The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
Parallel translations
- WEB The construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure glass.
- KJV And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
- BSB The wall was made of jasper, and the city itself of pure gold, as pure as glass.
- NASB The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
- NLT The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass.
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 wall is built of jasper and the city of pure gold, clear as glass. The city radiates surpassing purity and glory.
Overview
Jasper recalls the appearance of God's glory (4:3) and v. 11, tying the city's beauty to God's own splendor. Gold 'like pure glass' conveys a transparency and purity beyond anything earthly. The imagery presses the limits of language to express a holiness and worth that reflect God himself.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Rev 21:11having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
- Rev 21:21The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each one of the gates was made of one pearl. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
- Rev 21:19The foundations of the city’s wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;
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 21:18 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.