Revelation 21:16

16 And the city was set in square; and the length of it is so much, as much as is the breadth. And he meted the city with the reed, by furlongs twelve thousands [by furlongs twelve thousand]. And the height, and the length and the breadth of it, be even.

Revelation 21:16 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 21:16

And the city lieth four square
To the four corners of the world, from whence its inhabitants come, and denotes the regularity, uniformity, perfection, and immovableness of it.

And the length is as large as the breadth;
this church state will be all of a piece, perfect, entire, and wanting nothing.

And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs;
or fifteen hundred miles; a monstrously large city indeed! such an one as never was upon earth; see ( Ezekiel 48:35 ) and which shows, that this is not to be understood literally, but mystically; and intends the capaciousness of it, here being room enough for all the twelve tribes of Israel; that is, for all the elect of God; for as in Christ's Father's house, so in this kingdom state of his, there will be many mansions, or dwelling places, enough for all his people. This city will hold them all. The Jews ^F8 say of Jerusalem, that in time to come it shall be so enlarged, as to reach to the gates of Damascus, yea, to the throne of glory.

The length, and the breadth, and the height of it are equal.
A perfectly uniform state! according to the Ethiopic version, it is in length twelve thousand furlongs, and every measure equal, so that it is so many furlongs in length, breadth, and height.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 24. 1.

Revelation 21:16 In-Context

14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundaments, and in them the twelve names of the twelve apostles, and of the lamb.

15 And he that spake with me, had a golden measure of a reed, that he should mete the city, and the gates of it, and the wall.

16 And the city was set in square; and the length of it is so much, as much as is the breadth. And he meted the city with the reed, by furlongs twelve thousands [by furlongs twelve thousand]. And the height, and the length and the breadth of it, be even.

17 And he meted the walls of it, of an hundred and forty and four cubits, by measure of man, that is, of the angel.

18 And the building of the wall thereof was of the stone jasper. And the city itself was clean gold, like [to] clean glass.