the Lord God will shine on them. They will rule as kings forever and ever.
- Isaiah 4:5The Lord will create a cloud of smoke during the day and a glowing flame of fire during the night over the whole area of Mount Zion and over the assembly. His glory will cover everything.
- Isaiah 60:1Arise! Shine! Your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has dawned.
- Ezekiel 48:35The city will measure about 31,500 feet all the way around. From then on the city’s name will be: The Lord Is There.
- Revelation 21:19The foundations of the city wall were beautifully decorated with all kinds of gems: The first foundation was gray quartz, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald,
- Ezekiel 1:26Above the dome over their heads was something that looked like a throne made of sapphire. On the throne was a figure that looked like a human.
- Ezekiel 28:13You were in Eden, God’s garden. You were covered with every kind of precious stone: red quartz, topaz, crystal, beryl, onyx, gray quartz, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald. Your settings and your sockets were made of gold when you were created.
- Revelation 21:18Its wall was made of gray quartz. The city was made of pure gold, as clear as glass.
- Revelation 4:6In front of the throne, there was something like a sea of glass as clear as crystal. In the center near the throne and around the throne were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back.
- Revelation 22:1The angel showed me a river filled with the water of life, as clear as crystal. It was flowing from the throne of God and the lamb.
- Job 28:17Neither gold nor glass can equal its value. Nor can gold ornaments, jewels, or crystal
- Ezekiel 1:22Something like a dome was spread over the heads of the living creatures. It looked like dazzling crystal.
Commentaries on Revelation 21:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Having the glory of God - Instead of the sun and moon, it has the splendor of God to enlighten it. Unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal - Among precious stones there are some even of the same species more valuable than others: for their value is in proportion to their being free from flaws, and of a good water, i.e., a uniform and brilliant transparency. A crystal is perfectly clear, the oriental jasper is a beautiful…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Having the glory of God - A glory or splendor such as became the dwelling place of God. The nature of that splendor is described in the following verses. And her light - In Revelation 21:23 it is said that “the glory of God did lighten it.” That is, it was made light by the visible symbol of the Deity - the “Shekinah.” See the Luke 2:9 note; Acts 9:3 note. The word here rendered “light” - ̀ phōstēr- occurs nowhere else in the New Testament except in…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-21Verses 9-21 God has various employments for his holy angels. Sometimes they sound the trumpet of Divine Providence, and warn a careless world; sometimes they discover things of a heavenly nature of the heirs of salvation. Those who would have clear views of heaven, must get as near to heaven as they can, on the mount of meditation and faith. The subject of the vision is the church of God in a perfect, triumphant state, shining in its lustre; glorious in…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11Like God's true people, the city's glory reflects God's glory (compare Exodus 34:29–35; 2 Corinthians 3:7–11). On earth, jasper is not transparent. But in heaven, the jasper is clear like crystal. Its perfect transparency shows God’s purity and integrity (see also Revelation 4:3; 21:11, 18).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. Having the glory of God--not merely the Shekinah-cloud, but God Himself as her glory dwelling in the midst of her. Compare the type, the earthly Jerusalem in the millennium (Zec 2:5; compare Re 21:23, below). her light--Greek, "light-giver": properly applied to the heavenly luminaries which diffuse light. Compare Note, see on Php 2:15, the only other passage where it occurs. The "and" before "her light' is omitted in A, B, and Vulgate. even…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 21:11
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Revelation 21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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