Revelation 21:22

KJV

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} I saw {G1492} no {G3756} temple {G3485} therein {G1722}{G846}: for {G1063} the Lord {G2962} God {G2316} Almighty {G3841} and {G2532} the Lamb {G721} are {G2076} the temple {G3485} of it {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I saw no Temple in the city, for Adonai, God of heaven’s armies, is its Temple, as is the Lamb.

Berean Standard Bible

But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

American Standard Version

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God the Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple thereof.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Revelation 21:22 offers a striking vision of the New Jerusalem, the eternal dwelling place of God and His redeemed people, by declaring the absence of a physical temple within it. This radical departure from previous dispensations, where a temple or tabernacle served as the central point of divine presence and worship, signifies a profound theological truth: the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb Himself constitute the temple, embodying the direct, unmediated, and pervasive presence of God among His people in the new creation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within John's grand prophetic vision of the new heaven and new earth, described in [Revelation chapters 21 and 22](/revelation/21 "Revelation 21 - The New Heaven and New Earth"). Following the final judgment and the defeat of all evil, John witnesses the descent of the New Jerusalem, "the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" ([Revelation 21:2](/revelation/21-2 "Revelation 21:2 - The New Jerusalem Descends")). The preceding verses emphasize God's direct dwelling with humanity, stating, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God" ([Revelation 21:3](/revelation/21-3 "Revelation 21:3 - God Dwells with Humanity")). The absence of a temple in verse 22 serves as a powerful illustration and fulfillment of this promise of unhindered divine presence, leading directly into the description of the city's divine illumination in [Revelation 21:23](/revelation/21-23 "Revelation 21:23 - God's Glory as the City's Light").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Throughout the Old Testament, a physical structure served as the focal point of Israel's worship and the symbolic dwelling place of God's presence. From the portable Tabernacle in the wilderness ([Exodus 25:8](/exodus/25-8 "Exodus 25:8 - God's Dwelling Among Israel")) to Solomon's magnificent Temple ([1 Kings 6](/1_kings/6 "1 Kings 6 - Solomon Builds the Temple")) and the subsequent Second Temple, these structures were central to Israelite identity, religious practice, and their understanding of God's immanence. The Temple in Jerusalem, specifically, represented the pinnacle of sacred space, with its various courts and the Holy of Holies, accessible only to the high priest once a year. John's vision, therefore, directly confronts and redefines this deeply ingrained concept of sacred space, transcending the need for any physical edifice. It speaks to a Jewish audience familiar with the Temple's centrality, presenting a radical new reality where the very presence of God and the Lamb fulfills and surpasses all previous forms of worship and divine encounter.
* **Key Themes:** The verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes in Revelation and biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of **Direct Divine Presence**, emphasizing the ultimate, unmediated communion between God and His redeemed people. This is the culmination of God's covenant promise to dwell among them, fulfilling the longing expressed throughout scripture. Another key theme is **Fulfillment and Consummation**, as the New Jerusalem represents the eschatological reality where all shadows and types (like the earthly temple) give way to the ultimate reality of God's presence. This also highlights the **Redefinition of Worship and Sacred Space**, moving from localized, mediated rituals to a pervasive, unhindered, and personal encounter with the divine. Finally, the verse underscores the **Sovereignty and Sufficiency of God and the Lamb**, asserting that their very being is the source of all holiness, light, and life in the new creation, making any other structure superfluous.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **eídō (Greek, _eídō'_):** A primary verb meaning "to see," often implying understanding or knowing. John's declaration "And I saw no temple" is not merely a visual observation but a profound revelation, an eyewitness testimony to a fundamental truth about the new creation. It signifies a divinely granted insight into the nature of the eternal city, where traditional religious structures are rendered obsolete.
* **naós (Greek, _naós'_):** This term specifically refers to the inner sanctuary of a temple, the Holy of Holies, where the deity was believed to dwell. It is distinct from _hieron_, which denotes the broader temple complex including courtyards. The explicit absence of the _naós_ emphasizes that the most sacred, innermost space is no longer a building, but is now constituted by the very presence of God and the Lamb. This highlights the ultimate accessibility of the divine.
* **gár (Greek, _gár'_):** A primary particle meaning "for," used to assign a reason or provide an explanation. In this verse, "for" introduces the profound theological justification for the absence of a physical temple: "for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it." This particle establishes a direct causal link between the lack of a built structure and the pervasive, indwelling presence of the divine persons.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And I saw no temple therein:"** John, the visionary, reports a striking and counter-intuitive observation within the New Jerusalem. Given the historical centrality of the Temple in Jewish worship and cosmology, its complete absence in the ultimate dwelling place of God's people is a radical statement. This immediately signals a profound redefinition of sacred space and the nature of divine presence, indicating that the new creation operates on a higher, more direct principle of communion.
* **"for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it."** This clause provides the foundational reason for the temple's absence, revealing the ultimate reality. The very persons of God the Father ("the Lord God Almighty," _Pantokrator_, signifying His absolute sovereignty and power) and God the Son ("the Lamb," _Arnion_, emphasizing His sacrificial work and redemptive power) collectively *are* the temple. They do not merely reside *in* a temple; their omnipresent, glorious being constitutes the sacred space. This signifies an unmediated, direct, and pervasive divine presence that renders any constructed sanctuary redundant, as the holiness and accessibility of God are fully embodied in their persons.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound message. **Symbolism** is paramount, as the "temple" itself is a potent symbol throughout biblical history, representing God's dwelling place and the locus of worship. Its *absence* in the New Jerusalem is a reversal of this symbol, pointing to a new, more perfect reality. This creates a striking **Contrast** between the earthly, temporal temples and the eternal, personal presence of God and the Lamb. The statement that "the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb *are* the temple" is a powerful **Metaphor**, equating the divine persons with the sacred space. This metaphor emphasizes the complete indwelling and pervasive holiness of God, making Him the ultimate sanctuary. The declaration of "no temple" also functions as a form of **Apophasis** (denial for emphasis), highlighting what is *not* present to draw attention to the greater reality that *is* present.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Revelation 21:22 culminates the biblical narrative of God's dwelling with humanity, moving from the localized presence in the Tabernacle and Temple to an ultimate, unmediated communion. The physical temple, with its veiled Holy of Holies, was a type and shadow, pointing to the reality of God's desire for intimate fellowship. In the New Jerusalem, this desire is perfectly fulfilled, as God and the Lamb themselves become the all-encompassing sanctuary, removing all barriers and intermediaries. This signifies that the very being of God is the source of all holiness, worship, and light, making any constructed sacred space obsolete. It underscores the profound truth that true worship is not bound by location or ritual, but by direct encounter with the living God.

* [Exodus 25:8](/exodus/25-8 "God's Command to Build the Tabernacle")
* [John 4:23-24](/john/4-23-24 "Jesus on Worship in Spirit and Truth")
* [Hebrews 9:24](/hebrews/9-24 "Christ's Heavenly Sanctuary")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This profound vision of the New Jerusalem challenges our earthly conceptions of sacred space and worship, inviting us to embrace a deeper, more spiritual understanding of God's presence. It teaches us that our ultimate security, belonging, and capacity for worship are not dependent on physical structures, elaborate rituals, or human intermediaries, but solely on the living God and His Son, Jesus Christ. In this present age, while we gather in physical churches, the verse reminds us that the true "temple" is the body of believers, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and that our worship is primarily a spiritual act of drawing near to God in spirit and truth. This vision offers immense comfort and hope, assuring us that in the eternal state, all barriers to divine communion will be removed, and we will experience the fullness of God's unhindered presence, where He is truly "all in all." It calls us to live now with an eternal perspective, prioritizing direct fellowship with God above all earthly constructs.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the absence of a physical temple in the New Jerusalem challenge your current understanding of "sacred space" or "church"?**
* **In what ways can we experience the "Lord God Almighty and the Lamb" as our temple even in this present life?**
* **What practical implications does the promise of unmediated communion with God in the New Jerusalem have for your daily walk with Him?**

### FAQ
**Why is the absence of a temple in the New Jerusalem significant?**

Answer: The absence of a physical temple in the New Jerusalem is profoundly significant because it signifies the ultimate fulfillment of God's desire to dwell directly and intimately with His people, without any need for mediating structures. Throughout salvation history, the Tabernacle and Temple served as symbolic meeting places, representing God's presence among His people and pointing forward to a greater reality. In the new creation, the need for such a building is entirely removed because God the Father ("the Lord God Almighty") and God the Son ("the Lamb") are themselves the omnipresent, all-sufficient sanctuary. This means there are no longer any veils or barriers to accessing God's presence; worship is immediate, unhindered, and pervasive throughout the entire city, as the glory of God illuminates it (compare [Revelation 21:23](/revelation/21-23 "Revelation 21:23 - God's Glory as the City's Light")). It represents the culmination of God's redemptive plan to restore perfect, unhindered communion with humanity.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Revelation 21:22 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus Himself, who is the true and ultimate temple. Jesus declared, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," referring to "the temple of his body" ([John 2:19-21](/john/2-19-21 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus, the Temple")). Through His incarnation, God truly "tabernacled" among us ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")), making His presence accessible. His sacrificial death on the cross tore the temple veil from top to bottom ([Matthew 27:51](/matthew/27-51 "Matthew 27:51 - The Torn Veil")), symbolizing the removal of the barrier between God and humanity and opening a new and living way into the Holy of Holies through His blood ([Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19-22 "Hebrews 10:19-22 - Access Through Christ's Blood")). As the Lamb, Jesus is not merely present *in* the New Jerusalem; He *is* an essential part of its very fabric, the source of its light and life ([Revelation 21:23](/revelation/21-23 "Revelation 21:23 - God's Glory as the City's Light")). Thus, the absence of a physical temple in the eternal city is a glorious testament to the completed work of Christ, who perfectly embodies God's presence and provides eternal, unhindered access to the Father.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 4:23

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

1 Kings 8:27

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

2 Chronicles 2:6

But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who [am] I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?

Revelation 1:8

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Revelation 5:6

¶ And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Revelation 21:4

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Revelation 21:5

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.