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Revelation 21:18
ESV The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
NIV The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.
NASB The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
CSB The building material of its wall was jasper, and the city was pure gold clear as glass.
NLT The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass.
KJV And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
NKJV The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

What does Revelation 21:18 mean?

John observed that the wall of New Jerusalem is constructed of jasper. Verse 11 indicates the jasper is translucent. It may be a crystalline red. Because the wall is constructed of this translucent jewel, it must glow with brilliant color. The city appeared to John to be clear, pure, transparent gold. This gold is quite different from gold as we know it. The gold we know is solid and not transparent. Jasper, as well, is not literally clear. John's words here seem to be an attempt to describe the indescribable using terms most likely to be understood. This would be like a modern person describing something as a "ray of darkness," though everyone involved knows there is no such literal thing.

The point of John's description is this: the city glows with brilliant light, both dazzling red and shiny gold. Because God is glorious, the city reflects His glory. Earlier, John saw a vision of God on His throne (Revelation 4:3–4) and wrote that He had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, which is very similar to ruby. A rainbow circled His throne. This description portrays God and His throne as glorious, so we should not be surprised that the city He designs and builds is arrayed with brilliant colors.
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