Rev 21:11, 18, 21 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 11. Having the glory of God . A glory or splendour such as became the dwelling-place of God. The nature of that splendour is described in the following verses. And her light . In it is said that "the glory of God did lighten it." That is, it was made light by the visible symbol of the Deity--the Shekinah. ; . The word here rendered light --φωστηρ--occurs nowhere else in the New Testament except in . It means, properly, a light, a light-giver, and, in profane writers, means commonly a window . It is used here to denote the brightness or shining of the Divine glory, as supplying the place of the sun, or of a window. Like unto a stone most precious . A stone of the richest or most costly nature. Even like a jasper stone . On the jasper , . It is used there for the same purpose as here, to illustrate the majesty and glory of God. Clear as crystal . Pellucid or resplendent like crystal. There are various kinds of jasper--as red, yellow, and brown, brownish yellow, etc. The stone is essentially a quartz, and the word crystal here is used to show that the form of it referred to by John was clear and bright. (m) "glory of God"

Revelation of John 21:11

Verse 11. Having the glory of God. A glory or splendour such as became the dwelling-place of God. The nature of that splendour is described in the following verses.

And her light. In Rev 21:23 it is said that "the glory of God did lighten it." That is, it was made light by the visible symbol of the Deity--the Shekinah. Lk 2:9; Acts 9:3. The word here rendered light--φωστηρ--occurs nowhere else in the New Testament except in Php 2:15. It means, properly, a light, a light-giver, and, in profane writers, means commonly a window. It is used here to denote the brightness or shining of the Divine glory, as supplying the place of the sun, or of a window.

Like unto a stone most precious. A stone of the richest or most costly nature.

Even like a jasper stone. On the jasper, Rev 4:3. It is used there for the same purpose as here, to illustrate the majesty and glory of God.

Clear as crystal. Pellucid or resplendent like crystal. There are various kinds of jasper--as red, yellow, and brown, brownish yellow, etc. The stone is essentially a quartz, and the word crystal here is used to show that the form of it referred to by John was clear and bright.

(m) "glory of God" Isa 60:1,2

Revelation of John 21:18

Verse 18. And the building of the wall of it. The material of which the wall was composed. This means the wall above the foundation, for that was composed of twelve rows of precious stones, Rev 21:14, 19-20. The height of the foundation is not stated, but the entire wall above was composed of jasper.

Was of jasper. Rev 4:3. Of course, this cannot be taken literally; and an attempt to explain all this literally would show that that method of interpreting the Apocalypse is impracticable.

And the city was pure gold. The material of which the edifices were composed.

Like unto clear glass. The word rendered glass in this place-- υαλος--occurs in the New Testament only here and in Rev 21:21. It means, properly, "anything transparent like water;" as, for example, any transparent stone or gem, or as rock-salt, crystal, glass.--Rob. Lex. Here the meaning is, that the golden city would be so bright and burnished that it would seem to be glass reflecting the sunbeams. Would the appearance of a city as the sun is setting, when the reflection of its beams from thousands of panes of glass gives it the appearance of burnished gold, represent the idea here? If we were to suppose a city made entirely of glass, and the setting sunbeams falling on it, it might convey the idea represented here. It is certain that, as nothing could be more magnificent, so nothing could more beautifully combine the two ideas referred to here--that of gold and glass. Perhaps the reflection of the sunbeams from the "Crystal Palace," erected for the late "industrial exhibition" in London, would convey a better idea of what is intended to be represented here than anything which our world has furnished. The following description from one who was an eye-witness, drawn up by him at the time, and without any reference to this passage, and furnished at my request, will supply a better illustration of the passage before us than any description which I could give: "Seen as the morning vapours rolled around its base--its far-stretching roofs, rising one above another, and its great transept, majestically arched, soaring out of the envelope of clouds--its pillars, window-bars, and pinnacles, looked literally like a castle in the air; like some palace, such as one reads of in idle tales of Arabian enchantment, having about it all the ethereal softness of a dream. Looked at from a distance at noon, when the sunbeams came pouring upon the terraced and vaulted roof, it resembles a regal palace of silver, built for some Eastern prince; when the sun at eventide sheds on its sides his parting rays, the edifice is transformed into a temple of gold and rubies; and in the calm hours of night, when the moon walketh in her brightness, the immense surface of glass which the building presents looks like a sea, or like throwing back in flickering smile the radiant glances of the queen of heaven."

Revelation of John 21:21

Verse 21. And the twelve gates. Rev 21:12.

Were twelve pearls. Rev 17:4; Mt 13:46.

Every several gate was of one pearl. Each gate. Of course, this is not to be understood literally. The idea is that of ornament and beauty, and nothing could give a more striking view of the magnificence of the future abode of the saints.

And the street of the city was pure gold. Was paved with gold; that is, all the vacant space that was not occupied with buildings was of pure gold. Rev 21:18.