Revelation 21:11

New Living Translation

It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
arrayed with God’s glory. Her radiance was like a precious jewel, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

King James Version (1611)
Hauing the glory of God: and her light was like vnto a stone most precious; euen like a iasper stone, cleare as christal,

King James Version
Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

New American Standard Bible
having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very valuable stone, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper.

New Century Version
It was shining with the glory of God and was bright like a very expensive jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

English Standard Version
having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.

Berean Standard Bible
shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

Contemporary English Version
The glory of God made the city bright. It was dazzling and crystal clear like a precious jasper stone.

Complete Jewish Bible
It had the Sh'khinah of God, so that its brilliance was like that of a priceless jewel, like a crystal-clear diamond.

Darby Translation
having the glory of God. Her shining [was] like a most precious stone, as a crystal-like jasper stone;

Easy-to-Read Version
The city was shining with the glory of God. It was shining bright like a very expensive jewel, like a jasper. It was clear as crystal.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Hauing the glorie of God: and her shining was like vnto a stone most precious, as a Iasper stone cleare as crystall,

George Lamsa Translation
Having the glory of God, radiant as a brilliant light, resembling a very precious gem; like a jasper stone, clear as crystal:

Good News Translation
and shining with the glory of God. The city shone like a precious stone, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

Lexham English Bible
that has the glory of God. Its radiance is like a precious stone, something like a jasper stone, shining like crystal.

Literal Translation
having the glory of God. And its light was like a very precious stone, as a jasper stone, being clear as crystal,

Amplified Bible
having God's glory [filled with His radiant light]. The brilliance of it resembled a rare and very precious jewel, like jasper, shining and clear as crystal.

American Standard Version
having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal:

Bible in Basic English
Having the glory of God: and her light was like a stone of great price, a jasper stone, clear as glass:

Hebrew Names Version
having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it was a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

International Standard Version
It had the glory of God, and its light was like a valuable gem, like jasper, as clear as crystal.Revelation 21:5,23;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
having the glory of Aloha, as the clearness of light, like a stone of great price, as the stone Jaspon, resembling crystallos;

Murdock Translation
in which was the glory of God, as a brilliant light, and resembling a very precious gem; like a jasper stone, resembling crystal.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Hauing the glorie of God: and her shining was lyke vnto a stone most precious, euen lyke a Iasper, cleare as Cristall.

English Revised Version
having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal:

World English Bible
having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it was a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Having the glory of God: her window was like the most precious stone, like a jasper stone,

Weymouth's New Testament
and bringing with it the glory of God. It shone with a radiance like that of a very precious stone--such as a jasper, bright and transparent.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
hauynge the clerete of God; and the liyt of it lijk a preciouse stoon, as the stoon iaspis, as cristal.

Update Bible Version
having the glory of God: her light was like a most precious stone, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal:

Webster's Bible Translation
Having the glory of God: and her light [was] like to a stone most precious, even like a jasper-stone, clear as crystal;

New English Translation
The city possesses the glory of God; its brilliance is like a precious jewel, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper.

New King James Version
having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

New Life Bible
It was filled with the shining-greatness of God. It shone like a stone worth much money, like a jasper stone. It was clear like glass.

New Revised Standard
It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
having the glory of God, - her lustre, like unto a stone most precious, as a jasper stone, shining as crystal;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Having the glory of God, and the light thereof was like to a precious stone, as to the jasper stone even as crystal.

Revised Standard Version
having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
havynge the brightnes of God. And her shynynge was lyke vnto a stone moste precious even a Iaspar cleare as cristall:

Young's Literal Translation
having the glory of God, and her light [is] like a stone most precious, as a jasper stone clear as crystal,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
hauynge the brightnes of God. And her shynynge was lyke vnto a stone most precious, euen a Iaspar cleare as cristall:

Mace New Testament (1729)
it blaz'd with the glory of God: her luminary was like that of a brilliant, even like a jasper, as transparent as crystal.

Simplified Cowboy Version
It shone with the glory of God. It looked to be made of expensive stone and was clear as crystal.

Contextual Overview

⁹ 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." ¹⁰ So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. ¹¹ It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal. ¹² The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. ¹³ There were three gates on each side—east, north, south, and west. ¹⁴ The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ¹⁵ The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. ¹⁶ When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. ¹⁷ Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel). ¹⁸ The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the glory: Revelation 21:22, Revelation 21:23, Revelation 22:5, Isaiah 4:5, Isaiah 60:1, Isaiah 60:2, Isaiah 60:19, Isaiah 60:20, Ezekiel 48:35

her: Revelation 21:19, Ezekiel 1:26, Ezekiel 28:13, Ezekiel 28:14, Ezekiel 28:16

clear: Revelation 21:18, Revelation 4:6, Revelation 22:1, Job 28:17, Ezekiel 1:22

Reciprocal: Genesis 48:3 - God Exodus 24:10 - in his clearness Exodus 28:20 - a jasper 1 Kings 8:11 - for the glory 1 Kings 10:10 - and precious Psalms 3:3 - my Song of Solomon 6:10 - Who Zechariah 2:5 - the glory Acts 7:55 - and saw Romans 5:2 - the glory Revelation 4:3 - like a Revelation 21:21 - as it

Cross-References

Genesis 17:18
So Abraham said to God, "May Ishmael live under your special blessing!"

Genesis 21:1
The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised.

Genesis 21:2
She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would.

2 Samuel 18:33
The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son."

Matthew 10:37
"If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.

Hebrews 12:11
No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it's painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Having the glory of God,.... Not only upon their souls, which will lie in the glorious robe of Christ's righteousness, the bride's wedding garment being on them, in the perfect holiness which will be in them, and in that complete knowledge of all spiritual and heavenly things they will be possessed of, they will have a glory revealed in them; but upon their bodies also, for this city, the church, the bride of Christ, will consist only of risen and changed saints, whose bodies will be freed from all dishonour; deformity, diseases, and imperfections, and will be made like unto Christ's glorious body, and will shine like the sun in the kingdom of God. Moreover, the presence of God may be intended by his glory, as the Shechinah, or the divine majesty of God in the tabernacle and temple was called, Exodus 40:35 1 Kings 8:11 for the glorious presence of God will now be in this church state, which will cast a lustre on all that are in it; for if the face of Moses, and of Stephen, shone so bright and glorious, through the presence of God with them; see 2 Corinthians 3:7 how much more gloriously will the saints shine in this state, when they shall enjoy the presence of God in a far more illustrious manner? to which may be added, that Jesus Christ, who is the brightness of his Father's glory, will now appear in that, and in his own, and in the glory of his angels; and all the saints will appear with him in glory; and to see them in all this glory is a glorious sight indeed!

And her light was like unto a stone most precious; by her "light" is not meant the light she will have in her, though that will be exceeding great, but the fountain of it from whence it comes; that which holds it forth to her, and supplies her with it: the word φωστηρ signifies an illuminator, and is used of the ministers of the Gospel, that hold forth the word of life and light to others, Philippians 2:15 but here it intends Christ, who is the sun of righteousness, the church's light or enlightener, Revelation 21:23 not with the light of nature, as he enlightens every man, nor with the light of grace, with which the saints are enlightened by him in the present state of things, by his Spirit, through the word and ordinances, but with the light of glory: and he is comparable to the most precious stone; he is more precious than rubies; he is so now to them that believe, in his person, offices, grace, and righteousness, and will be more so in his light and glory in the new Jerusalem state:

even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal: God the Father, who sits on the throne, is said to be to look upon like a "jasper";

Revelation 21:23- :; and here Christ, the illuminator of his church, is said to be like one, because of the exceeding brightness of this stone, and the durableness of it, expressive of the perpetuity of Christ, as the light of his church and people; he is the everlasting light of it, Isaiah 60:19 and he is compared to the crystallising "jasper". There is one sort which is called "Aerizusa", like to air c, and another "Crystallizusa" d, clear as crystal. So Pliny speaks e of a white "jasper" called "Astrios", and which, he says, is crystallo propinquans, "near to crystal", found in India, and on the shores of Pallene. To this Christ is like, because he is light itself, and in him is no darkness at all, and will cause an everlasting day; and such a clear and bright state of things, as that there will be no night, nor any more darkness, nothing but everlasting joy, peace, prosperity, and happiness; there seems to be some reference to Isaiah 60:1.

c Ruaeus de Gemmis, l. 2. c. 1. d Dioscorides, l. 5. c. 160. e Nat. Hist. l. 37. c. 9.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Having the glory of God - A glory or splendor such as became the dwelling place of God. The nature of that splendor is described in the following verses.

And her light - In Revelation 21:23 it is said that “the glory of God did lighten it.” That is, it was made light by the visible symbol of the Deity - the “Shekinah.” See the Luke 2:9 note; Acts 9:3 note. The word here rendered “light” - φωστὴρ phōstēr - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament except in Philippians 2:15. It means, properly, a light, a lightgiver, and, in profane writers, means commonly a “window.” It is used here to denote the brightness or shining of the divine glory, as supplying the place of the sun, or of a window.

Like unto a stone most precious - A stone of the richest or most costly nature.

Even like a jasper stone - On the jasper, see the notes on Revelation 4:3. It is used there for the same purpose as here, to illustrate the majesty and glory of God.

Clear as crystal - Pellucid or resplendent like crystal. There are various kinds of jasper - as red, yellow, and brown, brownish yellow, etc. The stone is essentially a quartz, and the word “crystal” here is used to show that the form of it referred to by John was clear and bright.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Revelation 21:11. Having the glory of God — Instead of the sun and moon, it has the splendour of God to enlighten it.

Unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.] Among precious stones there are some even of the same species more valuable than others: for their value is in proportion to their being free from flaws, and of a good water, i.e., a uniform and brilliant transparency. A crystal is perfectly clear, the oriental jasper is a beautiful sea-green. The stone that is here described is represented as a perfectly transparent jasper, being as unclouded as the brightest crystal, and consequently the most precious of its species. Nothing can be finer than this description: the light of this city is ever intense, equal, and splendid; but it is tinged with this green hue, in order to make it agreeable to the sight. Nothing is so friendly to the eye as blue or green; all other colours fatigue; and, if very intense, injure the eye. These are the colours of the earth and sky, on which the eye of man is to be constantly fixed. To these colours the structure of the eye is adapted; and the general appearance of the earth and the sky is adapted to this structure.