Revelation 21:23

23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

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Revelation 21:23 in Other Translations

KJV

23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

ESV

23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

NLT

23 And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light.

MSG

23 The City doesn't need sun or moon for light. God's Glory is its light, the Lamb its lamp!

CSB

23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God's glory illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Revelation 21:23 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 21:23

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to
shine in it
Which may be understood either literally of these two luminaries, which all earthly cities need; and which, though they may be in being in the new heavens, yet will not have the use with respect to this city they now have. The Jews say ^F21, the orb of the sun is in this world; and the gloss adds, but not in the future state, for the lights shall be renewed: and they further say ^F23, as here, that

``in the world to come, "Israel (hmxh rwal Nykyru Nya) , will have no need of the light of the sun, nor of the light of the moon", neither by day nor by night,''

as they say ^F24, the Israelites had not in the wilderness. So they represent the Lord speaking to Moses, and saying ^F25,

``thy days shall cease, but thy light shall not cease; for thou shall have no need for ever of the light of the sun, nor of the light of the moon, and of the stars.''

Or else it may be understood mystically, but not of Christ, the sun of righteousness, whom the saints will always need and enjoy; but of the governors and discipline of the church in its present state; and of the written word, which is a light unto them now, and the ministration of it, and the ordinances of the Gospel, by which light and knowledge are conveyed; but in this state all will be immediately taught of God; nor shall everyone teach his neighbour, but all shall know the Lord perfectly; and also of political governors, who will be no more; see ( 1 Corinthians 15:24 ) .

For the glory of God did lighten it;
the Shekinah, or glorious presence of God, which filled the temple of Solomon, and shone round about the shepherds at the incarnation of Christ; with the presence of God, who is light itself, which will be enjoyed in a much more glorious manner, will the church now be enlightened; and this will be an everlasting light unto her: and the Lamb is the light thereof; in whose light they will see the face of God, and see God face to face; they will see Christ as he is, and behold his glory; and look upon the angels, those glorious forms of light, and all the glorified saints, and know and converse with each other; and they will look into, and clearly discern all the mysteries and doctrines of grace, and all the various scenes of Providence, which will all be opened and laid before them. And this light will be always without any change and variation; which is no small part of the commendation of this city, which is the inheritance of the saints in light. So the holy blessed God is said by the Jews ^F26 to be (Mylvwry lv wrwa) , "the light of Jerusalem"; he is the light of the new Jerusalem; see ( Isaiah 60:19 Isaiah 60:20 ) and the light of, the world to come is, by ^F1 them, called "the great light".

FOOTNOTES:

F21 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 101. 1.
F23 Raziel, fol. 17. 2.
F24 Yalkut Simeoni, par. 2. fol. 57. 2.
F25 Petirat Moseh, fol. 23. 2.
F26 Yalkut Simeoni, par. 2. fol. 57. 2. & 98. 1.
F1 Ben Gorion apud Aben Ezram in Psal. xlix. 19.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible