Lexical Summary endomésis: Building, construction, inner structure Original Word: ἐνδόμησις Strong's Exhaustive Concordance building, structureFrom a compound of en and a derivative of the base of demos; a housing in (residence), i.e. Structure -- building. see GREEK en see GREEK demos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originvariant reading for endómésis, q.v. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1739: ἐνδόμησιςἐνδόμησις (ἐνδομέω to build in), and ἐνδώμησις T Tr WH ((see WH's Appendix, p. 152) δωμάω to build), ἐνδομησεως, ἡ, that which is built in (German Einbau): τοῦ τείχους, the material built into the wall, i. e. of which the wall was composed, Revelation 21:18; elsewhere only in Josephus, Antiquities 15, 9, 6, of a mole built into the sea to form a breakwater and so construct a harbor. STRONGS NT 1739: ἐνδώμησιςἐνδώμησις, see ἐνδόμησις. Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope ἐνδώμησις (endomēsis) denotes ornate inlay work, the decorative construction that embeds precious material within a wall or surface. Its single New Testament use appears in Revelation 21:18, describing the wall of the New Jerusalem. Biblical Setting Revelation 21:18: “The wall was made of jasper, and the city itself was pure gold, as pure as glass.” John’s description employs ἐνδώμησις to emphasize that the wall is not merely faced with jasper but intrinsically fashioned—“in-laid”—with it. The vision highlights the completed, perfected dwelling of God with His people (Revelation 21:3), contrasting earthly, transient structures with the eternal city “whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Imagery and Literary Function 1. Permanence and Integrity: Inlaying stone into a wall suggests that beauty and strength are fused; holiness is not superficial but intrinsic to the heavenly city. Historical and Cultural Background First-century Greco-Roman architecture prized opus sectile—cut-stone inlay—found in palaces and temples. Jewish readers, however, would recall Solomon’s temple, whose cedar panels were overlaid with gold and adorned with engraved cherubim and flora (1 Kings 6). John merges these traditions, portraying an eschatological sanctuary that surpasses both. Old Testament Foreshadowing • Genesis 2:11-12: Eden’s rivers encircle lands rich in gold and precious stones, anticipating a restored paradise. Theological Significance 1. Holiness Made Visible: The city’s very fabric proclaims God’s holiness. Just as the high priest’s breastpiece bore stones representing Israel (Exodus 28:21), the wall’s inlay proclaims that redeemed humanity is permanently set within God’s dwelling. Pastoral and Devotional Implications • Spiritual Formation: Just as jasper is built into the wall, Christ intends His character to be built into the believer (Ephesians 2:20-22). Sanctification is more than an overlay; it is an in-wrought transformation. Related Biblical Themes Building imagery—Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 Precious stones—Exodus 28:17-21; Revelation 4:3 Divine light—Psalm 36:9; John 8:12; Revelation 22:5 See Also Strong’s Greek 1731 (endoxos, “glorious”) for parallel ideas of intrinsic glory; Strong’s Greek 2311 (themelioō, “to lay a foundation”) for construction metaphors applied to Christian life. ἐνδώμησις, though occurring only once, richly contributes to the tapestry of biblical revelation, portraying the ultimate, indestructible beauty God weaves into His eternal dwelling and His redeemed people. Forms and Transliterations ενδόμησις ένδον ενδωμησις ἐνδώμησις endomesis endōmēsis endṓmesis endṓmēsisLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Revelation 21:18 N-NFSGRK: καὶ ἡ ἐνδώμησις τοῦ τείχους KJV: And the building of the wall of it INT: And the structure of the wall |
    |