Revelation 21:13 (ASV)

Passage

on the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

Nearby Context

Revelation 21:11 having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal:

Revelation 21:12 having a wall great and high; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

Revelation 21:13 on the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

Revelation 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Revelation 21:15 And he that spake with me had for a measure a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "east", "three", "gates", "north", and "south". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "east" and "three", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "having a wall great and high having..." into verse 14's "And the wall of the city had...", so "east" and "three" belong inside that flow. In Revelation context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "east" and "three" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.