Revelation of John 21:23 · Bible study
Revelation 21:23 Commentary: God's Glory as Light
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Exegesis of Revelation 21:23: the New Jerusalem needs no sun or moon because God's glory and the Lamb provide all light. Key Greek terms and interpretations.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The glory of God and the Lamb replace all created light sources in the New Jerusalem.
- Key words: 'lamp' (λύχνος) rather than 'light', showing the Lamb as the medium; 'glory' (δόξα) of God; aorist verb 'illuminated' (ἐφώτισεν) indicating a decisive act.
- Main debate: Whether the sun and moon cease to exist or merely become redundant. The majority of supplied commentators see the latter.
- Theological theme: God's presence as the sole, sufficient source of life and joy in the new creation.
- Best use: Comfort for those who feel trapped in darkness; assurance that God will be all we need; a lens for reading Old Testament prophecies about light.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.
WEB World English Bible 2000
The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it and its lamp is the Lamb.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And the city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine upon it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamp thereof is the Lamb.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
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 is the Lamb;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon, that they should shine for it; for the glory of God has enlightened it, and the lamp thereof [is] the Lamb.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And the city hath no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it. For the glory of God hath enlightened it: and the Lamb is the lamp thereof.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y la ciudad no tenía necesidad de sol, ni de luna, para que resplandezcan en ella: porque la claridad de Dios la iluminó, y el Cordero era su lumbrera.
E a cidade não necessita de sol nem de lua para que brilhem nela; porque a glória de Deus a ilumina, e sua lâmpada é o Cordeiro.
La ville n’ a besoin ni du soleil ni de la lune pour l’ éclairer; car la gloire de Dieu l’ éclaire, et l’agneau est son flambeau.
Und die Stadt bedarf keiner Sonne noch des Mondes, daß sie scheinen; denn die Herrlichkeit Gottes erleuchtet sie, und ihre Leuchte ist das Lamm.
En de stad behoeft de zon en de maan niet, dat zij in dezelve zouden schijnen; want de heerlijkheid Gods heeft haar verlicht, en het Lam is haar Kaars.
E la città non ha bisogno di sole, né di luna che risplendano in lei perché la illumina la gloria di Dio, e l’Agnello è il suo luminare.
A nie potrzebuje to miasto słońca ani księżyca, aby świeciły w niem; albowiem chwała Boża oświeciła je, a świecą jego jest Baranek.
И город не имеет нужды ни в солнце, ни в луне для освещения своего, ибо слава Божия осветила его, и светильник его — Агнец.
那城 內又 不 用 日 月 光照；因有 神 的榮耀 光照，又有 羔羊 為城 的燈。
And the town has no need of the sun, or of the moon, to give it light: for the glory of God did make it light, and the light of it is the Lamb.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Revelation of John 21:23
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree this verse describes the heavenly Jerusalem's complete independence from created light sources. Barnes notes the imagery derives from Isaiah 60:19-20. Clarke adds that the Lamb concentrates and diffuses God's light everywhere. Vincent points out the Greek word for 'lamp' (λύχνος, luchnos) is used, not 'light' (φῶς), the Lamb is the fixture through which the glory shines, not an independent source. The verb ἐφώτισεν (ephōtisen, aorist active) indicates a decisive act: God's glory 'lightened' the city at a point in time, and the result is permanent. Cambridge Bible notes a debated question: whether the sun and moon vanish or simply become unnecessary. Gill and Wesley see the text as affirming a direct, immediate presence of God that outshines any created light. All agree: the verse promises a state where God's own being provides everything needed for life and joy.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God's glory and the Lamb are the city's total and sufficient source of light — a direct, unmediated presence of God that fulfills the hopes of Isaiah 60 and provides permanent joy.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Existence of sun and moon in the new creation | The city has no need of them for light. | Some (e.g., Cambridge) hold it is uncertain whether they still shine but are irrelevant; others (e.g., Gill) suggest they may be renewed and present but not needed for this city. |
| Role of the Lamb as 'lamp' | Jesus Christ is the means by which the Father's glory is given to the redeemed. | Whether 'lamp' suggests the Lamb is subordinate to the Father in this role, or simply the channel of light. |
| Continuity with Isaiah 60 | This verse directly fulfills Isaiah 60:19-20. | Whether the fulfillment is literal (sun and moon replaced) or metaphorical (God's presence surpassing all other sources of guidance). |
Historical & Cultural Context
John writes from Patmos to churches facing persecution. The book's apocalyptic language follows Old Testament patterns. Isaiah 24:23 says the moon will be 'confounded' and the sun 'ashamed' when Yahweh reigns. More directly, Isaiah 60:19-20 promises that Yahweh himself will be 'everlasting light.' Jewish tradition, cited in the Yalcut Rubeni and referenced by Gill, taught that in the world to come Israel would need no sun or moon, God's Shekinah would provide light.
Within Revelation 21, this verse sits in a chain of 'no more' statements: no sea (21:1), no death or pain (21:4), no temple (21:22), no night (21:25), no curse (22:3). The city is depicted as a perfect cube (21:16) like the Holy of Holies, where God's glory dwelt. In the first-century world, cities depended on the sun for warmth and light, and on the moon for navigation and marking festivals. To say the New Jerusalem needs neither is to say it belongs to a different order of creation, one where God himself is the environment. The street of gold (21:21) and precious stones (21:19-20) also reflect this light, making the whole city radiant. This imagery would comfort readers who knew darkness, both literal and spiritual, and who longed for a world where suffering ends.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries note no significant textual variants for this verse. The earliest manuscripts (including Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Alexandrinus) agree closely. The only variations are minor, such as alternate prepositions in the phrase 'shine in it' versus 'shine on it' (φαίνωσιν ἐν αὐτῇ vs. φαίνωσιν εἰς αὐτὴν). The weight of manuscripts supports the reading 'in it' (ἐν αὐτῇ).
Reception History
Early Christian writers saw this verse as describing the beatific vision, direct sight of God. Augustine in The City of God used it to depict the eternal rest of the saints. Medieval hymnody, especially 'Jerusalem the Golden,' echoed this imagery of a city needing no sun. Reformation-era commentators like Matthew Henry and John Gill focused on the Christological point: the Lamb as the lamp. In modern charismatic and Pentecostal traditions, the verse is often cited to describe the manifest presence of God in worship as a foretaste of heaven. Across all eras, the verse has comforted believers facing persecution, assuring them that the darkness of this age will be utterly replaced by God's uncreated light.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Created lights become unnecessary. The sun and moon were good gifts, but they pointed beyond themselves. In the new creation, the source of all light is present in person.
- God's glory provides direct illumination. No shadows, no night, no dependence on creation. What we now only glimpse in worship and prayer will be our constant atmosphere.
- The Lamb is the lamp. The glory comes through Jesus. He is the medium, the focus, and the one who makes the Father's light accessible to the redeemed.
Five-point outline
- The text denies need: no need for sun or moon.
- The reason given: God's glory already lights the city.
- The agent specified: the Lamb serves as the lamp.
- The connection to Isaiah 60:19-20: prophetic fulfillment.
- The result for believers: total, unbroken communion with God.
Illustration hooks
- A city during a blackout: you realize how dependent you are on artificial light. Then the power comes back, everything is clear. The new creation is that power coming back, permanently and more brilliantly.
- Standing on a mountain at night far from any town: the stars are astonishing, yet the faintest cloud blocks them. In the New Jerusalem, no cloud can block the light of God.
- A child with a nightlight who eventually grows out of needing it. The sun and moon are like a nightlight for this present age; one day we will not need them.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Will there be literal day and night in heaven, or just constant light?
- If God's glory is so bright, can we even bear it? Doesn't Scripture say no one can see God and live?
- What does it mean that the Lamb is the lamp? How does the Lamb 'lamp' the light?
Leading a Discussion
Revelation 21:23 invites us to imagine a world where everything we rely on for physical life is replaced by God's direct presence. As you read this verse, ask yourself: what do I lean on for security, comfort or direction that I may think I can't live without? God promises to be everything we need.
Discussion questions
- Read the verse aloud. What words or images stand out to you?
- Why does John mention sun and moon specifically? What roles do they play in ordinary life?
- How does this verse connect to Isaiah 60:19-20? What does that tell you about John's understanding of prophecy?
- The Greek word for 'lamp' (λύχνος) refers to a portable light, not a permanent fixture. What might John be saying about the Lamb by using that word?
- Some Christians debate whether the sun and moon cease to exist or simply become unnecessary. Which reading fits the text better? Does the difference matter for how we hope?
- If God's glory really does fill the new creation, how might that affect your prayer life now?
- What 'suns', things you depend on daily, might God want to replace with his own presence?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Isaiah 2:10 | Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, from before the terror of Yahweh, and from the glory of his majesty. |
| Isaiah 2:19 | Men shall go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes of the earth, from before the terror of Yahweh, and from the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake the earth mightily. |
| Isaiah 2:21 | to go into the caverns of the rocks, and into the clefts of the ragged rocks, from before the terror of Yahweh, and from the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake the earth mightily. |
| Isaiah 24:23 | Then the moon will be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for Yahweh of Armies will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem; and glory will be before his elders. |
| Isaiah 60:19 | The sun will be no more your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon give light to you, but Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. |
| Isaiah 60:20 | Your sun will not go down any more, nor will your moon withdraw itself; for Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will end. |
| Habakkuk 3:3 | God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and his praise filled the earth. |
| Matthew 16:27 | For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will give to everyone according to his deeds. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that this verse echoes an ancient Jewish tradition about having no need of sun or moon in the world to come. He explains that God's own light shines in the city, and that light is concentrated in the Lamb, from whom it radiates everywhere.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws attention to the Old Testament source for this image, noting that the language comes directly from Isaiah. He emphasises that the absence of the sun and moon is not a loss but a substitution: God's visible glory replaces them, and the Lamb himself serves as the city's light.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes emphasize that each gate is a single pearl, stressing the singular and precious nature of every entrance into the city. The street of pure gold, transparent like glass, symbolizes the city's utter purity and the glorious clarity of God's presence, where nothing is hidden or impure.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that the city needs neither sun nor moon in two senses. Literally, the luminaries themselves will be renewed and unnecessary. Mystically, the church will no longer need its present governance, written word, or civil rulers, though the saints will always need Christ the Sun of Righteousness, for Gods glory and the Lamb are the citys everlasting light.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that textual variants suggest either "in it" or "shine on it" for the city's light. The lamp is God and the Lamb, whose direct radiance frees the saints from dependence on any created light, including sun or moon.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange reads the New Jerusalem as a symbolic picture in which heaven and earth merge. The same angel who showed the harlot city now displays the bride, revealing God's anger as both righteous lightning and loving light. The vision unfolds in three transfigurations: theocracy, the believing nations, and glorified nature—all fulfilling Old Testament types.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent points out that the Greek word translated as "light" in this verse is actually "lamp." He suggests the revised translation is more accurate, as it emphasizes the Lamb as the immediate source of illumination in the New Jerusalem, rather than a diffuse light.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley stresses that God's glory surpasses all visible light, including the sun's brightness, by an infinite measure. The comparison is not one of degree but of kind: God's glory is so far beyond the sun that no created light can approach it.