Revelation 21:14

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

And {G2532} the wall {G5038} of the city {G4172} had {G2192} twelve {G1427} foundations {G2310}, and {G2532} in {G1722} them {G846} the names {G3686} of the twelve {G1427} apostles {G652} of the Lamb {G721}.

The wall of the city was built on twelve foundation-stones, and on these were the twelve names of the twelve emissaries of the Lamb.

The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

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

Revelation 21:14 provides a vivid detail in John's vision of the New Jerusalem, the eternal dwelling place of God with humanity. It describes the foundational structure of this glorious city, emphasizing its spiritual significance and historical continuity.

Context

This verse is part of a detailed description of the New Jerusalem, which descends from heaven after the creation of the new heaven and new earth. Following an overview of the city's immense size and precious materials, John focuses on its defensive and symbolic features. Just two verses prior, Revelation 21:12 mentions the city's twelve gates, bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, highlighting a connection to the Old Testament. Verse 14 then reveals the significance of the foundations themselves.

Key Themes

  • The Apostolic Foundation of the Church: The twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb clearly signifies the crucial role of the apostles in God's redemptive plan. They were eyewitnesses to Christ's life, death, and resurrection, and were entrusted with proclaiming the gospel and establishing the early church. This aligns with the New Testament teaching that the church is "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:20).
  • Divine Order and Completeness: The number twelve is highly symbolic in biblical literature, representing divine government, completeness, and perfection. Its repeated appearance (twelve tribes, twelve gates, twelve foundations) underscores the orderly and perfect nature of God's eternal city.
  • Continuity of God's Plan: The parallel between the twelve tribes (representing Old Covenant Israel) on the gates and the twelve apostles (representing the New Covenant church) on the foundations illustrates the seamless continuity of God's salvation history. Both Old and New Covenants are integral to God's ultimate design for His people.
  • The Lamb's Authority: The phrase "apostles of the Lamb" emphasizes that their authority and mission derived directly from Jesus Christ, the sacrificial Lamb of God, who is worthy of all praise and dominion (Revelation 5:12).

Practical Application

This verse offers profound hope and assurance. It reminds believers that the church, though imperfect in its earthly manifestation, has an eternal and secure foundation laid by God through His chosen apostles. It affirms the enduring value of apostolic teaching as preserved in Scripture. For those seeking spiritual understanding, this vision reinforces the idea of God's meticulous and perfect plan for His people, culminating in a glorious, secure, and divinely ordered eternal home. It encourages us to appreciate the historical roots of our faith and the unwavering commitment of those who first spread the message of the Gospel of Christ.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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

    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;

  • Revelation 21:21

    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 10:2

    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;

  • Matthew 10:4

    Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
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