Revelation 21:12

Revelation 21:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And had a wall great and high, and had 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:
• New International Version (NIV)It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
• English Standard Version (ESV)It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed—
• New King James Version (NKJV)Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

Context of Revelation 21:12

10Then he carried me away in the Ruach to a great and high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11having the glory of God—her radiance like a most precious stone, like a jasper, sparkling like crystal. She had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and above the gates twelve angels. On the gates were inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of Bnei-Yisrael— 13three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve emissaries of the Lamb.

Revelation 21:12 word by word

ἔχουσα τεῖχος μέγα καὶ ὑψηλόν, ἔχουσα πυλῶνας δώδεκα καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖς πυλῶσιν ἀγγέλους δώδεκα, καὶ ὀνόματα ἐπιγεγραμμένα, ἅ ἐστιν τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν δώδεκα φυλῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andτεte · and/bothG5037
• hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• a wallτεῖχοςteichos · wallG5038
• greatμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• highὑψηλόςhupsēlos · highG5308
• twelveδώδεκαdōdeka · twelveG1427
• gatesπυλώνpulōn · gateG4440
• atἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• angelsἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
• namesὄνομαonoma · nameG3686
• written thereonἐπιγράφωepigraphō · to write onG1924
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• tribesφυλήphulē · tribeG5443
• of the childrenυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
• of IsraelἸσραήλIsraēl · IsraelG2474

Cross-references for Revelation 21:12

• Revelation 21:17He also measured its wall—144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement.
• Ezra 9:9Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has extended lovingkindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, reviving us in order to restore the House of our God, to raise up its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
• Nehemiah 12:27At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought out Levites from all their places to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with joy and thanksgiving, and songs with cymbals, harps and lyres.
• Psalms 51:18For You would not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it, nor be pleased by burnt offerings.
• Psalms 122:7May there be shalom within your walls— quietness within your palaces.”
• Revelation 21:21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls—each of the gates was from a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass.
• Isaiah 54:12make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones.
• Isaiah 60:18No more will violence be heard in your land, devastation nor destruction within your borders. But you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.
• Ezekiel 48:31will be the gates of the city named after of the tribes of Israel—three gates northward—the Reuben Gate, one; the Judah Gate, one; the Levi Gate, one.
• Matthew 18:10“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father in heaven.
• Luke 15:10In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
• Luke 16:22“It happened that the poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. Then the rich man also died and was buried.
• Hebrews 1:14Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out for service to those about to inherit salvation?
• Revelation 7:4Now I heard the number of those marked with the seal: 144,000 from every tribe of Bnei-Yisrael—
• Numbers 2:2Let each man encamp under his own standard among the banners of their ancestral house at an appropriate distance around the Tent of Meeting.
• Acts 26:7It is the promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jewish people, O King!

Commentaries on Revelation 21:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Had a wall great and high - An almighty defense. Twelve gates - A gate for every tribe of Israel, in the vicinity of which gate that tribe dwelt; so that in coming in and going out they did not mix with each other. This description of the city is partly taken from Ezekiel 48:30-35. In Synopsis Sohar, p. 115, n. 27, it is said: "In the palace of the world to come there are twelve gates, each of which is inscribed with one of the twelve tribes, as that of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12And had a wall great and high - Ancient cities were always surrounded with walls for protection, and John represents this as enclosed in the usual manner. The word “great” means that it was thick and strong. Its height also is particularly noticed, for it was unusual. See Revelation 21:16. And had twelve gates - Three on each side. The number of the gates correspond to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and to the number of the apostles…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. 12-14In this vision, the twelve tribes of Israel symbolize God's redeemed people (see Revelation 7:4–8; see also Romans 9:6–7). The twelve apostles of the Lamb form the foundation for this community of God's redeemed. Through Jesus, God has fully fulfilled his promise to bless all the families of the earth through Abraham (Genesis 12:3).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. And--A and B omit. Eze 48:30-35, has a similar description, which implies that the millennial Jerusalem shall have its exact antitype in the heavenly Jerusalem which shall descend on the finally regenerated earth. wall great and high--setting forth the security of the Church. Also, the exclusion of the ungodly. twelve angels--guards of the twelve gates: an additional emblem of perfect security, while the gates being never shut (Re 21:25) imply perfect…Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 21:12

• Church
• Gates
• Israel
• Jerusalem
• Readings, Select
• Walls, of the Cities

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Children of Israel
• Jacinth
• Tabernacle
• Unbelieving
• Wall
• Citizenship
• Heavens, New (and Earth, New)

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