having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
Parallel translations
- WEB having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
- KJV Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
- BSB shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper, as clear as crystal.
- NASB having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very valuable stone, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper.
- NLT It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The city shines with the very glory of God, radiant like a clear, precious jasper. God's own presence is its light and beauty.
Overview
The city's brilliance comes not from itself but from the indwelling glory of God (cf. v. 23). The imagery of precious, crystal-clear stone conveys purity, value, and the reflection of divine splendor. This recalls the glory that once filled the tabernacle and temple, now fully and permanently displayed among God's people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Rev 4:6Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the middle of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.
- Rev 22:5There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.
- Rev 22:1He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,
- Rev 21:18–19The construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure glass.
- Isa 60:19–20The sun will be no more your light by day; nor will the brightness of the moon give light to you, but Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.
- Ezek 1:26Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and on the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above.
- Rev 4:3that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at.
- Isa 60:1–2“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and Yahweh’s glory has risen on you.
- Isa 4:5Yahweh 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 will be a canopy.
- Rev 21:22–23I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple.
- Ezek 28:13–14You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, emerald, chrysolite, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and beryl. Gold work of tambourines and of pipes was in you. In the day that you were created they were prepared.
- Ezek 48:35It shall be eighteen thousand reeds around: and the name of the city from that day shall be, Yahweh is there.
- Job 28:17Gold and glass can’t equal it, neither shall it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
- Ezek 43:2Behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shined with his glory.
- Rev 15:8The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power. No one was able to enter into the temple, until the seven plagues of the seven angels would be finished.
- Ezek 1:22Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like the awesome crystal to look on, stretched out over their heads above.
- Ezek 28:16By the abundance of your traffic they filled your insides with violence, and you have sinned: therefore I have cast you as profane out of the mountain of God; and I have destroyed you, covering cherub, from the middle of the stones of fire.
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Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 21:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.