Keraia
Revelation 21

Revelation 21:23

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

Translations

Modern
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.
Traditional
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Literal
And the city has no need of the sun, nor of the moon, that they may shine in it; for the glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
Latin
Et civitas non eget sole neque luna ut luceant in ea, nam claritas Dei illuminavit eam, et lucerna ejus est Agnus.

Original

Greek
English
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.

Notes

Revelation 21:23

  • The city's vitality, energy, and life come from the glory of God and the Lamb, not from institutions or physical sources of power and light. The sun and moon were part of the first creation (Genesis 1:14–19; see Isaiah 60:19–20).

  • The Lamb is its lamp: Jesus is the light of the world (see John 8:12; 9:5; 12:35–36).

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.

Glossary

Abomination Beauty Book of Revelation Bride of Christ Heaven Isaiah, Book of Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven Land Millennium Morning Star Nations New Creation, New Creature New Jerusalem Worship

Topics

Church: Christ, Head of Church: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Glory of God: Enlightens God's People God: Glory of God's Glory Heaven: God's Dwelling Place Heaven: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Jesus, the Christ: Names, Appellations, and Titles of: Lamb Lamb of God: An Name of Jesus Lamp: Figurative Light: Figurative and Symbolical Moon: No Light of, in Heaven Moon: Shining of Select Readings: The New Heaven and the New Earth Sun: Does not Shine in Heaven The Glory of God: Enlightens the Church