Revelation 21:15 kjv
And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
Revelation 21:15 nkjv
And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.
Revelation 21:15 niv
The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls.
Revelation 21:15 esv
And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls.
Revelation 21:15 nlt
The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.
Revelation 21 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 21:9 | One of the seven angels…came and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. | Angel as John's guide. |
| Rev 21:10-27 | And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem…and the city lieth foursquare… | Detailed description of New Jerusalem. |
| Rev 11:1 | And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship | Measuring rod for a holy place. |
| Ezek 40:3 | And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; | Heavenly figure measuring God's future temple. |
| Ezek 40:5 | And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: | Specific mention of a measuring reed. |
| Zech 2:1-2 | I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem… | Measuring Jerusalem for divine protection. |
| Psa 48:12-14 | Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation… | Invites observation of the holy city's strength. |
| Heb 11:10 | For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. | God as the ultimate architect of the city. |
| Heb 11:16 | But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. | The promise of a prepared city for believers. |
| Gal 4:26 | But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. | Heavenly Jerusalem's spiritual reality. |
| Isa 60:11, 18 | Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night…Thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. | Open, glorious, and salvific gates/walls. |
| Rev 21:23-27 | And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof… | Divine light and secure access/presence. |
| Exod 25:9 | According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. | God providing detailed architectural plans. |
| 1 Cor 3:12-13 | Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones…every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it… | Gold as material for eternal worth. |
| Isa 28:16-17 | Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation… | Divine standards and cornerstone. |
| John 14:2-3 | In my Father's house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you. | Christ preparing a dwelling place. |
| 2 Pet 3:13 | Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. | Promise of new creation with righteousness. |
| Rev 22:1 | And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. | Further description of New Jerusalem's beauty. |
| Isa 54:11-12 | O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires… | Poetic depiction of a future glorious city. |
| Zech 4:10 | For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel… | Symbol of God's measuring and accomplishing. |
| Ezek 48:35 | It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there. | God's presence defines the measured city. |
| 1 Pet 1:4 | To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. | The enduring, incorruptible heavenly inheritance. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | Now therefore ye are no more strangers…but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God…in whom ye also are builded together… | Believers as integral to God's dwelling. |
Revelation 21 verses
Revelation 21 15 Meaning
Revelation 21:15 introduces the process by which the New Jerusalem's dimensions are revealed. The angel, who has been communicating with John, holds a measuring rod made of gold. This instrument is used to precisely measure the holy city in its entirety: its foundational structure, the accessibility through its gates, and the protective integrity of its walls. This measurement signifies the city's divine order, perfection, permanence, and security, emphasizing that it is a meticulously designed dwelling place for God's people.
Revelation 21 15 Context
Revelation 21:15 occurs within a vision John receives concerning the New Heavens and New Earth, following the final judgment (Rev 20) and the passing away of the old creation. Immediately preceding this verse, in Revelation 21:9-14, one of the seven angels who held the bowls full of the last plagues (Rev 21:9) invites John to witness "the bride, the Lamb's wife," which is then identified as the holy city, New Jerusalem, descending from God out of heaven. The angel transports John to a great and high mountain to provide a panoramic view of this magnificent city. Verses 11-14 give an initial overview of the city's radiance, its wall, gates, and foundations, laying the groundwork for the detailed description that follows. Verse 15 marks the transition from general awe to precise architectural detail, beginning with the act of measurement itself. Historically and culturally, divine measurement was a symbol of exactness, perfect order, ownership, and consecration. This vision stands in stark contrast to the fallen, chaotic earthly cities and empires of John's day, including Rome, offering a perfect, eternal dwelling orchestrated by God. It directly opposes pagan notions of disorganized, transient spiritual realms by presenting a tangible, divinely structured, and beautiful reality.
Revelation 21 15 Word Analysis
- And (καὶ - kai): A conjunction, here indicating continuity and progression from the previous verse, introducing a new action in the vision.
- he that talked with me (ὁ λαλῶν μετ’ ἐμοῦ - ho lalōn met' emou): Refers to the angel identified in Rev 21:9, who is serving as John's guide and revealer of divine truths. This highlights the heavenly source and authoritative nature of the revelation.
- had (εἶχεν - eichen): A simple past tense verb, denoting possession, indicating the angel was equipped with this specific instrument.
- a golden (χρυσοῦν - chrysoun): "Made of gold." Gold is consistently used in Revelation to denote divine origin, ultimate purity, supreme value, preciousness, and heavenly glory (Rev 3:18, 4:4, 15:6, 21:18, 21:21). Here, it signifies that the instrument used for measurement is not merely practical but embodies divine standards and the incorruptible nature of the city.
- reed (κάλαμον - kalamon): A "reed" or "measuring rod." This was a common measuring implement in the ancient world, typically several cubits long. In biblical visions (like Ezek 40:3-5, Rev 11:1), it functions as a symbol of divine precision, a standard for exactness, and the means by which sacred spaces or future realities are quantified according to God's perfect plan. It assures accuracy and divine authenticity of the dimensions revealed.
- to measure (ἵνα μετρήσῃ - hina metrēsē): A purpose clause, "in order that he might measure." This indicates the clear intent and objective of the angel's action. The measurement signifies not merely providing information for John, but establishing and affirming the absolute divine order, proportion, and security of the New Jerusalem. It is an act of defining and consecrating.
- the city (τὴν πόλιν - tēn polin): Referring to the New Jerusalem, the glorious spiritual metropolis and eternal dwelling place for the redeemed (Rev 21:2, 9). Its measurement implies that every aspect of this eternal home is meticulously planned and precisely configured by God.
- and the gates thereof (καὶ τὰς πύλας αὐτῆς - kai tas pylas autēs): The twelve gates (Rev 21:12), made of pearl (Rev 21:21), provide entrance to the city. Measuring them signifies divine regulation of access, ensuring both security and entry according to God's purpose, where only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life may enter (Rev 21:27).
- and the wall thereof (καὶ τὸ τεῖχος αὐτῆς - kai to teichos autēs): The massive and high wall (Rev 21:12, 17) surrounding the city. Measuring the wall indicates its impenetrable security and defensive perfection. It acts as a barrier against all defilement (Rev 21:27), signifying the holy nature of the city and protection from all external threats and evil.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "a golden reed to measure": This phrase emphasizes the divine nature and perfect standard of the measurement. The instrument is heavenly (gold) and precise (reed), assuring the absolute accuracy and integrity of the dimensions described, which are divinely revealed rather than humanly conjectured.
- "the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof": This tripartite enumeration emphasizes a complete and exhaustive measurement of the New Jerusalem. It covers the core structure ("the city"), its access points ("the gates"), and its protective boundaries ("the wall"). This holistic measurement underscores the divine intention for total perfection, order, and inviolable security in God's eternal dwelling place.
Revelation 21 15 Bonus section
The act of measurement itself implies that the New Jerusalem is not merely a spiritual concept but possesses tangible, albeit glorious and transcendent, realities. This measurement stands in contrast to the immeasurable glory of God Himself, yet it describes a perfect dwelling designed to contain and express that glory for all eternity. The specificity of the upcoming dimensions (e.g., cubic city in Rev 21:16, 17) underscores that this city embodies not only vastness but also divine completeness and equilibrium. It suggests that nothing is arbitrary in God's ultimate plan; everything is weighed, measured, and established for eternal perfect communion with Him. The security of the city is absolute, as its measurements are divinely ordained, symbolizing the impossibility of evil ever again intruding upon God's people.
Revelation 21 15 Commentary
Revelation 21:15 signals the commencement of the detailed description of the New Jerusalem, focusing on its physical parameters. The measurement is not a mundane act of construction surveying, but a theological revelation. The angel's use of a "golden reed" highlights the celestial purity, infinite value, and divine authority behind the exact dimensions that will be revealed. This imagery parallels Old Testament visions where divine agents measured sacred spaces, like Ezekiel's temple vision (Ezek 40:3ff) and Zechariah's measuring of Jerusalem (Zech 2:1ff), signifying divine design, holiness, and secure restoration. The precision implied in measuring "the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof" assures John – and through him, believers throughout the ages – that the eternal dwelling of God with humanity is a perfectly ordered, immaculately constructed, and eternally secure reality. It signifies a divine blueprint, free from chaos, sin, or decay, offering eternal fellowship in God's presence, under His precise and perfect order.