Revelation 21 16

Revelation 21:16 kjv

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.

Revelation 21:16 nkjv

The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.

Revelation 21:16 niv

The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long.

Revelation 21:16 esv

The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal.

Revelation 21:16 nlt

When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles.

Revelation 21 verses

Revelation 21 16 Meaning

Revelation 21:16 describes the precise, divinely designed dimensions of the New Jerusalem, presenting it as a perfect cube of immense scale. This portrayal emphasizes its sacredness, stability, inclusiveness, and function as the ultimate dwelling place for God and His redeemed people, embodying absolute holiness and completeness.

Revelation 21 16 Context

Revelation chapter 21 introduces the new heaven and new earth, following the final judgment. It vividly describes the New Jerusalem descending from heaven, symbolizing God's ultimate dwelling place with humanity, where sorrow, death, and pain are no more. Verse 16 specifies the precise architectural form and scale of this city. This exact measurement underscores the divine planning and perfection, contrasting sharply with earthly cities that are often chaotic, temporal, and subject to corruption, notably "Babylon the Great" described earlier in Revelation as opposed to God. The architectural detail, particularly its cubical shape, strongly evokes the Holy of Holies from both the Tabernacle (implied perfection from all sides) and Solomon's Temple (1 Ki 6:20), where God's presence uniquely resided. By portraying the entire city as a perfect cube, the verse conveys that the New Jerusalem itself is an expanded, ultimate Holy of Holies, entirely saturated with God's holy presence and accessible to His redeemed.

Revelation 21 16 Word analysis

• The city (ἡ πόλις - hē polis): Refers to the New Jerusalem, a divinely created and perfect dwelling for God's people. This "city" signifies not just a physical structure but an eternal community where God’s redeemed reside in peace and communion with Him. It is the culmination of all heavenly hope for believers.
• lies foursquare (τετράγωνος - tetragōnos): Literally means "four-cornered" or "quadrilateral." This implies a perfect square on its base, symbolizing completeness, balance, stability, and ordered perfection. In ancient understanding, squares often represented foundational strength and immutability.
• its length the same as its width: This further defines "foursquare," ensuring that the base is a true geometric square, emphasizing absolute precision and absence of any imperfection.
• And he measured (καὶ ἐμέτρησεν - kai emetrēsen): The angel, described in Revelation 21:15, performs the measurement. This act of measuring indicates divine accuracy, validation, precise intention, and a complete accounting. It ensures everything is exactly as God ordained it to be, confirming its divine design and permanence.
• the city with his rod (καλάμῳ - kalamō): The "rod" or "reed" is a common biblical implement for measurement. Its use signifies divine authority and the accuracy of the revealed dimensions. It speaks to God’s meticulous planning for the eternal abode.
• 12,000 stadia (δώδεκα χιλιάδων σταδίων - dōdeka chiliadōn stadiōn): This is an enormous length. One stadion is approximately 600 feet or 185 meters. Thus, 12,000 stadia translates to approximately 1,400 miles (2,220 kilometers). This incredible vastness signifies limitless space, inclusiveness, and the ability to contain an uncountable multitude of the redeemed, ensuring ample room for all who inherit eternal life. The number "12" is highly symbolic, representing divine completeness and governmental perfection, derived from the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles.
• Its length and width and height are equal: This crucial detail confirms the city's shape as a perfect cube. This three-dimensional symmetry is profoundly significant. In biblical contexts, particularly the Holy of Holies in both the Tabernacle (Ex 26) and Solomon's Temple (1 Ki 6:20), a cubical shape denoted the most sacred place—the direct dwelling place of God. The entire New Jerusalem being a cube signifies that the entire city is God's sanctuary, a place of unblemished holiness where God's presence fills every dimension and His people live in direct, perfect communion with Him. This shape signifies complete perfection, accessibility to God, and universal consecration.

Revelation 21 16 Bonus section

• The practical implications of a cube measuring 12,000 stadia (approx. 1,400 miles) in each direction mean the city's volume would be roughly 2.74 billion cubic miles. This immense volume is more than sufficient to house every saved soul throughout history. Some interpretations even suggest the immensity allows for vertical dwellings, implying a multi-level reality within this celestial city.
• The New Jerusalem is an answer to humanity's quest for ideal living spaces and perfectly governed societies, which have perpetually fallen short on Earth. This city, designed by God Himself, is the ultimate fulfillment, ensuring righteousness, peace, and security forever.
• The absence of need for the sun, moon, or temple within the city (Rev 21:22-23) further highlights its absolute dependence on God's glory and presence. The cubical design of the entire city underscores that the entire environment is permeated by divine light and holiness, making separate temples or celestial bodies unnecessary.

Revelation 21 16 Commentary

Revelation 21:16 profoundly unveils the divine architectural marvel of the New Jerusalem. The description of the city as "foursquare" and of equal "length, width, and height" reveals its perfect cubical form. This shape is not arbitrary; it is a direct echo of the Holy of Holies, the innermost sanctuary in both the Tabernacle and Solomon's Temple. In those earthly structures, only the high priest could enter this sacred cube, and only once a year. However, in the New Jerusalem, the entire city embodies this supreme holiness, indicating that all its inhabitants—the redeemed saints—will dwell in unmediated and constant presence with God. This signifies an unparalleled level of communion, holiness, and divine accessibility for all believers in the eternal state, where the barriers between humanity and God, due to sin, are permanently removed.

The colossal size, "12,000 stadia" on each side, communicates a boundless capacity and inclusiveness. It emphasizes that there is ample room for the innumerable multitude of God's elect from every age and nation. This scale also distinguishes it utterly from any earthly city, highlighting its supernatural, divinely engineered nature. The exact measurement by the angel reinforces God's meticulous planning and the absolute perfection of this eternal abode. The number twelve, pervasive throughout Revelation and especially in the New Jerusalem's description (twelve gates, twelve foundations), symbolizes divine completeness and governance, suggesting that this city embodies the full and perfect establishment of God's redemptive plan.

In essence, this verse portrays the New Jerusalem not merely as a large dwelling, but as the consummated Holy of Holies, an immeasurably vast sanctuary where the glorified people of God eternally dwell in intimate, perfect, and uninterrupted fellowship with their triune God, a testament to His magnificent grace and faithfulness.