Chapter
Verse

Revelation 21:17

ESV He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel 's measurement.
NIV The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick.
NASB And he measured its wall, 144 cubits, by human measurements, which are also angelic measurements.
CSB Then he measured its wall, 144 cubits according to human measurement, which the angel used.
NLT Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel).
KJV And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
NKJV Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

What does Revelation 21:17 mean?

The angel also measured the wall that surrounds New Jerusalem. Although an angel measured the wall, he used human measurements. The city's wall is 144 cubits thick, which is about 216 feet or almost 66 meters. Generally, a wall is constructed to provide security and/or privacy. But most walls are only a foot (30 cm) or less thick. The massive size of these walls not only implies strength, it suggests the enormous scale of the rest of the city.

When Nehemiah heard that Jerusalem's walls were broken down, he became distraught and undertook the task of restoring them (Nehemiah 1:1–4). Even the threat of enemy aggression failed to deter him from the rebuilding effort (Nehemiah 4:15–16). He wanted Jerusalem to be secure. It was common for watchmen to be posted on city walls in order to detect an approaching enemy and sound an alarm. New Jerusalem's extremely thick wall emphasizes the city's security, and the absence of watchmen on the wall emphasizes the fact that God is its protector.
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