Revelation 21:16

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The angel holding a golden measuring rod describes the New Jerusalem to John during a visionary tour of the renewed creation. He measures the city’s boundaries while standing beside its gates and walls.

The words — τετράγωνος (tetragōnos) literally means “foursquare,” and μῆκος (mēkos) denotes “length.” These terms anchor the description in precise geometric measurement rather than abstract symbolism.

The thread — The passage mirrors Ezekiel’s vision of a measured holy territory and a city with a defined perimeter (Ezekiel 48:8; Ezekiel 48:35). Both texts use exact dimensions to mark sacred space.

Why it lands — The text states that the city’s width equals its length and that all three dimensions measure 12,000 stadia. It asks the reader to note that divine space is quantified, bounded, and structurally symmetrical.

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

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.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 48:8 Bordering the territory of Judah, from east to west, will be the portion you are to set apart. It will be 25,000 cubits wide, and the length of a tribal portion from east to west. In the center will be the sanctuary.
Ezekiel 48:35 The perimeter of the city will be 18,000 cubits, and from that day on the name of the city will be: THE LORD IS THERE.”