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Revelation 21:18

New Testament Apocalyptic ASV (1901)

What does Revelation 21:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the building of the wall thereof was jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto pure glass.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the building of the wall thereof was jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto pure glass.
Revelation 21:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Revelation 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15And he that spake with me had for a measure a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16And the city lieth foursquare, and the length thereof is as great as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs: the length and the breadth and the height thereof are equal.
17And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits, [according to] the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
18And the building of the wall thereof was jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto pure glass.
19The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;
20the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.
21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the several gates was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
← Revelation 21:17Revelation 21:19 →
← Full Chapter 21 Revelation Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the building of the wall of it was of jasper, etc.] Which is expressive of the impregnableness, duration, brightness, and glory of salvation by Christ, the jasper being a very hard, durable, and bright stone; and salvation can never be made void, and of none effect; it will last for ever, and in this state will come forth as light, and as a lamp that burneth; it is represented by the same precious stone as God and Christ themselves are; (see <660402>Revelation 4:2 21:11). And the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass; it was made or built of gold; its parts, buildings, houses, and palaces, were all of gold, and that the best; and it was like to transparent glass; that is, either the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“the building--"the structure" [TREGELLES], Greek, "endomeesis." gold, like . . . clear glass--Ideal gold, transparent as no gold here is [ALFORD]. Excellencies will be combined in the heavenly city which now seem incompatible.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And the building of the wall of it - The material of which the wall was composed. This means the wall above the foundation, for that was composed of twelve rows of precious stones, Revelation 21:14, Revelation 21:19-20. The height of the foundation is not stated, but the entire wall above was composed of jasper. Was of jasper - See the notes on Revelation 4:3. Of course, this cannot be taken literally; and an attempt to explain all this literally would show that that method of interpreting the Apocalypse is impracticable. And the city was pure gold - The material of which the edifices were composed. Like unto clear glass - The word rendered “glass” in this place - ὕαλος hualos - occurs in…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the building of the wall was jasper - That is, the wall was built of jasper. And the city - The houses, was of pure gold. Revelation 21:19”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“21:18 The wall is built of jasper (see study note on 21:11; cp. 4:3). The city is fashioned in gold, which is not opaque like earthly gold; rather, like God’s transformed people, the heavenly gold is clear and pure.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“was of: Rev 21:11, Rev 21:19 like: Rev 21:11, Rev 21:21 Revelation 21:19”
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Related study paths

Read Revelation 21 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification