Explore the Bible Online

Revelation 21:19

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation [was] jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

Revelation 21:19 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Revelation 21:19

Theological / Devotional

Garnished. Gr. kosmeō, “to adorn” (cf. on v. 2).

Precious stones. Twelve kinds of precious stones are listed as being in the foundation. Not all of these can be identified by the modern jeweler, nor is much to be gained by making a comparison with the jewels of the high priest’s breastplate (Ex. 28:17–20). Neither ancient sources nor modern scholars agree as to the identification of all the stones. Some of their suggestions are listed below under the respective stones.

Jasper. See on ch. 4:3.

Sapphire. Perhaps lapis lazuli, a transparent or translucent sky-blue stone of great hardness.

Chalcedony. The identification of this stone is uncertain. The RSV reads “agate.” Some suggest a gem of greenish color.

Emerald. Believed to be a gem of bright-green color.

By SdaBc