And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
16. he measured the city ] It is doubtful whether this is the measurement of the side of the square, or of the whole circumference. The twelve-fold measure is in favour of the former view: thus from each gate to the next would be 1000 furlongs; the outmost gate on each side being 500 from the angle.
with the reed ] He has not, as in the parallel passages of Ezekiel and Zechariah, a line for the long measurements (like our “chains” and “poles”).
twelve thousand furlongs ] The construction is peculiar, but the sense clear. The measure would be about 1378 English miles, making the City 344 miles square, according to the lower computation.
the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal ] It seems inconsistent with the pictorial vividness of this book, to imagine that the City is described as forming a cube of over 300 miles each way; and we are told in the next verse that the wall was of a great but not unimaginable or disproportionate height. Yet no other interpretation has been proposed that seems fairly reconcileable with the words; and passages are quoted from the Rabbis, that seem to prove that this notion, of Jerusalem being elevated to an enormous height, did commend itself to Jewish habits of thought. Would it be admissible to suppose that the City, which almost certainly lies on a mountain, forms not a cube but a pyramid? The height of it, equal to one side of the base, may then be conceived to be measured along the slope, either at the angle, or at the centre of one side: the conception of vertical height is rather too abstruse to be looked for, and it could not be measured with the reed. The vertical height would on one view be about 2121 stadia, or 243 miles: on the other, about 2598 stadia, or 298 miles.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And the city lieth four-square – It was an exact square. That is, there was nothing irregular about it; there were no crooked walls; there was no jutting out, and no indentation in the walls, as if the city had been built at different times without a plan, and had been accommodated to circumstances. Most cities have been determined in their outline by the character of the ground – by hills, streams, or ravines; or have grown up by accretions, where one part has been joined to another, so that there is no regularity, and so that the original plan, if there was any, has been lost sight of. The New Jerusalem, on the contrary, had been built according to a plan of the utmost regularity, which had not been modified by the circumstances, or varied as the city grew. The idea here may be, that the church, as it will appear in its state of glory, will be in accordance with an eternal plan, and that the great original design will have been fully carried out.
And the length is as large as the breadth – The height also of the city was the same – so that it was an exact square.
And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs – As eight furlongs make a mile, the extent of the walls, therefore, must have been three hundred and seventy-five miles. Of course, this must preclude all idea of there being such a city literally in Palestine. This is clearly a figurative or symbolical representation; and the idea is, that the city was on the most magnificent scale, and with the largest proportions, and the description here is adopted merely to indicate this vastness, without any idea that it would be understood literally.
The length, and the breadth, and the height of it are equal – According to this representation, the height of the city, not of the walls (compare Rev 21:17), would be three hundred and seventy-five miles. Of course, this cannot be understood literally, and the very idea of a literal fulfillment of this shows the absurdity of that method of interpretation. The idea intended to be conveyed by this immense height would seem to be that it would contain countless numbers of inhabitants. It is true that such a structure has not existed, and that a city of such a height may seem to be out of all proportion; but we are to remember:
(a)That this is a symbol; and,
(b)That, considered as one mass or pile of buildings, it may not seem to be out of proportion. It is no uncommon thing that a house should be as high as it is long or broad.
The idea of vastness and of capacity is the main idea designed to be represented. The image before the mind is, that the numbers of the redeemed will be immense.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 16. The city lieth foursquare] Each side was equal, consequently the length and breadth were equal; and its height is here said to be equal to its length. It is hard to say how this should be understood. It cannot mean the height of the buildings, nor of the walls, for neither houses nor walls could be twelve thousand furlongs in height; some think this means the distance from the plain country to the place where the city stood. But what need is there of attempting to determine such measures in such a visionary representation? The quadrangular form intimates its perfection and stability, for the square figure was a figure of perfection among the Greeks; , the square or cubical man, was, with them, a man of unsullied integrity, perfect in all things.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The church militant, measured by the reed of the word, is unequal in its parts; some parts of it are purer than others; but in the new Jerusalem all parts shall be equal in perfection and purity, as all the sides of a thing four square are equal.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16. twelve thousandfurlongsliterally, “to twelve thousand stadii“:one thousand furlongs being the space between the several twelvegates. BENGEL makes thelength of each side of the city to be twelve thousand stadii.The stupendous height, length, and breadth being exactly alike, implyits faultless symmetry, transcending in glory all our most glowingconceptions.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the city lieth four square,…. To the four corners of the world, from whence its inhabitants come, and denotes the regularity, uniformity, perfection, and immovableness of it.
And the length is as large as the breadth; this church state will be all of a piece, perfect, entire, and wanting nothing.
And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs; or fifteen hundred miles; a monstrously large city indeed! such an one as never was upon earth; see Eze 48:35 and which shows, that this is not to be understood literally, but mystically; and intends the capaciousness of it, here being room enough for all the twelve tribes of Israel; that is, for all the elect of God; for as in Christ’s Father’s house, so in this kingdom state of his, there will be many mansions, or dwelling places, enough for all his people. This city will hold them all. The Jews h say of Jerusalem, that in time to come it shall be so enlarged, as to reach to the gates of Damascus, yea, to the throne of glory.
The length, and the breadth, and the height of it are equal. A perfectly uniform state! according to the Ethiopic version, it is in length twelve thousand furlongs, and every measure equal, so that it is so many furlongs in length, breadth, and height.
h Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 24. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Lieth foursquare ( ). Present middle indicative of . The predicate adjective is from (Aeolic for four) and ( corner, Mt 6:5) here only in N.T. As in Ezek 48:16; Ezek 48:20. It is a tetragon or quadrilateral quadrangle (21:12f.).
The length thereof is as great as the breadth ( ). It is rectangular, both walls and city within. Babylon, according to Herodotus, was a square, each side being 120 stadia. Diodorus Siculus says that Nineveh was also foursquare.
With the reed ( ). Instrumental case (cf. verse 15 for ) and for (aorist active indicative here)
Twelve thousand furlongs ( ). This use of the genitive with is probably correct (reading of Aleph P), though A Q have (more usual, but confusing here with ). Thucydides and Xenophon use with the genitive in a like idiom (in the matter of). It is not clear whether the 1500 miles (12,000 furlongs) is the measurement of each of the four sides or the sum total. Some of the rabbis argued that the walls of the New Jerusalem of Ezekiel would reach to Damascus and the height would be 1500 miles high.
Equal (). That is, it is a perfect cube like the Holy of Holies in Solomon’s temple (1Ki 6:19f.). This same measurement (, , ) is applied to Christ’s love in Eph 3:18, with (depth) added. It is useless to try to reduce the measurements or to put literal interpretations upon this highly wrought symbolic language. Surely the meaning is that heaven will be large enough for all, as Jesus said (Joh 14:1ff.) without insisting on the materialistic measurement of a gorgeous apartment house full of inside rooms.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Four square [] . From tetra four and gwnia an angle. Only here in the New Testament. Compare Eze 48:16, 20.
Twelve – thousand furlongs [ ] .
Strictly, to the length of [] twelve, etc. For the collective term ciliadev thousands, see on ch. Rev 5:11. For furlongs see on ch. Rev 14:20. The twelve – thousand furlongs would be 1378. 97 English miles. Interpretations vary hopelessly. The description seems to be that of a vast cube, which may have been suggested by the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle, which was of that shape. 83 But opinions differ as to whether the twelve thousand furlongs are the measure of the four sides of the city taken together, in which ease each side will measure three thousand furlongs; or whether the twelve – thousand furlongs are intended to represent the length of each side. The former explanation is prompted by the desire to reduce the vast dimensions of the city. Another difficulty is raised about the height. Dusterdieck, for example, maintains that the houses were three – thousand stadia in height. The question arises whether the vertical surface of the cube includes the hill or rock on which the city was placed, a view to which Alford inclines. These are enough to show how utterly futile are attempts to reduce these symbolic visions to mathematical statement. Professor Milligan aptly remarks : “Nor is it of the smallest moment to reduce the enormous dimensions spoken of. No reduction brings them within the bounds of verisimilitude; and no effort in that direction is required. The idea is alone to be thought of.”
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And the city lieth foursquare,” (kai he polis tetragonos keitai) “And the city lies square,” or is built, exists in a square form, as the ancient-city of Jerusalem was, described Eze 48:30-34.
2) “And the length is as large as the breadth,” (kai to mekos autes hoson to platos)”The length is also the same (as much) as the breadth; The most holy place, called the oracle of Solomon’s temple, was also described as foursquare, 1Ki 6:19-20. The length, breadth and height of it are equal, constituting a cubicle form.
3) “And he measured the city with the reed,” (kai emetresen ten polin to kalamo) “And he the angel) measured the dimensions of the city with the reed,” which was in his hand, Rev 21:15. This is similar to instructions formerly given to John to take a reed and “measure the temple of God, the altar, and them that worshipped therein; in preparation for the testimony of the two witnesses, leading up to the tribulation the great, Rev 11:1-4.
4) “Twelve thousand furlongs,” (epi stadion dodeka chiliadon) “At twelve thousand furlongs,” in square form one furlong is 582 feet. In dimensions 1,500 miles square or as a cubicle, story upon story, mansion upon mansion, and street upon street.
5) “The length and the breadth and the height,” (to mekos kai to platos kai to hupsos) -(The dimensions of) the length, breadth, and height, that form the square, foursquare likeness,” yet a cubicle, of golden construction.
6) “Of it are equal ” (autes isa estin) “Of it (the city) are equal,” or identical in dimension or measure, as a cubicle, expressing trinitarian unity and solidarity of Divine mansions, provision, and support for the Bride, Israel, and the redeemed of the nations that come into the city, 1Co 10:32; Joh 14:1-3; Rev 21:24; Rev 21:26.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(16) And the city lieth foursquare . . .The city is foursquare, because the length and breadth are equal; but it is added that the height also is equal to the length and breadth, the city thus presents the symbol of perfect symmetry; this is all that is needed. Many interpreters are nervously anxious about the monstrous appearance of a city whose walls measured three thousand stadii (the word rendered furlongs is properly stadii); but there is no need to be nervous about the symbols; the city is not designed, any more than the vision of Revelation 4, or the vision of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1) to be represented by painting to the eye: the attempt to do so only ends in the production of grotesque and profane pictures. It is not needful, however, in this case to suppose the actual wall to have been 3,000 stadii in height; the city is placed on a hill, the foundations are upon the holy hill, and the deep strong mountain foundations may be included in the measurement. The main thought, however, is to realise the harmony and proportion of that community, in which broad and low and high will meet, and in which no truth will be exaggerated or distorted; in which no disproportioned adjustments will mar its social order; in which all those who are inbuilt as living stones will be measured, not by the false estimates of worldly thoughts (comp. Jas. 2:4), but by the golden reed of the sanctuary.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16. Twelve thousand furlongs measured the four sides, eight furlongs to the mile, so that its base was 375 miles square. And as breadth and height were equal, it was a cube. It was, therefore, about as truly a house as a city. That this double significance is intended is indicated, not only by its being a tabernacle, but by the fact, suggested by Wordsworth, that the Greek word for gate, , as properly signifies the door of a house.
Nor can we doubt that the structure is an intentional exemplification of the words given by this same St. John, “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” Alford makes an unnecessary attempt to relieve the city of its cubical shape by assuming that its height is increased by its position being on a height, (like old Jerusalem,) and the measurement being made to the ground. But the exactitude of the statement of the equality of the three dimensions, shows that the cubical form is intended. This house-city is a temple, although it has no temple in it. And so it is (beginning with the idea of a tabernacle) at once a city, a capital, a capitol, a temple, and a royal residence, a palace.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
Ver. 16. And the city lieth four square ] So was Babylon of old (as Herodotus describeth it), which yet was taken by Cyrus, Alexander, and various other enemies. Heaven also is taken, but by another kind of violence than by force of arms. The solid square whereby it is here set forth commends it to us: 1. For stable and unshaken,Heb 12:28Heb 12:28 . Immota manet, as it is said of Venice, which yet stands in the sea, and hath but one street that is not daily overflowed (the Venetian motto is, Nec fluctu nec flatu movetur ). 2. For such as looketh every way to the four corners of the earth, as Constantinople did; which is therefore said to be a city fatally founded to command.
Twelve thousand furlongs ] About 300 Dutch miles. Nineveh was nothing to this city for its large size; no more is Alcair, Scanderoon or Cambalu, which yet is said to be 28 miles in circuit, being the imperial seat of the great Cham of Tartary. Quinsay, in the same kingdom, is said to be of all cities in the world the greatest; in circuit a hundred miles about, as Paulus Venetus writeth, who himself dwelt therein about the year 1260. But our New Jerusalem is far larger; 12,000 furlongs (according to some) make 1500 miles; and yet he that shall imagine heaven to be no larger than so, shall be more worthy to be blamed than the workmen were that built Westminster Hall; which King William II, the founder, found great fault with, for being too little; saying it was fitter for a chamber than for a hall of a king of England; and therefore took a plot for one far more spacious to be added unto it. (Dan. Chron.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
furlongs. Greek. stadion. See Rev 14:20 and App-51.
length . . . equal. The “holy city” is presented to us as a perfect cube of 12,000 furlongs. In Solomon’s Temple “the Holy of Holies” was a perfect cube of twenty cubits.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Rev 21:16. [231] ) Thus the Latin Translator reads; for he has, per stadia duodecim millia: but if he had read, , he would have had to translate, per stadia, duodecim millium.[232] Stupendous magnitude! Alexandria is said by Josephus to have had a length of XXX. stadia, a breadth of not less than X. stadia. According to the same, the circuit of Jerusalem is defined by XXXIII. stadia; that of Thebes, according to Dicarchus, by XLIII. stadia; that of Nineveh, according to Diodorus Siculus, by CCCC. stadia. Herodotus, in his first Book, says that Babylon had CXX. stadia in each side, and CCCCLXXX. stadia in its circuit, and that its wall was L. cubits thick and CC. cubits high. All the cities in the world are mere villages in comparison with the new Jerusalem. has here a distributive force, as in tactics, , , , singly, in parties of four [by fours], in parties of eight [by eights]. See Budus Comm. Lingu Gr. col. 881. And thus is used in this verse, but not in the following, and signifies that 12,000 stadia [that is, more than 250 German miles at the least.-V. g.] is the extent of each side of the city, not of the whole circuit.
[231] 14. , foundations) One being placed beside another.-V. g.
[232] AB read . So Lachm. and Stephens Rec. Text, except that the latter has ; whereas Elzev. Rec. Text has . h has stadiorum duodecim millia: Tisch. has for .-E.
-, apostles) They, to wit, belonged to these, who had practised the craft of fishermen at the Lake of Gennesareth.-V. g.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
four square, The square form of this city probably denotes its stability; while its vast dimensions, being 1,500 miles on each side, are emblematical of magnificence, and of its capability of containing all the multitude of inhabitants which should ever enter it, however immense or innumerable. Eze 48:17, Eze 48:18, Eze 48:20, Eze 48:35
twelve: Eze 48:8-19
Reciprocal: Exo 38:1 – General 1Ki 6:2 – threescore Ezr 6:3 – the height Eze 41:4 – twenty cubits Eze 41:8 – a full Eze 48:30 – the goings Joh 6:19 – furlongs Joh 11:18 – fifteen furlongs
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rev 21:16. The city was a cube, the length and breadth and height being equal. The measurement was twelve thousand furlongs, which is fifteen hundred miles. For an approximate estimate to help us visualize the size of that city, let us think that if a man were to start at the Gulf of Mexico and travel to the Great Lakes, he would have made the journey along one side only of the city. It is true that the eternal city will not be restricted to miles as we measure distances, but the figures are intended to give us some impression of the abundant provision that God has made for the saved of all ages.
Comments by Foy E. Wallace
Verse 16.
The word “foursquare” was a Greek term used to denote perfection in any form. The immensity of the Holy City was signified by the mathematical figure of twelve thousand furlongs, or approximately fifteen hundred cubic miles, expressed in the words of the text: The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. It has been calculated that the measure of the twelve thousand furlongs in English miles computed 1378.97 exact English miles– the figure having been reckoned by a biblical commentator of England. Whether exactly or approximately it was the symbolism, first of the spiritual perfection of the church and, second, of its universality–that it was destined to fill the whole earth. The prophet declared (Isa 11:9) that the knowledge of God would cover the earth; and Jesus said in the beatitudes (Mat 5:5) that his disciples would inherit the earth–that is, fill the Psa 12:1 rPsa 87:1 his teaching. That has ever been and shall ever be the mission of his church, and that purpose was symbEph 3:10-11 heEph 3:21 tions of the New Jerusalem.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Rev 21:16. The city itself is first measured. It lieth four square … the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. It was thus a perfect cube; and, remembering the general imagery of this book, there can be no doubt that the Seer has the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle in his eye. That part of the Tabernacle was a cube.
The symbolism which marks the general shape marks also the details, each dimension measuring 12,000 furlongs, 12 the number of the people of God multiplied by 1000 the heavenly number. It is indeed often supposed that the 12,000 furlongs spoken of are the measure of the four sides of the city taken together, in which case each side will measure only 3000 furlongs. But were this view correct, it would be difficult to account for the insertion of the next clause, And the length thereof is as great as the breadth. That clause would then anticipate the last clause of the verse, whereas it seems to assign a reason why the breadth alone was actually measured. Nor is it of the smallest moment to reduce the enormous dimensions spoken of. No reduction brings them within the bounds of verisimilitude, and no effort in that direction is required. The idea is alone to be thought of.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 16
Are equal; that is, of equally magnificent dimensions the height in proportion. The absolute height of the walls is mentioned in the Revelation 21:17.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
21:16 {14} And the city lieth {b} foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
(14) The measure and form most equal, in two verses.
(b) A foursquare figure has equal sides, and outright corners, and therefore the Greeks call by this name those things that are steady, and of continuance and perfect.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
John described the shape and then the size of the city. Its base was square, the same shape as ancient Babylon and Nineveh. [Note: Robertson, 6:473.] The dimensions of this city were 12,000 stadia (approximately 1,500 miles) on each of its four sides and 1,500 miles high. The distance from Dallas, Texas, to Philadelphia or Los Angeles is about 1,500 miles.
Beasley-Murray wrote that the reader should not translate this measurement into miles because "it represents the ordinary unit of distance (the furlong) multiplied by the number of God’s people (twelve) and extended indefinitely." [Note: Beasley-Murray, p. 322.] Beale observed that the size of the city is the approximate size of the Hellenistic world in John’s day and so suggests the inclusion of all the redeemed. He held that the city’s measurements are not literal but symbolic of the inclusion of Gentiles in the true temple and city (the church). [Note: Beale, p. 1074.] Swete said, "Such dimensions defy imagination, and are permissible only in the language of symbolism." [Note: Swete, p. 289.] Such interpretations are very subjective and amount to guessing.
This description, understood literally, could allow for either a cube [Note: Mounce, p. 380; Beasley-Murray, p. 322; Seiss, p. 498; McGee, 5:1070-71; Ladd, p. 282; Swete, p. 288.] or a pyramid shape, the shape of a Babylonian ziggurat. [Note: Lilje, p. 267; William Hoste, The Visions of John the Divine, p. 178; Ironside, p. 357.] The fact that the holy of holies was a cube tempts one to conclude that the New Jerusalem will also be a cube in shape, but this is speculation.
Probably we should interpret these dimensions literally. Some interpreters believe they only symbolize what the holy of holies in Israel anticipated, namely, a perfect environment in which God dwells. Others hold that they symbolize the fulfillment of all God’s promises. [Note: E.g., Johnson, p. 596.]