New International Version (©2011)
It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.New Living Translation (©2007)
It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone--like jasper as clear as crystal. English Standard Version (©2001)
having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. New American Standard Bible (©1995)
having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
arrayed with God's glory. Her radiance was like a very precious stone, like a jasper stone, bright as crystal. International Standard Version (©2012)
The glory of God was its radiance, and its light was like a valuable gem, like jasper, as clear as crystal. NET Bible (©2006)
The city possesses the glory of God; its brilliance is like a precious jewel, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper. Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
And it had the glory of God and its light was as the likeness of precious stones, like Jasper red quartz, as the appearance of crystal. GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
It had the glory of God. Its light was like a valuable gem, like gray quartz, as clear as crystal. King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Having the glory of God: and its radiance was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; American King James Version
Having the glory of God: and her light was like to a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; American Standard Version
having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal: Douay-Rheims Bible
Having the glory of God, and the light thereof was like to a precious stone, as to the jasper stone, even as crystal. Darby Bible Translation
having the glory of God. Her shining was like a most precious stone, as a crystal-like jasper stone; English Revised Version
having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal: Webster's Bible Translation
Having the glory of God: and her light was like to a stone most precious, even like a jasper-stone, clear as crystal; Weymouth New Testament
and bringing with it the glory of God. It shone with a radiance like that of a very precious stone--such as a jasper, bright and transparent. World English Bible
having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it was a jasper stone, clear as crystal; Young's Literal Translation
having the glory of God, and her light is like a stone most precious, as a jasper stone clear as crystal, |
| Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 21:9-21 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 relation to Christ; which shows that the happiness of heaven consists in intercourse with God, and in conformity to him. The change of emblems from a bride to a city, shows that we are only to take general ideas from this description. The wall is for security. Heaven is a safe state; those who are there, are separated and secured from all evils and enemies. This city is vast; here is room for all the people of God. The foundation of the wall; the promise and power of God, and the purchase of Christ, are the strong foundations of the safety and happiness of the church. These foundations are set forth by twelve sorts of precious stones, denoting the variety and excellence of the doctrines of the gospel, or of the graces of the Holy Spirit, or the personal excellences of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heaven has gates; there is a free admission to all that are sanctified; they shall not find themselves shut out. These gates were all of pearls. Christ is the Pearl of great price, and he is our Way to God. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. The saints in heaven tread gold under foot. The saints are there at rest, yet it is not a state of sleep and idleness; they have communion, not only with God, but with one another. All these glories but faintly represent heaven.
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 11. - Having the glory of God. That is, the abiding presence of God, as the Shechinah (cf. Exodus 40:34; 1 Kings 8:11. Cf. also ver. 3, supra). And her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; as it were a jasper stone (Revised Version). This light is again alluded to in ver. 23. The jasper probably represents the modern diamond (see on Revelation 4:3). The brilliant light which illumines the city is the characteristic of "him that sat on the throne" (Revelation 4:3).
Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHaving the glory of God,.... Not only upon their souls, which will lie in the glorious robe of Christ's righteousness, the bride's wedding garment being on them, in the perfect holiness which will be in them, and in that complete knowledge of all spiritual and heavenly things they will be possessed of, they will have a glory revealed in them; but upon their bodies also, for this city, the church, the bride of Christ, will consist only of risen and changed saints, whose bodies will be freed from all dishonour; deformity, diseases, and imperfections, and will be made like unto Christ's glorious body, and will shine like the sun in the kingdom of God. Moreover, the presence of God may be intended by his glory, as the Shechinah, or the divine majesty of God in the tabernacle and temple was called, Exodus 40:35 1 Kings 8:11 for the glorious presence of God will now be in this church state, which will cast a lustre on all that are in it; for if the face of Moses, and of Stephen, shone so bright and glorious, through the presence of God with them; see 2 Corinthians 3:7 how much more gloriously will the saints shine in this state, when they shall enjoy the presence of God in a far more illustrious manner? to which may be added, that Jesus Christ, who is the brightness of his Father's glory, will now appear in that, and in his own, and in the glory of his angels; and all the saints will appear with him in glory; and to see them in all this glory is a glorious sight indeed! And her light was like unto a stone most precious; by her "light" is not meant the light she will have in her, though that will be exceeding great, but the fountain of it from whence it comes; that which holds it forth to her, and supplies her with it: the word signifies an illuminator, and is used of the ministers of the Gospel, that hold forth the word of life and light to others, Philippians 2:15 but here it intends Christ, who is the sun of righteousness, the church's light or enlightener, Revelation 21:23 not with the light of nature, as he enlightens every man, nor with the light of grace, with which the saints are enlightened by him in the present state of things, by his Spirit, through the word and ordinances, but with the light of glory: and he is comparable to the most precious stone; he is more precious than rubies; he is so now to them that believe, in his person, offices, grace, and righteousness, and will be more so in his light and glory in the new Jerusalem state: even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal: God the Father, who sits on the throne, is said to be to look upon like a "jasper"; See Gill on Revelation 4:2; and here Christ, the illuminator of his church, is said to be like one, because of the exceeding brightness of this stone, and the durableness of it, expressive of the perpetuity of Christ, as the light of his church and people; he is the everlasting light of it, Isaiah 60:19 and he is compared to the crystallising "jasper". There is one sort which is called "Aerizusa", like to air (c), and another "Crystallizusa" (d), clear as crystal. So Pliny speaks (e) of a white "jasper" called "Astrios", and which, he says, is crystallo propinquans, "near to crystal", found in India, and on the shores of Pallene. To this Christ is like, because he is light itself, and in him is no darkness at all, and will cause an everlasting day; and such a clear and bright state of things, as that there will be no night, nor any more darkness, nothing but everlasting joy, peace, prosperity, and happiness; there seems to be some reference to Isaiah 60:1. (c) Ruaeus de Gemmis, l. 2. c. 1.((d) Dioscorides, l. 5. c. 160. (e) Nat. Hist. l. 37. c. 9.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary11. 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 [2743]Php 2:15, the only other passage where it occurs. The "and" before "her light' is omitted in A, B, and Vulgate. even like—Greek, "as it were." jasper—representing watery crystalline brightness.
Revelation 21:11 Parallel Commentaries Revelation 21:11 NIV
Revelation 21:11 NLT
Revelation 21:11 ESV
Revelation 21:11 NASB
Revelation 21:11 KJV Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible |
