Revelation 21:14

14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Revelation 21:14 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 21:14

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations
Christ is the one and only foundation of his church and people, of the covenant of grace, and of salvation; and of faith, hope, peace, and joy, and of eternal happiness, and so of this glorious state of the church; he will be the light and temple of it, the glory and safety of it; he will be all in all in it; but because he has been ministerially laid as the foundation, by the twelve apostles, for men to build their present and future happiness upon, therefore the foundations of the wall of salvation are said to be twelve; see ( Ephesians 2:20 ) . Moreover, this may denote the firm and immovable state of the church at this time, it being a city which has foundations, or is well founded, ( Hebrews 11:10 ) with which compare ( Isaiah 14:32 ) ( 28:16 ) . Hence it follows,

and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The Alexandrian copy, Vulgate Latin, Syriac and Arabic versions, read, "the twelve names of the twelve apostles"; the allusion seems to be to the inscribing of the names of builders on stones laid in the foundation, in memory of them; and so these wise master builders will be had in everlasting remembrance.

Revelation 21:14 In-Context

12 The city had a great and high wall with twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve angels at the gates.

13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west.

14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 The angel who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and walls.

16 The city lies foursquare, with its width the same as its length. And he measured the city with the rod, and all its dimensions were equal—12,000 stadia in length and width and height.