Revelation 21:13 kjv
On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
Revelation 21:13 nkjv
three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
Revelation 21:13 niv
There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west.
Revelation 21:13 esv
on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.
Revelation 21:13 nlt
There were three gates on each side ? east, north, south, and west.
Revelation 21 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 21:12 | 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... | Precedes this verse, specifying 12 gates total. |
| Ezek 48:30-34 | "These are the exits of the city: On the north side, 4,500 cubits by measure... And the gates of the city shall be named after the tribes of Israel: three gates north... three gates east... three gates south... three gates west." | Prophecy of new temple/city with gates for tribes. |
| Isa 60:11 | "Your gates shall be open continually; day and night they shall not be shut, that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations..." | Gates continually open, indicating peace and access. |
| Rev 21:25 | And its gates will never be shut by day, for there will be no night there. | Reiterates continuous access in New Jerusalem. |
| Ps 24:7, 9 | "Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in." | Figurative doors for the King of Glory. |
| Jn 10:9 | "I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." | Jesus as the sole way of entry/salvation. |
| Rev 22:14 | Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. | Entry into the city through the gates. |
| Lk 13:29 | "And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God." | People gathering from all directions into God's kingdom. |
| Gen 10 | (Description of nations descending from Noah's sons) | Represents the dispersal of nations across the earth, from which all will eventually be gathered. |
| Zech 8:7 | Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country..." | Gathering God's people from all directions. |
| Isa 43:5-6 | "Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold..." | God gathering His scattered people from all cardinal points. |
| Mal 1:11 | "For from the rising of the sun to its setting My name will be great among the nations..." | God's universal glory, extending from east to west. |
| Rev 7:9 | After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne... | Represents the gathering of all redeemed people. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God... built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone... | Believers become citizens of God's city. |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity and inclusivity of all believers. |
| Num 2:2-31 | (Instructions for the arrangement of the Israelite tribes around the Tabernacle in the wilderness) | Illustrates divine order with tribes stationed directionally around God's dwelling. |
| Exod 27:13-16 | (Description of the Tabernacle courtyard dimensions, including entry on the east side) | Directional emphasis in ancient sacred spaces. |
| Ps 107:2-3 | Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. | God's gathering of His redeemed from all regions. |
| Heb 12:22-24 | But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem... | References the Heavenly Jerusalem directly. |
| 1 Cor 12:12-27 | For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. | Unity in diversity among God's people. |
| Rev 21:24 | By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. | Nations entering and glorifying God in the city. |
| Zech 2:4-5 | Jerusalem will be inhabited as unwalled villages, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. For I will be a wall of fire all around it... | God as the ultimate protection for His city. |
Revelation 21 verses
Revelation 21 13 Meaning
Revelation 21:13 describes the precise and symmetrical layout of the New Jerusalem's twelve gates, specifying three gates on each of the four cardinal directions: east, north, south, and west. This signifies perfect divine order, comprehensive accessibility, and universal welcome for the redeemed from every corner of the earth into God's eternal city. It highlights the completeness and inclusivity of God's gathered people from all ages and nations.
Revelation 21 13 Context
Revelation 21 begins with the magnificent vision of "a new heaven and a new earth," signaling the ultimate dwelling of God with humanity, free from all sorrow, death, and pain. It then introduces the "New Jerusalem" descending from heaven, likened to a bride adorned for her husband. The description details the city's splendor and structure, emphasizing its perfect dimensions, precious materials, and illuminating presence of God. Verse 13 is part of a detailed architectural blueprint (Rev 21:9-21) that not only paints a grand picture but also conveys profound theological truths about the city's inhabitants and nature. The mention of four directions highlights the city's openness and universal access, contrasting sharply with earthly cities often built for defense and exclusivity. This vision serves as the consummation of God's redemptive plan, a place where all who are saved will eternally dwell in God's presence.
Revelation 21 13 Word analysis
- on the east (ἀνατολῶν - anatolōn): This Greek term signifies the direction of the sunrise, a biblical symbol for new beginnings, divine appearance, and the place from which God's glory often arrives (Ezek 43:2). In ancient cosmology, the east was often given prominence. The New Jerusalem welcomes from this auspicious direction.
- three gates (πύλων τρεῖς - pylōn treis):
- three (τρεῖς - treis): The number three holds immense theological significance in the Bible, symbolizing divine completeness, perfection, and the Triune Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). The repeated presence of three gates on each side underscores God's perfect design and the divine order within the city.
- gates (πύλων - pylōn): Gates are points of entry and exit. Their presence on all sides emphasizes accessibility, not exclusion. In contrast to ancient cities with guarded gates for defense, these gates signify welcome and perpetual openness in a secure, divine presence where no threat exists.
- on the north (βορρᾶ - borra): Refers to the north direction. While the north could sometimes be associated with enemies in Old Testament prophecy (Jer 1:14-15), in this context, it simply functions as one of the cardinal points of universal entry. God's throne is also sometimes metaphorically depicted in the uttermost parts of the north (Ps 48:2).
- on the south (νότου - notou): Refers to the south direction, generally associated with warmth and light. As with the other directions, its primary significance here is to complete the directional coverage for access.
- and on the west (δυσμῶν - dysmon): Refers to the direction of the sunset. Historically, the Holy of Holies in the Jerusalem Temple faced west, suggesting an association with the Divine Presence within the temple structure, though access was typically from the east. Here, it simply completes the comprehensive welcome.
- three gates (πύλων τρεῖς - pylōn treis): The consistent pattern of "three gates" repeated for each cardinal direction (east, north, south, west) is significant. This repetition reinforces:
- Divine Order and Symmetry: The perfectly balanced structure reflects God's wisdom and orderly nature. It's not a haphazard construction but a deliberate, harmonious design.
- Completeness and Universality: Four cardinal directions encompass the entirety of the inhabited world. Twelve gates total (3x4) correspond to the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles (Rev 21:14), representing the whole of God's people gathered from all epochs and origins, Old Testament saints and New Testament believers. It signifies that redeemed individuals from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue will find an entryway into this glorious city.
Revelation 21 13 Bonus section
The number 12, derived from the 3 gates multiplied by 4 directions, is a recurring symbolic number in Revelation and throughout the Bible, often representing divine governance, completeness, and God's people (e.g., 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles). The gates, each bearing the name of an Israelite tribe (Rev 21:12), indicate the foundational role of the Old Testament people of God, while the foundations (Rev 21:14) are inscribed with the names of the twelve apostles, integrating both Old and New Covenant believers into the ultimate community of God. This detailed architectural description is not merely about physical structures but embodies deep theological truths about salvation, unity, and eternal security. The accessibility from all directions ensures that the full complement of God's elect will enter, leaving no one redeemed behind because of their geographical origin.
Revelation 21 13 Commentary
Revelation 21:13 unveils a profound truth about the nature of God's eternal dwelling: it is a city of perfect order and universal welcome. The enumeration of three gates on each of the four cardinal points, totaling twelve, points to a deliberate divine design, encompassing completeness and symmetry. This precise arrangement stands in stark contrast to the fortified cities of this age, whose gates symbolize exclusion or guarded access. Instead, the New Jerusalem's multi-directional gates signify unimpeded entry for all who are found in Christ, regardless of their earthly origin. It assures that God's redeemed people from "every tribe and language and people and nation" (Rev 5:9) will enter, confirming the vast inclusivity of the Kingdom. The perpetual openness of these gates (Rev 21:25) further underscores that safety and peace are absolute, secured by God Himself, rendering any need for defensive closure obsolete. The consistent "three gates" on each side embodies divine perfection, symmetry, and the Triune God's comprehensive invitation to all His people to inhabit His eternal city.