Revelation 21:4

‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — A loud voice from the throne speaks to God's people who now dwell with Him in the new creation (21:3). The speaker identifies as God Himself, addressing those who are His people.

The words — ἐξαλεὺσει (exaleipsei), "he will wipe away," is a future active indicative: a deliberate, physical act of erasure, not a passive fading. The object is πᾶν δάκρυον, "every tear" — total, not partial.

The thread — Isaiah 25:8 pairs the same wiping of tears with swallowing up death forever; 1 Corinthians 15:26 names death the last enemy to be destroyed. Revelation 7:17 echoes the removal of suffering under the Lamb's shepherding.

Why it lands — The verse lists what is removed, not what is added; it asks a reader to weigh present grief against a stated, specific end. It offers no mechanism, only a verdict: these things have passed away.

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 God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Cross-references

Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.
Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Isaiah 35:10 So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.
Isaiah 60:20 Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not wane; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will cease.
1 John 2:17 The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.
Isaiah 51:11 So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.
Isaiah 65:18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight.
Jeremiah 31:13 Then the maidens will rejoice with dancing, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into joy, and give them comfort and joy for their sorrow.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.