The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Parallel translations
- WEB The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
- KJV And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
- NKJV Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
- NASB And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
- NLT The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
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's wall rests on twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The church is built on the apostolic witness to Christ.
Overview
The apostolic foundations recall Paul's teaching that the church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). Together with the tribal names on the gates, this unites Old and New Testament believers into one people. The Lamb stands at the center, for the entire structure depends on him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Heb 11:10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
- Eph 2:20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
- Isa 54:11“O afflicted city, lashed by storms, without solace, surely I will set your stones in antimony and lay your foundations with sapphires.
- Rev 21:19–21The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
- Matt 10:2–4These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
- Jude 1:17But you, beloved, remember what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ
- Eph 3:5which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
- Matt 16:18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
- Rev 18:20Rejoice over her, O heaven, O saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced for you His judgment against her.
- 1 Cor 3:10–11By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds.
- Gal 2:9And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.
- Eph 4:11And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 21:14 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
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