Revelation 21:11

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

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) Having the glory of God . . .—The glory of God is the glorious presence of God, the true Shechinah, of which we have read before (Revelation 15:8, and see Revelation 21:23). The light of the city is described: And her light (or, brightness: it is the light which she gives; the same word is used as that employed in the LXX., Genesis 1:17, for the heavenly bodies) is like a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone crystallising. On the meaning and appearance of this stone, see Note on Revelation 4:3. It is in all probability a stone transparent and clear as the crystal, but retaining the greenish hue belonging to the jasper. The general brightness of the city was lustrous as the diamond but shot with the green tint of the emerald bow which swept the throne. (Comp. Revelation 4:3.)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

21:9-21 God has various employments for his holy angels. Sometimes they sound the trumpet of Divine Providence, and warn a careless world; sometimes they discover things of a heavenly nature of the heirs of salvation. Those who would have clear views of heaven, must get as near to heaven as they can, on the mount of meditation and faith. The subject of the vision is the church of God in a perfect, triumphant state, shining in its lustre; glorious in relation to Christ; which shows that the happiness of heaven consists in intercourse with God, and in conformity to him. The change of emblems from a bride to a city, shows that we are only to take general ideas from this description. The wall is for security. Heaven is a safe state; those who are there, are separated and secured from all evils and enemies. This city is vast; here is room for all the people of God. The foundation of the wall; the promise and power of God, and the purchase of Christ, are the strong foundations of the safety and happiness of the church. These foundations are set forth by twelve sorts of precious stones, denoting the variety and excellence of the doctrines of the gospel, or of the graces of the Holy Spirit, or the personal excellences of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heaven has gates; there is a free admission to all that are sanctified; they shall not find themselves shut out. These gates were all of pearls. Christ is the Pearl of great price, and he is our Way to God. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. The saints in heaven tread gold under foot. The saints are there at rest, yet it is not a state of sleep and idleness; they have communion, not only with God, but with one another. All these glories but faintly represent heaven.

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.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

11. Having the glory of God—not merely the Shekinah-cloud, but God Himself as her glory dwelling in the midst of her. Compare the type, the earthly Jerusalem in the millennium (Zec 2:5; compare Re 21:23, below).

her light—Greek, "light-giver": properly applied to the heavenly luminaries which diffuse light. Compare Note, see on [2743]Php 2:15, the only other passage where it occurs. The "and" before "her light' is omitted in A, B, and Vulgate.

even like—Greek, "as it were."

jasper—representing watery crystalline brightness.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Having the glory of God; a most excellent glory, received from God.

And her light, that is, (as some interpret it), that which gave her light, (as the sun is called the light of the earth), or her enlightener,

was like unto a stone most precious, was Christ himself, who is a stone most precious: Revelation 21:23,

The Lamb is the light thereof.

Like a jasper stone: see Revelation 4:3. God is there compared to a jasper stone; here, to a

jasper stone, clear as crystal. They say of the jasper stone, that it is very glorious to the eye, precious and pure; so it is very fit to resemble in part a pure and glorious God.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire 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 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"; See Gill on Revelation 4:2; 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.

Geneva Study Bible

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

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

begins the description itself[4287] which first of all states its gleaming appearance

[4287] Cf. Ezekiel 11 sqq.

Revelation 21:11 begins the description itself[4288] which first of all states its gleaming appearance.

ἔχουσαν τὴν δόξαν τοῦ θεοῦ. What is most important, most peculiar, and what at the same time captivates the eye of the seer above all things, is the brilliancy which irradiates the whole city: “it has” in itself, it comprehends as dwelling and abiding within it,[4289] the present glory of God himself.[4290] The concrete character of this presentation is effaced by the reading of the א: ἀπὸ τ. θ.

τ. φωστὴρ, κ.τ.λ. The description now proceeds further independently of the ἕδειξεν; only the first item of the description (ἕχουσαν τ. δόξ. τ. θ.) had been given in the formal connection of the original construction.[4291] From Revelation 21:23,[4292] it follows, that ὁ φωστὴρ αὐτῆς[4293] is not distinct from the δόξα τοῦ θεοῦ;[4294] the source of light for the city is the ΔΌΞΑ of God himself present therein.[4295]

ὍΜΟΙΟς ΛΊΘῼ, Κ.Τ.Λ. The appearance of God was illustrated similarly.

ΚΡΥΣΤΑΛΛΊΞΟΝΤΙ. Cf. Psellus in Wetst.: ἡ ἰάσπις φύσει κρυσταλλοειδής.[4296]

[4288] Cf. Ezekiel 11 sqq.

[4289] Cf. Revelation 21:3.

[4290] Revelation 21:23; Revelation 15:8.

[4291] Cf. Winer, p. 499.

[4292] Cf. also Ezekiel 43:2.

[4293] Cf. Genesis 1:14.

[4294] Against Züll., according to whom the Messiah is irradiated in the φωστὴρ.

[4295] De Wette, Hengstenb., Ebrard.

[4296] [“The jasper, in nature crystalline.”]

Expositor's Greek Testament

“With the dazzling splendour of God,” cf. on Revelation 21:3, Ezekiel 43:5, Isaiah 60:1-2. Uxor splendet radiis mariti; δόξα, here, as usually in a apocalyptic literature, denotes the manifestation and realisation of the divine presence. A realistic turn is given to the expression by the “shimmering radiance” of ὁ φωστήρ κ.τ.λ. (asyndeton); “her brilliance is like a very precious stone, a jasper, crystal-clear” (i.e., transparent and gleaming as rock-crystal). The modern jasper is an opaque tinted quartz, only partially translucent at the edges. Perhaps, in reproducing Isaiah 54:11-12 (καὶ θήσω τὰς ἐπάλξεις σου ἴασπιν καὶ τὰς πύλας σου λίθους κρυστάλλου), the writer regarded both clauses as complementary (Cheyne); hence is ὡς λ. ἰ. κ. Otherwise ἴασπις might represent an opal, a diamond, or a topaz, any one of which answers better to the description of “transparent and valuable”. Flinders Petrie, however, suggests some variety of the dark green jasper.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

11. Having the glory of God] i.e. the visible cloud of glory (cf. Hebrews 9:5), the Shechinah of the divine Presence. See Revelation 21:23.

and her light] Omit “and”. The word for light is peculiar—it would properly be used of a star, as we say “luminary.”

a jasper stone] See on Revelation 4:3.

clear as crystal] Expressed by one word, and that strictly a participle, crystallizing. Are we to understand that the comparison is not with an ordinary jasper, but with a stone combining the pure and full colours of this with the crystalline structure of other more precious jewels?

Bengel's Gnomen

Revelation 21:11. Ὁ φωστὴρ) Hesychius, φωστὴρ, θυρίς. Isaiah 54:12, שמשתיך; the LXX., τὰς ἐπάλξεις σου, in the plural number. But ὁ φωστὴρ in the singular (comp. Genesis 6:16) means a part in a building which is open to the air, or admitting the light of the sun (שמש), as windows are, or spaces between the (ἐπάλξεις) battlements of the walls: or, φωστὴρ is λύχνος, Revelation 21:23. Φωστὴρ is not compounded of φῶς and τηρῶ, but it is a word derived from its own root.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - Having the glory of God. That is, the abiding presence of God, as the Shechinah (cf. Exodus 40:34; 1 Kings 8:11. Cf. also ver. 3, supra). And her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; as it were a jasper stone (Revised Version). This light is again alluded to in ver. 23. The jasper probably represents the modern diamond (see on Revelation 4:3). The brilliant light which illumines the city is the characteristic of "him that sat on the throne" (Revelation 4:3). Revelation 21:11

Vincent's Word Studies

Glory of God

Not merely divine brightness, but the presence of the God of glory Himself. Compare Exodus 40:34.

Light (φωστὴρ)

Strictly, luminary; that with which the city is illumined, the heavenly Lamb. See Revelation 21:23. The word occurs only here and Philippians 2:15.

Jasper

See on Revelation 4:3.

Clear as crystal (κρυσταλλίζοντι)

Lit., shining like crystal.