Revelation 21 12

Revelation 21:12 kjv

And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

Revelation 21:12 nkjv

Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

Revelation 21:12 niv

It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Revelation 21:12 esv

It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed ?

Revelation 21:12 nlt

The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates.

Revelation 21 verses

Revelation 21 12 Meaning

Revelation 21:12 describes a pivotal feature of the New Jerusalem, the holy city descending from heaven. This verse illustrates the city's robust security and divine order through its impressive "great, high wall." It emphasizes perfect design and accessibility with "twelve gates," each guarded by an angel, signifying divine protection and controlled entry. Most profoundly, the gates bear the inscribed names of "the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel," linking the glorious future city with God's covenant people from the Old Testament, showcasing continuity in God's redemptive plan and the foundational identity of His chosen.

Revelation 21 12 Context

Revelation chapter 21 introduces the New Heaven and New Earth, signaling the ultimate culmination of God's redemptive plan after the final judgment. It is the new creation, entirely devoid of sin, suffering, and death, where God fully dwells with His people. Verse 12 specifically describes the magnificent New Jerusalem, which descends from heaven to this renewed creation. This city stands in stark contrast to earthly cities, particularly those symbolic of human rebellion and evil like Babylon, highlighting its divine origin, perfect security, and holy nature. Historically, John, while exiled on Patmos, received these visions, intended to provide hope, encouragement, and understanding to persecuted Christians in Asia Minor. The elaborate symbolic language, typical of apocalyptic literature, communicates profound theological truths about God's faithfulness and ultimate victory. The descriptions connect deeply with Old Testament prophecies and Jewish understanding of the Messiah's kingdom, yet expand them to encompass a universal redemption for all who believe in Christ.

Revelation 21 12 Word analysis

• It had a great, high wall
  • It: Refers to the New Jerusalem, the holy city previously introduced in Rev 21:10. This indicates the primary subject of the following description.
  • great: (Greek: mega, μέγα) Signifies immensity, grandeur, and impressive scale. This wall is not merely a barrier but a feature of divine magnificence.
  • high: (Greek: hypselon, ὑψηλόν) Implies towering height, emphasizing its imposing and unassailable nature. This wall isn't for defense against external threats (as enemies are gone) but to mark the city as holy, distinct, and inviolable—a sacred enclosure defining God's dwelling.
  • wall: (Greek: teichos, τεῖχος) A strong, fortified city wall. Symbolically, it represents the city's perfect security and holiness, establishing a clear boundary between the holy and unholy, though nothing unholy can enter (Rev 21:27). It denotes a permanent separation from evil and protection by divine power.
• with twelve gates
  • twelve: A biblically significant number representing completeness, divine organization, and administrative perfection. It ties into the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles.
  • gates: (Greek: pylōnes, πυλῶνες) Large, monumental entrances. They indicate controlled access but also signify the city's openness to the righteous from all directions (Rev 21:25, 26). The specific number 'twelve' implies universal but ordered access, reflective of God's covenantal design.
• and at the gates twelve angels
  • at the gates: Positioned for significant presence and authority over access.
  • twelve angels: (Greek: angeloi, ἄγγελοι) Heavenly messengers or guardians. Their presence at each gate signifies divine custody and supervision, ensuring only the purified can enter (Rev 21:27). They are symbols of God's holy presence and authority guarding the entry points into His eternal city.
• and on the gates names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel
  • on the gates names inscribed: Names permanently written, showing definitive identity and foundational significance. It indicates ownership and perpetual recognition.
  • which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel: A direct and explicit reference to the lineage of Israel, God's Old Covenant people. This links the New Jerusalem explicitly to God's ancient covenant with Israel, indicating a profound continuity in God's redemptive plan. It emphasizes that salvation history culminates in this city, where the roots of God's people (Israel) are foundational. This signifies the permanent inclusion and honor of God's covenant people.

Revelation 21 12 Bonus section

The structural symmetry in Revelation 21 is remarkable: the "twelve gates" inscribed with the "names of the twelve tribes of Israel" (v. 12) are complemented by the "twelve foundations" inscribed with the "names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" (v. 14). This parallel imagery emphatically highlights the essential unity and continuity between God's work in the Old Covenant through Israel and the New Covenant through the Apostles. Together, they represent the single, undivided people of God – those who come to Him through Abraham's faith and through faith in Christ. The gates signify access and entrance into this perfected dwelling place, while the foundations signify its underlying spiritual truth and unshakable nature, built on the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, with Christ as the chief cornerstone (Eph 2:20). The city, therefore, is portrayed as the ultimate realization of God's dwelling with His unified covenant people across all ages, fulfilling promises made to Israel and extended to the entire world through the Gospel.

Revelation 21 12 Commentary

Revelation 21:12 provides a majestic architectural description of the New Jerusalem, pregnant with theological meaning. The "great, high wall" underscores absolute security and inviolability, not from external enemies who are eternally vanquished, but as a symbolic demarcation of its sacred, exclusive nature. It marks a complete separation from the former world of sin and death, establishing a domain of perfect holiness where God truly dwells. The "twelve gates," a divinely perfect number, speak of orderly and universal access. These are not merely points of entry but expressions of divine design, symbolizing an invitation to all who are righteous, flowing from God's perfectly ordered governance. The presence of "twelve angels" guarding these gates further affirms this divine order and protective presence, ensuring that nothing impure will enter. Crucially, the "names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel" inscribed on the gates signifies the enduring foundational role of Old Testament Israel within God's comprehensive redemptive plan. This doesn't limit entry to ethnic Israel, but highlights the continuity between God's ancient covenant people and the redeemed community of all ages. Believers, through Christ, are grafted into this spiritual heritage, making the church the "Israel of God." Thus, this verse beautifully illustrates the New Jerusalem as eternally secure, divinely ordered, universally accessible to the redeemed, and built upon the historical foundation of God's covenant people, seamlessly blending Old Testament promise with New Testament fulfillment.