Revelation 21:23 (KJV)

Passage

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

Nearby Context

Revelation 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

Revelation 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

Revelation 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

Revelation 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

Revelation 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "light", "city", "need", "neither", "moon", "shine", "glory", and "lighten". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "light" and "city", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "And I saw no temple therein for..." into verse 24's "And the nations of them which are...", so "light" and "city" 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 "light" and "city" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.