Revelation 21 · Verse 14

Revelation 21:14

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Revelation 21:14, King James Version

Revelation 21:14 in other translations

BSBThe wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
WEBThe wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
ASVAnd the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
YLTand the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
DARBYAnd the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
BBEAnd the wall of the town had twelve bases, and on them the twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
WebsterAnd the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

What does Revelation 21:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. twelve foundations--Joshua, the type of Jesus, chose twelve men out of the people, to carry twelve stones over the Jordan with them, as Jesus chose twelve apostles to be the twelve foundations of the heavenly city, of which He is Himself the Chief corner-stone. Peter is not the only apostolic rock on whose preaching Christ builds His Church. Christ Himself is the true foundation: the twelve are foundations only in regard to their apostolic testimony concerning Him. Though Paul was an apostle besides the twelve, yet the mystical number is retained, twelve representing the Church, namely thirty the divine number, multiplied by four, the world number. in them the names, &c.--As architects often have their names inscribed on their great works, so the names of the apostles shall be held in everlasting remembrance. Vulgate reads, "in them." But A, B, Syriac, Coptic, and Andreas read, "upon them." These authorities also insert "twelve" before "names."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 14. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations. It is not said whether these foundations were twelve rows of stones placed one above another under the city, and extending round it, or whether they were twelve stones placed at intervals. The former would seem to be the most probable, as the latter would indicate comparative feebleness and liability to fall. Compare Barnes on "Re 21:19.

And in them. In the foundation of stones. That is, the names of the apostles were cut or carved in them so as to be conspicuous.

The names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Of the Lamb of God; the Messiah. For an illustration of this passage, Eph 2:20.

(o) "and in them" Eph 2:20

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 The wall - had twelve foundations - Probably twelve stones, one of which served for a foundation or threshold to each gate; and on these were inscribed the names of the twelve apostles, to intimate that it was by the doctrine of the apostles that souls enter into the Church, and thence into the New Jerusalem.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 21:9-21

God has various employments for his holy angels. Sometimes they sound the trumpet of Divine Providence, and warn a careless world; sometimes they discover things of a heavenly nature of the heirs of salvation. Those who would have clear views of heaven, must get as near to heaven as they can, on the mount of meditation and faith. The subject of the vision is the church of God in a perfect, triumphant state, shining…

Read the full comment on Revelation 21:9-21 →

Revelation 21:14 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
τὸtotheG3588
τεῖχοςteichoswallG5038
τῆςtēsof theG3588
πόλεωςpoleōscityG4172
ἔχωνechōnhadG2192
θεμελίουςthemeliousfoundationsG2310
δώδεκαdōdekatwelveG1427
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐπ᾽ep᾽onG1909
αὐτῶνautōnthemG846
ὀνόματαonomatanamesG3686
τῶνtōnof theG3588
δώδεκαdōdekatwelveG1427
ἀποστόλωνapostolōnapostlesG652
τοῦtouof theG3588
ἀρνίου.¶arniouLamb.G721

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Revelation 21:14

  • Hebrews 11:10

    For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

  • Ephesians 2:20

    And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

  • Isaiah 54:11

    O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

  • Revelation 21:19-21

    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; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 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.

  • Matthew 16:18

    And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

  • Ephesians 3:5

    Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

  • 1 Corinthians 3:10-11

    According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

  • Revelation 18:20

    Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

  • Jude 1:17

    But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

  • Matthew 10:2-4

    Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alpheus, and Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

  • Galatians 2:9

    And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

  • Ephesians 4:11

    And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
foundations.
19-21; Isa 54:11; Heb 11:10
and in.
18:20; Mt 10:2-4; 16:18; 1Co 3:10,11; Ga 2:9; Eph 2:20; 3:5; 4:11
Jude 1:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Revelation 21:13

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

  • Revelation 21:14

    And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

  • Revelation 21:15

    And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

Read all of Revelation 21

Revelation 21:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y el muro de la ciudad tenía doce fundamentos, y en ellos los doce nombres de los doce apóstoles del Cordero.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et la muraille de la cité avait douze fondements, et sur eux les douze noms des douze apôtres de l’Agneau.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und die Mauer der Stadt hatte zwölf Grundlagen, und auf denselben zwölf Namen der zwölf Apostel des Lammes.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et murus civitatis habens fundamenta duodecim, et in ipsis duodecim nomina duodecim apostolorum Agni.