Revelation 21:18-20
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The verse highlights a fascinating detail: the city's pure gold is described as being "like clear glass." This isn't about fragility, but rather a divine transparency, suggesting that all within this heavenly city—its structures, its motives, its very essence—will be utterly pure and open, shining with God's own brilliant love.
The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.
English Standard Version (ESV)
John is witnessing a breathtaking vision of the New Jerusalem descending from heaven, a stark contrast to the earthly city of judgment described earlier. The angel is meticulously detailing its construction, moving from the impenetrable wall built of jasper to the city itself, which is made of pure, transparent gold. This description emphasizes the security, purity, and radiant glory of God's eternal dwelling place with His people.
The city's wall isn't just a barrier; it's a statement. What does the choice of jasper tell us about God's provision for His people?
A Wall of Unyielding Strength
John describes the wall of the New Jerusalem as being built of jasper. This isn't just a pretty stone; it's known for its incredible hardness and durability.
This wall isn't a human construction but a testament to God's perfect, unassailable protection for His redeemed people.
The city itself is pure gold, yet it's like clear glass. What paradoxical image does this create, and what does it reveal about the heart of heaven?
The Transparency of Perfect Love
The description of the city being "pure gold, like clear glass" is striking. Gold in Scripture often represents divine worth, perfection, and what is precious. But the addition of "like clear glass" adds another layer.
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This isn't the opaque gold of earthly wealth, but a radiance that is utterly pure and open, mirroring the boundless and transparent love that characterizes God's presence.
Understand the original words
iaspis · Greek Noun
A precious stone often associated with the glory, radiance, and holiness of God’s presence; in Revelation, it symbolizes the brilliant, untarnished purity of the New Jerusalem.
chrysion · Greek Noun
Gold represents the highest value, divine royalty, and incorruptibility; as a building material, it signifies the heavenly realm's eternal nature and glorious worth.
themēlios · Greek Noun
The base upon which a structure is built; in scripture, it symbolizes the foundational truths, established righteousness, or the apostolic and prophetic witness upon which the kingdom of God is established.
lithos timios · Greek Noun Phrase
Precious stones in the Bible often represent the beauty, variety, and incomparable worth of God's creation, particularly when used to adorn the sacred dwelling places of God (like the High Priest's breastpiece or the New Jerusalem).
sappheiros · Greek Noun
A precious blue stone; it frequently symbolizes the color of the heavens or the throne of God, representing holiness, divine authority, and majesty.
chalkēdōn · Greek Noun
An ancient precious stone (likely chalcedony or similar); in biblical lists of gems, it represents the richness of creation brought into the service and glory of the Creator.
smaragdos · Greek Noun
A brilliant green stone; it often evokes themes of life, freshness, and the enduring vitality of God's creation, appearing in visions of God’s throne.
sardonyx · Greek Noun
A banded mineral used as a gem; in the Old Testament, it was notably present in the high priest's breastplate, linking the New Jerusalem’s foundations to the covenantal priesthood and God's people.
sardion · Greek Noun
A reddish-orange stone; often associated with the appearance of fire or blood, symbolizing divine judgment or the intensity of God’s presence and glory.
chrysolithos · Greek Noun
A yellowish-green gem; part of the symbolic array of precious stones, representing the totality and multifaceted nature of the glory of the eternal city.
bēryllos · Greek Noun
A gemstone varying in color; it appears in biblical lists of treasures, highlighting the lavish splendor of the kingdom of God where all creation is glorified.
topazion · Greek Noun
A precious stone, likely the golden-yellow stone known in antiquity; it signifies value and the radiant light of God’s kingdom.
chrysoprasos · Greek Noun
A green stone (likely chrysoprase); signifies the abundance and beauty of the New Jerusalem, reflecting God's creative joy and the perfection of the coming age.
hyakinthos · Greek Noun
A reddish-orange or amber gem; its inclusion signifies the complete range of colors and virtues present in the foundation of the city, underscoring the fullness of God’s grace.
amethystos · Greek Noun
A violet or purple stone; traditionally associated with royalty and dignity, highlighting the status of the city as the dwelling of the King of Kings.
This passage also describes God's throne as resembling jasper, connecting the foundational brilliance of God's presence to the glorious material of the New Jerusalem's wall.
Ezekiel 40:3Ezekiel's vision of a future temple includes a man with a measuring reed whose appearance is like shining bronze, hinting at the pure and radiant nature of divine structures and materials.
1 Corinthians 3:12Paul discusses building with precious materials like gold and silver on the foundation of Christ, paralleling the New Jerusalem's composition with the valuable and enduring nature of faithful spiritual works.
Hebrews 12:22This verse speaks of coming to Mount Zion and the heavenly Jerusalem, described as alive with 'countless angels in joyful gathering' and 'spirits of the righteous made perfect,' underscoring the city's perfect and radiant heavenly nature.
ellicottRevelation 21:18: "And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass."
THE BUILDING OR MATERIAL OF THE CITY. (18) And the building of the wall . . .—Or, And the building-work (or, the masonry, so Alford) of the wall of it was jasper, and the city was pure gold, like pure glass. The general aspect of the city was jasperlike, because the material of the wall was of the jasper stone. On this stone, see Note on Revelation 4:3, and on Revelation 21:1…
pulpitRevelation 21:18: "And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass."
Verse 18. - And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass; pure glass. The exceeding brightness and purity is the idea contained in both expressions - the light of ver. 11, which is there associated with jasper and crystal. (On "jasper," see on ver. 11 and Revelation 4:3.) The whole description is, of course, typical, not…
The verse highlights a fascinating detail: the city's pure gold is described as being "like clear glass." This isn't about fragility, but rather a divine transparency, suggesting that all within this heavenly city—its structures, its motives, its very essence—will be utterly pure and open, shining with God's own brilliant love.
John is witnessing a breathtaking vision of the New Jerusalem descending from heaven, a stark contrast to the earthly city of judgment described earlier. The angel is meticulously detailing its construction, moving from the impenetrable wall built of jasper to the city itself, which is made of pure, transparent gold. This description emphasizes the security, purity, and radiant glory of God's eternal dwelling place with His people.
John is witnessing a breathtaking vision of the New Jerusalem descending from heaven, a stark contrast to the earthly city of judgment described earlier. The angel is meticulously detailing its construction, moving from the impenetrable wall built of jasper to the city itself, which is made of pure, transparent gold. This description emphasizes the security, purity, and radiant glory of God's eternal dwelling place with His people.
"The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, th…" — The verse highlights a fascinating detail: the city's pure gold is described as being "like clear glass." This isn't about fragility, but rather a divine transparency, suggesting that all within this…
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Last reviewed October 2026
