Revelation 21 3

Revelation 21:3 kjv

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Revelation 21:3 nkjv

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

Revelation 21:3 niv

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

Revelation 21:3 esv

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

Revelation 21:3 nlt

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.

Revelation 21 verses

Revelation 21 3 Meaning

Revelation 21:3 describes the glorious state of the New Creation, where God’s immediate presence is perfectly and permanently established among His redeemed people. This verse reveals the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan: the full restoration of intimate fellowship between God and humanity, realizing the covenant promise of Him dwelling with His people and being their God.

Revelation 21 3 Context

Revelation 21:3 is set within the climactic vision of the New Heavens and New Earth, immediately following the description of the New Jerusalem descending from God out of heaven (Rev 21:1-2). This entire chapter describes the eternal state after the final judgment (Rev 20) and the removal of all evil, sorrow, and death (Rev 21:4). The historical context for the original audience, living under Roman persecution, would highlight this as a powerful promise of future rest, peace, and, most importantly, the tangible presence of God in a perfected existence, contrasting sharply with their present suffering and the pervasive idol worship. It speaks against any belief that humanity is eternally separated from God or that ultimate reality involves a cyclical return to imperfection.

Word Analysis

• And I heard a loud voice: The Greek word for "voice," phōnē (φωνή), often denotes a sound that signifies a powerful and authoritative declaration. The loudness emphasizes its significance and the attention it demands from the visionary, John, and thus from the readers. This recurring motif in Revelation (e.g., Rev 1:10, 11:15, 16:17) signals a crucial pronouncement of divine truth from the throne room of God.
• from the throne: The throne (Gk. thronos, θρόνος) is the consistent symbol in Revelation for divine authority, sovereignty, and judgment (e.g., Rev 4, 5). A voice from the throne signifies an unalterable decree directly from God himself, validating the absolute certainty of what is being declared.
• saying, Look!: The Greek idou (ἰδού), translated as "Look!" or "Behold!," serves as an interjection that commands immediate attention to something profound, new, or especially significant. It heightens the sense of awe and urgency for the ensuing revelation.
• God’s dwelling place: The Greek phrase is skēnē tou Theou (σκηνὴ τοῦ Θεοῦ), literally "the tabernacle of God." This term powerfully links the New Creation to the Old Testament concept of the tabernacle (Exod 25-40), which was God’s mobile, earthly sanctuary where His presence symbolically resided among Israel. Unlike the temporary wilderness tabernacle or the later temples built by human hands, this "tabernacle" is God's eternal presence directly with His people, signifying that a physical temple is no longer needed (Rev 21:22). It embodies the fulfillment of all Old Testament anticipations of God's physical presence among His people.
• is now among the people: The Greek meta tōn anthrōpōn (μετὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων) signifies a relational and physical "with" humanity. It indicates that the tabernacle, which represented God's presence, is no longer limited to a sacred structure but is embodied directly among redeemed humanity. This reverses the separation brought by the Fall and realizes God’s original design for close fellowship with His creation.
• and he will dwell with them: The Greek verb skēnōsei (σκηνώσει), "he will tabernacle/dwell," reiterates and confirms the permanent nature of God’s dwelling, using the same root word as skēnē. The future tense here ensures that this intimate cohabitation is a guaranteed, permanent reality, removing any sense of separation or withdrawal.
• They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God: This phrase is the direct fulfillment of the ancient covenant formula, repeated throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Exod 6:7; Jer 31:33; Ezek 37:27). It defines the renewed and perfect relationship between God and humanity.
  • "They will be his people": Emphasizes divine ownership and intimate connection, transcending tribal or national identity to include all redeemed.
  • "God himself will be with them": "God himself" (Gk. autos ho Theos, αὐτὸς ὁ Θεός) emphasizes the direct, unmediated presence of God, no longer needing a veiled ark or an intermediary priest. It's an emphatic declaration of direct fellowship.
  • "and be their God": This completes the covenant promise, signifying God as their exclusive object of worship, ultimate provider, protector, and sovereign Lord in a perfect and eternal bond. It expresses His unfailing faithfulness and provision for His redeemed creation.

Revelation 21 3 Commentary

Revelation 21:3 is the very heart of the New Creation vision. It declares the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenantal love, where His glorious presence is directly and permanently established with humanity. This verse paints a vivid picture of eschatological reality, dissolving the veil between the Creator and His creation that sin had erected. The Old Testament's glimpses of God dwelling among His people in the Tabernacle and Temple find their absolute and perfected consummation here. It signals an intimacy greater than Eden's, secure from fall or rebellion, marked by unbroken communion and direct fellowship. This divine proximity eliminates the need for any earthly sacred structure, as God and the Lamb are the temple (Rev 21:22). It's a statement of ultimate restoration: not just forgiveness, but a full reversal of alienation, bringing humanity into a complete and eternal relationship where "God with us" (Emmanuel) becomes the absolute and glorious truth for eternity.

Bonus SectionThe announcement in Rev 21:3 represents the culmination of God's long history of seeking to dwell with His people, starting imperfectly in Eden, through the types and shadows of the Tabernacle and Temple, partially fulfilled in the incarnation of Jesus (who "tabernacled" among us, Jn 1:14), and continued through the Holy Spirit dwelling in believers (2 Cor 6:16). The definitive nature of this dwelling means that the New Jerusalem is described as having no sun or moon for light because the glory of God gives it light, and no temple because the direct presence of God and the Lamb fulfills its purpose (Rev 21:22-23). This permanent, perfect intimacy is the chief characteristic and unparalleled glory of the eternal state, transcending any past or present experience.