Revelation 21:17 - Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits, by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
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What does "Revelation 21:17" mean?
Revelation 21:17 says, "And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel."
This verse describes the measurement of the wall surrounding the New Jerusalem, a symbolic representation of God's dwelling place with humanity in the new creation. The key to understanding this verse lies in understanding the symbolism involved. Here's a breakdown:
"One hundred forty-four cubits": The number 144 is likely related to the symbolic number 144,000 (12 x 12 x 1000) found elsewhere in Revelation, which represents the totality of God's people. A cubit is an ancient unit of measure, roughly the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger (about 18 inches). While a specific measurement is given, the symbolic significance is more important than the literal size of the wall. It suggests stability, perfection, and completeness.
"By the measure of a man, that is, of an angel": This is the most debated part of the verse. There are a few possible interpretations:
Equality of Measurement: Some scholars suggest it emphasizes that the standards in God's kingdom are just and understandable. The same standard applies whether it's a human perspective or a divine (angelic) perspective. It signifies that the kingdom's dimensions are not arbitrary or incomprehensible to human understanding.
Shared Standard: This could imply that God's standards are accessible and understandable to both humans and angels. It bridges the gap between the earthly and heavenly realms.
Angel as a Measuring Agent: In Revelation, angels often act as intermediaries and executors of God's will. The verse could mean an angel performed the measurement using a human-understandable unit (the cubit).
Heightened Perception: The "measure of an angel" could imply a divinely inspired or heightened perception. The human doing the measuring is, in a sense, seeing with a divine perspective to grasp the dimensions of this holy city.
In Summary:
The verse likely uses symbolic language to convey the following:
The New Jerusalem and its wall represent a perfect and complete creation where God dwells with humanity.
The dimensions are not random but signify order and divine completeness.
The standards and principles of God's kingdom are just and understandable to both humans and angels.
The measurement is performed with divine authority, whether directly by an angel or by a human with a divinely inspired perspective.
It's important to remember that Revelation is highly symbolic, and this verse should be interpreted within the broader context of the book's apocalyptic imagery. It's less about literal construction details and more about the profound reality of God's presence with his people in a transformed creation.
Revelation 21:17 - Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits, by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
What does "Revelation 21:17" mean?
Revelation 21:17 says, "And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel."
This verse describes the measurement of the wall surrounding the New Jerusalem, a symbolic representation of God's dwelling place with humanity in the new creation. The key to understanding this verse lies in understanding the symbolism involved. Here's a breakdown:
"One hundred forty-four cubits": The number 144 is likely related to the symbolic number 144,000 (12 x 12 x 1000) found elsewhere in Revelation, which represents the totality of God's people. A cubit is an ancient unit of measure, roughly the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger (about 18 inches). While a specific measurement is given, the symbolic significance is more important than the literal size of the wall. It suggests stability, perfection, and completeness.
"By the measure of a man, that is, of an angel": This is the most debated part of the verse. There are a few possible interpretations:
Equality of Measurement: Some scholars suggest it emphasizes that the standards in God's kingdom are just and understandable. The same standard applies whether it's a human perspective or a divine (angelic) perspective. It signifies that the kingdom's dimensions are not arbitrary or incomprehensible to human understanding.
Shared Standard: This could imply that God's standards are accessible and understandable to both humans and angels. It bridges the gap between the earthly and heavenly realms.
Angel as a Measuring Agent: In Revelation, angels often act as intermediaries and executors of God's will. The verse could mean an angel performed the measurement using a human-understandable unit (the cubit).
Heightened Perception: The "measure of an angel" could imply a divinely inspired or heightened perception. The human doing the measuring is, in a sense, seeing with a divine perspective to grasp the dimensions of this holy city.
In Summary:
The verse likely uses symbolic language to convey the following:
The New Jerusalem and its wall represent a perfect and complete creation where God dwells with humanity.
The dimensions are not random but signify order and divine completeness.
The standards and principles of God's kingdom are just and understandable to both humans and angels.
The measurement is performed with divine authority, whether directly by an angel or by a human with a divinely inspired perspective.
It's important to remember that Revelation is highly symbolic, and this verse should be interpreted within the broader context of the book's apocalyptic imagery. It's less about literal construction details and more about the profound reality of God's presence with his people in a transformed creation.