Revelation 21:18 Meaning and Explanation
“And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The wall is built of jasper and the city of pure gold, so refined it is clear as glass.
What Does Revelation 21:18 Mean?
John describes the materials. The wall is of jasper, the same precious stone likened earlier to the glory of God, and the city itself is pure gold, yet a gold so refined it is like clear glass. Earthly gold is opaque; this gold is transparent.
The paradox points beyond ordinary riches to something purer than anything the world can offer. Transparent gold is gold with nothing hidden, nothing impure, holding back none of the light. It pictures a place and a people made wholly pure, with no shadow left in them, fully open to the presence and glory of God. The reader senses that the wealth of the city is not in its substance alone but in its perfect purity, a holiness so complete that the light of God shines straight through.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 21:18
What does Revelation 21:18 mean?
The wall is built of jasper and the city of pure gold, so refined it is clear as glass.