Bible Strands
Revelation 21:11
shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper, as clear as crystal.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — An angel addresses John on a high mountain, revealing the holy city Jerusalem descending from heaven.
The words — ἔχουσαν (echousan) means having, and δόξαν (doxan) means glory, describing the city's possession of divine radiance. φωστήρ (phōstēr) translates to radiance, specifying the nature of that light.
The thread — The imagery of crystal-clear light and divine illumination recurs in Revelation 4:6, 22:1, and 22:5.
Why it lands — The text states the city possesses God's glory and shines like clear crystal, requiring the reader to recognize that divine presence replaces all earthly light sources.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Cross-references
- Revelation 4:6 And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back.
- Revelation 22:5 There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.
- Revelation 22:1 Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
- Revelation 21:18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city itself of pure gold, as pure as glass.
- Isaiah 60:19 No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor.
- Ezekiel 1:26 Above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne with the appearance of sapphire, and on the throne high above was a figure like that of a man.
- Revelation 4:3 The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne.
- Job 28:17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare to it, nor jewels of fine gold be exchanged for it.
- Isaiah 4:5 Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud of smoke by day and a glowing flame of fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a canopy,
- Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.