Revelation 21:9 kjv
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Revelation 21:9 nkjv
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
Revelation 21:9 niv
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
Revelation 21:9 esv
Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb."
Revelation 21:9 nlt
Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
Revelation 21 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 21:2 | "I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down... as a bride adorned for her husband." | Identifies the Bride as New Jerusalem. |
| Eph 5:25-27 | "Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her... to present her to himself as a radiant church..." | Christ's love for His Church, presenting her spotless. |
| 2 Cor 11:2 | "I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ." | Paul's imagery of the Church as betrothed to Christ. |
| Isa 54:5 | "For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name..." | God as husband to His people (Israel). |
| Hos 2:19-20 | "I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness..." | God's eternal covenant with Israel. |
| Rev 17:1 | "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute..." | Angelic guide contrasting with the "Harlot." |
| Rev 19:7-8 | "Let us rejoice... for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready." | Bride's readiness for the marriage. |
| Ps 45:9-17 | "The royal daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is woven with gold..." | Messianic Psalm portraying the glorious Bride. |
| Mt 25:1-13 | "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom." | Parable highlighting readiness for the Bridegroom. |
| Jer 2:2 | "I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride..." | God remembers Israel's early faithfulness. |
| Jn 3:29 | "The one who has the bride is the bridegroom." | John the Baptist on Christ as the Bridegroom. |
| Isa 62:5 | "As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you." | God's joyful relationship with Zion. |
| Rev 22:17 | "The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come!'" | The Spirit and Church inviting others to Christ. |
| Zech 8:3 | "Thus says the LORD: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem." | God's dwelling place in Zion/Jerusalem. |
| Ez 40:3 | "He brought me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like bronze..." | Angelic/divine guide showing vision. |
| Dan 10:14 | "Now I have come to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days." | Revelation through angelic messenger. |
| Rev 5:6-10 | "Worthy is the Lamb... you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God..." | The Lamb's worthiness and redemptive work. |
| Jn 1:29 | "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" | Identification of Christ as the Lamb. |
| Isa 65:17 | "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth..." | Foretelling of the new creation. |
| 2 Pet 3:13 | "But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth..." | Confirmation of the new creation. |
| Heb 12:22-23 | "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem..." | Believers already connected to heavenly Jerusalem. |
Revelation 21 verses
Revelation 21 9 Meaning
Revelation 21:9 presents a pivotal moment where one of the seven angels who administered God's final judgments now guides John to behold the ultimate embodiment of God's redemptive plan: "the Bride, the wife of the Lamb." This imagery signifies the purified and perfected church, God's redeemed people, intrinsically linked with the New Jerusalem, ready for eternal fellowship with Christ. It represents the consummation of God's covenantal relationship with humanity, moving from judgment to the full establishment of His holy dwelling place.
Revelation 21 9 Context
Revelation 21:9 appears after the completion of God's final judgments against evil and the cosmic recreation of new heavens and a new earth (Rev 20-21:8). The preceding verses described the banishment of Satan, the judgment of the dead, the demise of the old creation, and the descent of the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:1-8). This specific verse marks a transition from general description to a detailed, guided tour of this New Jerusalem, revealing its identity as "the Bride, the wife of the Lamb." It deliberately contrasts with the vision of the "great harlot" (Babylon) shown by a similar angel earlier in Revelation 17:1-2, emphasizing God's ultimate establishment of a pure, covenantal relationship.
Revelation 21 9 Word analysis
- Then came (ἦλθεν εἷς, elthen heis): Signifies continuity from preceding events and marks a divine initiative. The guiding angel reappears.
- one of the seven angels (εἷς ἐκ τῶν ἑπτὰ ἀγγέλων): Specifies a distinct member of the group previously instrumental in unleashing God's final judgments (Rev 15:1-7, 16:1-21). This underscores that the same divine power involved in righteous judgment is now involved in unveiling glorious salvation.
- who had the seven bowls (οἱ ἔχοντες τὰς ἑπτὰ φιάλας): Identifies this specific group of angels associated with God's wrath and plagues. Their transition from agents of destruction to guides of revelation is significant, indicating God's finished work of purification.
- full of the seven last plagues (γεμούσας τῶν ἑπτὰ πληγῶν τῶν ἐσχάτων): Reaffirms their past role in the completion of God's just wrath, preparing the way for the new creation and the manifestation of the Bride.
- and spoke with me (καὶ ἐλάλησεν μετ’ ἐμοῦ): Denotes a direct, personal address to John, emphasizing the intimacy and authoritative nature of the revelation.
- saying, 'Come, I will show you' (λέγων· δεῦρο δείξω σοι): A purposeful invitation (deuro - "come here"), signifying that what is about to be revealed is of paramount importance and requires direct divine showing. This parallels Rev 17:1, highlighting a deliberate contrast.
- the Bride (τὴν νύμφην, tēn nymphēn): A key symbolic title, personifying the ultimate redeemed community. In biblical literature, "bride" signifies purity, a deep covenantal bond, and the anticipation of marital union. It implies a chosen, cherished entity prepared for intimacy.
- the wife of the Lamb (τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ ἀρνίου, tēn gynaika tou arniou): An elaborating appositive that clarifies "the Bride" and affirms the established marital union. "Lamb" refers exclusively to Jesus Christ (e.g., Rev 5:6, 12). This signifies the completed, intimate, and permanent relationship between Christ and His church, often equated with the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2).
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Then came one of the seven angels... plagues": This phrase links the triumphant revelation to the preceding events of judgment. God's wrath cleanses the earth, removing all opposition to prepare a pristine dwelling for His people. This highlights divine sovereignty and purposeful action.
- "and spoke with me, saying, 'Come, I will show you'": The active voice of the angel and the inviting phrase signal a new phase in John's prophetic vision—a deliberate unveiling of the ultimate divine reality following the conclusion of historical drama and judgment.
- "the Bride, the wife of the Lamb": This iconic pairing forms the theological climax. "The Bride" symbolizes the entire company of God's redeemed throughout history—Israel and the Church—brought into a perfected, unified community. "The wife of the Lamb" underscores the covenantal permanence and profound intimacy achieved through Christ's atoning sacrifice and redemptive work. This imagery is antithetical to the "harlot" Babylon (Rev 17), representing impurity and opposition to God.
Revelation 21 9 Bonus section
The imagery of the Bride, the wife of the Lamb, signifies the culmination of centuries of prophetic promises regarding God's relationship with His people, bridging Old Testament foreshadowings of God marrying Israel (e.g., Hos 2:19-20; Isa 54:5) with the New Testament revelation of Christ as the Church's Husband (e.g., Eph 5:25-32). This illustrates a singular, unified covenantal trajectory fulfilled in the New Jerusalem. This sacred marriage also stands as the ultimate counter-narrative to all forms of spiritual adultery, idolatry, and unfaithfulness previously depicted in Revelation (like the "great harlot"). It portrays a final, perfect fidelity and fellowship.
Revelation 21 9 Commentary
Revelation 21:9 is a profoundly significant verse that shifts the focus from divine wrath to divine consummation. The choice of an angel from the 'bowl-bearing' group to show the Bride emphasizes God's comprehensive plan: judgment purifies and paves the way for ultimate fellowship. The Bride, explicitly identified as the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2), is not merely a physical city but symbolizes the perfected, redeemed people of God—the church made ready for eternal union with Christ. This portrays the pinnacle of God's covenant with humanity, cleansed, sanctified, and eternally married to the Lamb, Jesus Christ. It’s the triumph of purity over perversion, representing a spiritual dwelling place of intimate communion and perpetual presence with God, fulfilling the yearning of all believers. This vision encapsulates the very essence of biblical hope: eternal life not just in a place, but in a profound relationship.