Keraia
Revelation 21

Revelation 21:16

The New Jerusalem · Revelation 21:9–27
Read Revelation 21

Translations

Modern
The city lies foursquare, with its width the same as its length. And he measured the city with the rod, and all its dimensions were equal—12,000 stadia in length and width and height.
Traditional
And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
Literal
And the city lies foursquare, and its length the same as also the breadth. And he measured the city with the reed at twelve thousand stadia. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
Latin
Et civitas in quadro posita est, et longitudo ejus tanta est quanta et latitudo: et mensus est civitatem de arundine aurea per stadia duodecim millia: et longitudo, et altitudo, et latitudo ejus æqualia sunt.

Original

Greek
English
The city lies foursquare, with its width the same as its length. And he measured the city with the rod, and all its dimensions were equal—12,000 stadia in length and width and height.

Notes

Revelation 21:16

The city is a perfect cube. Each side measures 2253 kilometers (Greek 12,000 stadia). The number 12,000 symbolically represents the people of God (see “Symbolic Numbers” Theme Note).

Revelation 21:15–17

measure the city: Measuring sets accepted boundaries. This contrasts with the unmeasured section of the temple (see Revelation 11:2 and Ezekiel 40:3–42:20).

Revelation 21:1–22:9

The final scenes of the new heaven and earth show a new community and home for God's people, created and given by God. These scenes uplift persecuted Christians. John shares his main vision (Revelation 21:1–8) and expands on it in two parts:

  1. In Revelation 21:9–27, he describes the new Jerusalem as a place of holy perfection;

  2. in Revelation 22:1–5, he portrays the new Jerusalem as the ultimate garden of Eden, which Adam and Eve could have experienced if they had not sinned.

Measurements

  • equal—12,000 stadia: About 1,380 mi (2,220 km)

Glossary

Abomination Beauty Book of Revelation Bride of Christ Heaven Jasper Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven Land Millennium New Creation, New Creature New Jerusalem Temple Weights and Measures Worship

Topics

Cities: Built: Often of a Square Form Furlong: One-Eighth of a Mile Measures: Distances Measured by Rods and Lines Reed used As a Measuring Device (Six Cubits) Select Readings: The New Heaven and the New Earth