Revelation 21:4

New Testament Apocalyptic ASV (1901)

What does Revelation 21:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.
Revelation 21:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Revelation 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.

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 God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, etc.] Occasioned by sin, Satan, the hidings of God's face, and afflictive dispensations of Providence; for these will be no more: and there shall be no more death; natural or violent; there will be no more putting of the saints to death, or persecution of them unto death, as in former times; nor will they die a natural death any more; these children of the resurrection, and inhabitants of the new heaven and earth, will be like the angels, who die not; there will be no more deadness as to spiritual things among the saints; and as for the second death, that will have no power over them. So the Jews say f455, abl dyt[l htym ˆya, “there is no…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“all tears--Greek, "every tear." no more death--Greek, "death shall be no more." Therefore it is not the millennium, for in the latter there is death (Isa 65:20; Co1 15:26, Co1 15:54, "the last enemy . . . destroyed is death," Rev 20:14, after the millennium). sorrow--Greek, "mourning." passed away--Greek, "departed," as in Rev 21:1.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes - This will be one of the characteristics of that blessed state, that not a tear shall ever be shed there. How different will that be from the condition here - for who is there here who has not learned to weep? See the notes on Revelation 7:17. Compare the notes on Isaiah 25:8. And there shall be no more death - In all that future world of glory, not one shall ever die; not a grave shall ever be dug! What a view do we begin to get of heaven, when we are told there shall be no “death” there! How different from earth, where death is so common; where it spares no one; where our best friends die; where the wise, the good, the useful, the lovely…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“And death shall be no more - This is a full proof that this whole description belongs not to time, but eternity. Neither shall sorrow, or crying, or pain, be any more: for the former things are gone away - Under the former heaven, and upon the former earth, there was death and sorrow, crying and pain; all which occasioned many tears: but now pain and sorrow are fled away, and the saints have everlasting life and joy. Revelation 21:5”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“21:4 no more death or sorrow or crying or pain: See Isa 25:8; 1 Cor 15:54. God’s people will know the creative wholeness and salvation that Christ brings (see 2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“God shall: Rev 7:17; Isa 25:8 no: Rev 20:14, Rev 22:3; Isa 25:8; Hos 13:14; Co1 15:26, Co1 15:54-58; Heb 2:14, Heb 2:15 neither sorrow: Isa 30:19, Isa 35:10, Isa 60:20, Isa 61:3, Isa 65:18, Isa 65:19; Jer 31:13 the former: Rev 21:1; Psa 144:4; Mat 24:35; Co1 7:31; Co2 6:17; Pe2 3:10; Jo1 2:17 Revelation 21:5”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification