Revelation 21:23 kjv
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.
Revelation 21:23 nkjv
The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
Revelation 21:23 niv
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
Revelation 21:23 esv
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
Revelation 21:23 nlt
And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light.
Revelation 21 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:3-5 | And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light... God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” | God creates light before the sun and moon, echoing ultimate source. |
| Exod 40:34 | Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. | The visible manifestation of God's glory filling His dwelling place. |
| Ps 27:1 | The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? | The Lord is the ultimate source of light for His people. |
| Ps 36:9 | For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. | God is the source of all life and truth, and illumination comes from Him. |
| Isa 4:5 | then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud by day and smoke, and a shining flame by night... | Prophecy of God's manifest presence as protection and light for Zion. |
| Isa 9:2 | The people walking in darkness have seen a great light... | Prophecy of Christ as the light dispelling spiritual darkness. |
| Isa 49:6 | I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. | Christ as the light to the nations. |
| Isa 58:8 | then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear... | God's blessing brings forth spiritual light. |
| Isa 60:1-3 | Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you... nations will come to your light... | Prophecy of Jerusalem (Zion) being illuminated by God's glory, attracting nations. |
| Isa 60:19-20 | The sun will no more be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon by night, but the Lord will be your everlasting light... | Direct prophetic parallel; God is the perpetual light, no sun or moon needed. |
| Mal 4:2 | But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. | Metaphor for the coming Messiah bringing healing and light. |
| Jn 1:4-9 | In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind... The true light that gives light to everyone... | Jesus is the ultimate, originating source of light and life. |
| Jn 8:12 | When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world." | Jesus declares Himself the source of illumination for humanity. |
| Jn 12:46 | I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. | Jesus' purpose is to bring light, guiding believers out of darkness. |
| Eph 5:14 | For this reason it says: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” | Spiritual awakening through Christ's illumination. |
| Col 1:12-13 | giving thanks to the Father... who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. | Believers are delivered from darkness into God's kingdom of light. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen people... that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. | Christians are called out of spiritual darkness into God's light. |
| 1 Jn 1:5 | This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. | God's very nature is light, signifying purity and absence of evil. |
| Rev 22:5 | There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. | Parallel verse affirming eternal divine illumination, no natural light or night. |
| Heb 1:3 | The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being... | Christ Himself is the emanation and expression of God's glory. |
| Zech 14:7 | ...at evening time there shall be light. | Prophetic utterance suggesting a perpetual, perhaps divine, light in the future age. |
| Matt 17:2 | There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun... | Foreshadowing of Christ's radiant glory, a taste of divine light. |
Revelation 21 verses
Revelation 21 23 Meaning
Revelation 21:23 declares that the New Jerusalem, the dwelling place of God and His people, will not rely on natural sources of light like the sun or moon. Its illumination will come directly and entirely from the manifest presence and glory of God, with the Lamb, Jesus Christ, serving as its perpetual lamp. This signifies a state of complete divine illumination, perfect fellowship, and unending day in God's eternal kingdom.
Revelation 21 23 Context
Revelation 21 describes the glorious advent of the New Heaven and New Earth, culminating in the descent of the New Jerusalem from God out of heaven. This new creation signifies the permanent dwelling of God with humanity, where the former things—sorrow, death, pain, tears—have passed away. Verses 9-27 elaborate on the New Jerusalem itself, detailing its immense size, precious materials, and glorious nature. Verse 23 is a key part of this description, emphasizing that this holy city, distinct from the corrupted earthly cities, functions by entirely different, divine principles. It contrasts sharply with the need for light in the current fallen world and serves as a direct fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning a future Zion bathed in the direct light of God's glory, like Isaiah 60:19-20. The cultural context of John's audience, accustomed to literal temples with lamps and the ubiquitous presence of the sun and moon, would have found this vision profoundly revolutionary, indicating a shift from symbolic presence and natural order to an immediate and direct manifestation of divine truth and light. This also served as a polemic against sun and moon worship prevalent in the ancient world, affirming God alone as the ultimate source of light and life.
Revelation 21 23 Word analysis
- The city (Greek: ἡ πόλις - hē polis): Refers specifically to the New Jerusalem, a divinely designed dwelling place that embodies God's redeemed people and their eternal habitation with Him.
- does not need (Greek: οὐ χρείαν ἔχει - ou chreian echei, lit. "does not have need"): This emphasizes absolute self-sufficiency and independence from created elements. It highlights God's sovereignty and completeness.
- the sun (Greek: ἥλιος - hēlios): The primary created light source for the earth's day.
- or the moon (Greek: σελήνη - selēnē): The secondary created light source for the earth's night, reflecting sunlight.
- Group: the sun or the moon to shine on it: This phrase signifies that the New Jerusalem will not depend on any created, natural, or earthly sources for its illumination. This implies the absence of night and shadows, denoting a perfect, unceasing day, symbolic of perfect understanding, presence, and purity.
- for (Greek: γὰρ - gar): A conjunction indicating the reason or explanation for the preceding statement.
- the glory of God (Greek: ἡ δόξα τοῦ Θεοῦ - hē doxa tou Theou): This refers to the manifested presence, radiant majesty, and brilliant splendor of God Himself. It is not merely reflected light, but an inherent, emanating radiance, reminiscent of the Shekinah glory in the Old Testament Tabernacle and Temple, but in a full, unmediated sense.
- gives it light (Greek: ἐφώτισεν αὐτήν - ephōtisen autēn, lit. "enlightened/illuminated her"): This aorist verb indicates a completed, effectual action with continuous results. God's glory has perpetually illuminated the city.
- and (Greek: καί - kai): Connects the two components of divine illumination.
- the Lamb (Greek: τὸ ἀρνίον - to arnion): A frequent designation for Jesus Christ in Revelation, emphasizing His sacrificial work (as in Jn 1:29) and His supreme authority and rulership (Rev 5:6-14). He is the crucified and resurrected King.
- is its lamp (Greek: ὁ λύχνος αὐτῆς - ho lychnos autēs, lit. "is her lamp"): While God's glory is the ultimate source of light, the Lamb serves as the direct instrument or mediator through whom this glory illuminates the city. He channels, expresses, and focuses God's light. A lamp makes light useful and accessible; similarly, Christ makes God's full, radiant presence perceivable and eternally enjoyed by the redeemed.
Revelation 21 23 Bonus section
The idea of God creating light before the sun and moon in Gen 1:3-5 foreshadows the reality of Rev 21:23, indicating that natural celestial bodies are not the ultimate source of light but instruments for God's purposes in creation. The New Jerusalem returns to this primordial truth, emphasizing God as the original and ultimate light source. The absence of night and artificial light further symbolizes the cessation of evil, sin, and spiritual blindness that characterize the fallen world. In the eternal state, the divine light ensures full knowledge, perfect peace, and the uninterrupted manifestation of God's character, banishing all shadow of doubt or concealment. It implies that there will be no need for worship performed under man-made lighting or structures, as God's very presence will be the encompassing and all-sufficient temple and illumination.
Revelation 21 23 Commentary
Revelation 21:23 presents a profound picture of ultimate divine dependency and illumination in the New Jerusalem. It is not just a city made of precious stones; its very existence and function are permeated by the direct presence of God. The sun and moon, vital for life and light in our present age, become entirely redundant, illustrating the complete transcendence of the new creation beyond the limitations of the current cosmos. This directly fulfills Old Testament prophecies where God promised to be the everlasting light for His people (e.g., Isa 60:19-20). The source of this light is "the glory of God"—His unveiled, majestic, and illuminating presence, filling the entire city. Moreover, "the Lamb is its lamp," highlighting the inseparable union of the Father and the Son in this eternal radiance. Jesus Christ, who once veiled His glory to become the sacrificial Lamb, now serves as the constant, immediate conduit for God's glory to enlighten His people, ensuring uninterrupted communion and perpetual day. This negates all spiritual and physical darkness, representing perfect purity, truth, and the endless presence of God with His redeemed.