Revelation 22 5

Revelation 22:5 kjv

And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Revelation 22:5 nkjv

There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

Revelation 22:5 niv

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. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Revelation 22:5 esv

And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Revelation 22:5 nlt

And there will be no night there ? no need for lamps or sun ? for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

Revelation 22 verses

Revelation 22 5 Meaning

Revelation 22:5 depicts the eternal state in the New Jerusalem, where the direct, unmediated presence of the Lord God provides all light, making natural or artificial sources redundant. This signifies the complete absence of spiritual and physical darkness, sorrow, or sin. Furthermore, it affirms that the redeemed, in constant fellowship with God, will actively participate in His eternal reign, living in unending blessedness and authority.

Revelation 22 5 Context

Revelation 22:5 is part of the climactic vision in the book of Revelation, describing the New Jerusalem and the eternal dwelling of God with His people. Chapters 21 and 22 present the glorious consummation of God's redemptive plan—the New Heaven and New Earth, where sin, suffering, and death are abolished. Specifically, verse 5 reiterates and amplifies themes introduced in Rev 21, particularly the direct divine illumination of the city and the unending blessedness of its inhabitants. It serves as a stark contrast to the fallen world, characterized by darkness (both literal and spiritual), limitations, and temporary rule. This verse culminates the apocalyptic narrative by depicting a state of perfect, uninterrupted fellowship with God and active participation in His eternal dominion, fulfilling ancient prophetic promises.

Revelation 22 5 Word analysis

• And there shall be no night there (καὶ νὺξ οὐκ ἔσται ἔτι - kai nux ouk estai eti):
  • νὺξ (nux): Greek for "night." Here, it signifies more than just literal darkness. In biblical thought, night can symbolize evil, ignorance, sorrow, hiddenness, limited understanding, separation from God, and the presence of sin or its consequences.
  • οὐκ ἔσται ἔτι (ouk estai eti): "shall no longer be." This emphasizes the permanent and complete removal of all negative aspects associated with night. This points to a state of constant revelation, full understanding, perfect peace, uninterrupted fellowship, and total absence of fear, sorrow, or evil that thrive in darkness.
• and they need no candle (οὐδὲ χρείαν ἔχουσιν λύχνου - oude chreian echousin lychnou):
  • λύχνος (lychnos): Greek for "lamp" or "candle." This refers to an artificial, human-made light source.
  • The phrase highlights the transcendence of God's light. It signifies that all secondary, created, and limited sources of illumination—whether physical or spiritual, such as human wisdom or institutions—will be entirely superseded by the ultimate and inherent light of God. They are no longer necessary in His direct, full presence.
• neither light of the sun (καὶ φωτὸς ἡλίου - kai photos hēliou):
  • ἥλιος (helios): Greek for "sun." This represents the primary, natural light source for the current created order.
  • The emphasis here is that even the greatest natural light source will be made obsolete. God's glory is so radiant and pervasive that even the sun's brilliance is overshadowed, further stressing the perfection and completeness of His divine presence as the sole source of illumination in the New Creation. This directly reverses the dependency on the sun and moon established at creation (Gen 1:16).
• for the Lord God giveth them light (ὅτι Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς φωτίζει αὐτούς - hoti Kyrios ho Theos photizei autous):
  • Κύριος ὁ Θεός (Kyrios ho Theos): "the Lord God." This combines the divine name (Lord, Yahweh in OT) with God, emphasizing His supreme authority and eternal nature. It identifies the direct source of light as the sovereign Creator.
  • φωτίζει (photizei): Greek verb "to illuminate," "to give light to." It is in the present tense, emphasizing a continuous, ongoing, and direct action.
  • This clause provides the foundational reason for the absence of other light sources. The inhabitants receive direct, unceasing, and perfect illumination directly from God Himself, indicating perfect knowledge, truth, holiness, and the absence of any shadows.
• and they shall reign for ever and ever (καὶ βασιλεύσουσιν εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων - kai basileusousin eis tous aiōnas tōn aiōnōn):
  • βασιλεύσουσιν (basileusousin): Greek verb "they shall reign" or "they shall be kings." This is a strong affirmation of the redeemed's active participation in God's eternal dominion, not merely a passive state of blessing. It implies co-reigning with Christ, sharing in His kingly authority and governance.
  • εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων (eis tous aiōnas tōn aiōnōn): "unto the ages of the ages." This is the strongest Greek superlative expression for eternity, denoting unending duration without beginning or end.
  • This phrase signifies the culmination of God's purpose for humanity, restoring and elevating humanity's original call to dominion (Gen 1:28). It indicates a future of active service, glorious fellowship, and unceasing rule under and with Christ, perfectly united with God's will.

• No night ... no candle, neither light of the sun: This sequence meticulously eliminates all forms of darkness and created light, building to the profound statement that God Himself is the ultimate and sole source of illumination. This imagery signifies perfect, uninterrupted divine presence, knowledge, holiness, and the complete absence of anything that opposes God.
• for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign: The direct causation ("for") establishes that it is the divine illumination and immediate presence of God that empowers the eternal reign. This shows that the privilege of reigning flows directly from an intimate and illuminated relationship with the sovereign Lord, combining intimate communion with active service and dominion.

Revelation 22 5 Bonus section

The imagery in Revelation 22:5 offers a powerful polemic against any pagan or naturalistic worldview that attributes divinity or ultimate power to celestial bodies or human endeavors. By explicitly stating that the sun and human-made light sources are unnecessary because the Lord God provides all light, John is reinforcing the singular sovereignty and glory of the One True God. This divine light ensures absolute security, as there is no darkness for evil or danger to hide within, signifying a state of profound peace and rest from the tribulations of the fallen world. The promise of eternal reign is also a fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant's broadest scope and a reversal of humanity's fall from dominion (Gen 3), promising an active and glorified existence far beyond earthly limitations.

Revelation 22 5 Commentary

Revelation 22:5 paints a breathtaking picture of eternal blessedness, highlighting two profound truths about the New Jerusalem: the perfect, divine illumination and the eternal co-regency of the redeemed with God. The repeated declaration of "no night" and the redundancy of all other light sources (candles, sun) underscore the complete absence of spiritual and moral darkness, ignorance, sorrow, and sin. In God's unmediated presence, there is perfect knowledge, unhindered access, and perpetual joy. This perpetual light emanates directly from "the Lord God," signifying that all limitations of the present creation are abolished, replaced by a radiant glory inherent in the Divine Being Himself. Furthermore, the promise "they shall reign for ever and ever" signifies active participation in Christ's eternal kingdom. This is not a passive existence but a dynamic and purposeful co-rule, where humanity fulfills its created purpose to exercise dominion, now in perfect harmony with God's will, eternally secure in His power and presence. It exemplifies the ultimate restoration and elevation of the saved, living in eternal service and glorious dominion under the sovereign Lord.