Revelation 21:21 (YLT)

Passage

And the twelve gates <FI>are<Fi> twelve pearls, each several one of the gates was of one pearl; and the broad-place of the city <FI>is<Fi> pure gold--as transparent glass.

Nearby Context

Revelation 21:19 and the foundations of the wall of the city with every precious stone have been adorned; the first foundation jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;

Revelation 21:20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.

Revelation 21:21 And the twelve gates <FI>are<Fi> twelve pearls, each several one of the gates was of one pearl; and the broad-place of the city <FI>is<Fi> pure gold--as transparent glass.

Revelation 21:22 And a sanctuary I did not see in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, is its sanctuary, and the Lamb,

Revelation 21:23 and the city hath no need of the sun, nor of the moon, that they may shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamp of it <FI>is<Fi> the Lamb;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "twelve", "gates", "pearls", "each", and "several". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "twelve" and "gates", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "the fifth sardonyx the sixth sardius the..." into verse 22's "And a sanctuary I did not see...", so "twelve" and "gates" 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 "twelve" and "gates" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.