Revelation 21:26

KJV

And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} they shall bring {G5342} the glory {G1391} and {G2532} honour {G5092} of the nations {G1484} into {G1519} it {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

and the honor and splendor of the nations will be brought into it.

Berean Standard Bible

And into the city will be brought the glory and honor of the nations.

American Standard Version

and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Revelation 21:26 offers a breathtaking glimpse into the eternal state of the New Jerusalem, portraying it as the ultimate destination for all that is truly good, noble, and beautiful from the redeemed nations of the earth. This verse underscores the culmination of God's redemptive plan, where the diverse "glory and honour" of humanity, purified and consecrated, are willingly brought into the holy city, serving as a perpetual testament to God's transformative power and universal reign.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Revelation 21:26 is situated within John's magnificent vision of the New Heaven and New Earth, specifically focusing on the New Jerusalem, which descends from God (cf. [Revelation 21:1-2](/revelation/21-1-2 "Revelation 21:1-2 - The New Heaven and New Earth")). The preceding verses describe the city's divine illumination, its open gates, and the nations walking in its light (cf. [Revelation 21:23-25](/revelation/21-23-25 "Revelation 21:23-25 - The Glory of the New Jerusalem")). Verse 26 reiterates and expands upon the idea introduced in [Revelation 21:24](/revelation/21-24 "Revelation 21:24 - Nations Walk in the Light"), emphasizing that not only kings but "the nations" themselves will bring their glory and honor into the city. This reinforces the universal scope of God's redemptive work and the city's role as the central hub of eternal worship and existence. The chapter concludes with a stark contrast, stating that nothing impure will enter it (cf. [Revelation 21:27](/revelation/21-27 "Revelation 21:27 - Nothing Impure Enters")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** John's vision was written to Christians facing persecution in the Roman Empire, offering hope and assurance of God's ultimate victory. The concept of "nations" (Greek: *ethnē*) would have been significant, as it traditionally referred to non-Jewish peoples, often implying paganism. In the Old Testament, there are prophecies of Gentiles coming to Jerusalem to worship God (e.g., [Isaiah 2:2-4](/isaiah/2-2-4 "Isaiah 2:2-4 - The Mountain of the Lord's House")). The imagery of kings and nations bringing tribute or offerings to a sovereign ruler was a common ancient Near Eastern motif, signifying submission, honor, and the acknowledgment of supreme authority. In this context, it signifies the voluntary surrender and consecration of all earthly excellence to the divine King. The New Jerusalem, therefore, stands in stark contrast to earthly empires like Rome, which demanded tribute for themselves; here, all tribute is freely given to God.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Revelation and biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights **Universal Salvation and Inclusion**, demonstrating that God's redemptive plan encompasses people from "every tribe and language and people and nation" (cf. [Revelation 5:9](/revelation/5-9 "Revelation 5:9 - The Redeemed from Every Nation")). Secondly, it speaks to the **Divine Sovereignty and Fulfillment**, portraying the New Jerusalem as the culmination of history where God's reign is fully established and acknowledged by all. Thirdly, it underscores the **Consecration of All Good Things**, suggesting that human creativity, cultural distinctives, and achievements, when purified by God, are not discarded but find their ultimate purpose and expression in His eternal kingdom. This vision emphasizes that all true "glory and honour" ultimately belong to God and are directed towards Him.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Glory (Greek, _dóxa'_):** From the base of *dokeō* (to seem, appear), *dóxa* refers to splendor, majesty, renown, or reputation, often associated with divine radiance and manifest presence. In this context, it signifies the inherent worth, excellence, and distinguishing characteristics of the nations, which, when redeemed, are brought as tribute to God. It encompasses the visible manifestation of their unique contributions and intrinsic value.
* **Honour (Greek, _timḗ'_):** Derived from *tinō* (to pay a price), *timḗ* denotes value, esteem, respect, or dignity. It can refer to a price paid, but more broadly, it signifies the high regard, reverence, and preciousness attributed to something or someone. Here, it speaks to the respect, dignity, and inherent worth of the nations' cultural and spiritual contributions, which are deemed worthy of being presented before God.
* **Nations (Greek, _éthnos'_):** Probably from *ethō* (to be accustomed), *éthnos* refers to a race, tribe, or people, specifically a foreign or non-Jewish one, often implying a pagan background. In the New Testament, particularly in Revelation, it takes on a broader meaning encompassing all peoples of the earth. Its use here emphasizes the universal scope of God's redemptive work, gathering peoples from every distinct cultural and ethnic background into His eternal kingdom.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they shall bring the glory and honour":** This phrase signifies a voluntary act of offering and presentation. "They" refers to the "nations" mentioned subsequently, implying that the redeemed peoples of the earth will willingly and joyfully offer their distinct contributions. "Glory and honour" are not material wealth but represent the very best of human achievement, cultural distinctives, redeemed character, and praiseworthy attributes that have been purified and consecrated by God's grace. It is the essence of what makes each nation unique and valuable, now directed to its rightful source.
* **"of the nations":** This specifies the source of the "glory and honour." It is not from a single, homogenous group, but from the diverse *ethnē*—all the peoples and cultures of the world. This emphasizes the comprehensive and universal nature of God's redemptive plan, demonstrating that His kingdom includes and redeems every facet of human existence, transcending ethnic and cultural boundaries.
* **"into it":** "It" refers to the New Jerusalem, the holy city, the dwelling place of God and His redeemed people. This signifies that the ultimate destination and purpose of all redeemed human excellence and cultural distinctives are to be integrated into the eternal city, consecrated to God. It implies that these contributions find their perfected form and eternal significance within the divine presence, contributing to the city's splendor and serving as perpetual worship to God.

#### Literary Devices
Revelation 21:26 employs several powerful literary devices. **Symbolism** is paramount, with the "New Jerusalem" symbolizing the perfected dwelling place of God with humanity, and the "glory and honour of the nations" symbolizing the redeemed and consecrated best of all human cultures and achievements. The act of "bringing" is symbolic of willing worship and tribute. There is also an element of **Hyperbole**, as the imagery of *all* nations bringing their glory and honor into the city conveys the ultimate and comprehensive nature of God's victory and the universal scope of His kingdom. The verse also uses **Metonymy**, where "glory and honour" stand for the valuable and praiseworthy aspects of the nations themselves. This vivid imagery creates a profound sense of culmination and universal worship, inviting the reader to envision a future where all good things are eternally dedicated to God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully articulates the culmination of God's redemptive plan, revealing a future where the diversity of human cultures and achievements, once tainted by sin, are purified and consecrated to God. It underscores that God's ultimate purpose is not to obliterate human distinctives but to redeem and perfect them, integrating the best of every nation into the eternal city as an offering of worship. This vision affirms the inherent value God places on human creativity and cultural expression when directed towards Him, illustrating that the kingdom of God is a tapestry woven from the redeemed contributions of all peoples, united in their adoration of the Lamb. It speaks to a profound theological truth: all legitimate glory and honor ultimately belong to God and find their true purpose when offered back to Him in eternal worship.

* [Isaiah 60:3](/isaiah/60-3 "Isaiah 60:3 - Gentiles Come to Zion's Light")
* [Zechariah 14:16](/zechariah/14-16 "Zechariah 14:16 - Nations Worship in Jerusalem")
* [Revelation 7:9-10](/revelation/7-9-10 "Revelation 7:9-10 - Multitude from Every Nation Worships")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Revelation 21:26 offers immense hope and a profound perspective on our current lives, reminding us that our diverse gifts, cultures, and achievements, when consecrated to God, have eternal significance. It challenges us to consider how we are currently bringing "glory and honour" to God in our daily lives, whether through our work, our creativity, our relationships, or our character. This verse encourages us to value and celebrate the rich diversity within the body of Christ today, recognizing that each culture and individual, when redeemed, contributes a unique facet to the splendor of God's kingdom. It motivates us to live with an eternal perspective, striving to purify our motives and actions, knowing that what is truly good and God-honoring will endure and find its ultimate purpose in the New Jerusalem. This vision provides comfort in times of trial, assuring us that a perfect future awaits where all things are made new, and all worship is directed to God alone.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "glory and honour" from your life or culture do you believe God desires to redeem and consecrate for His eternal kingdom?**
* **How does the vision of all nations bringing their best into the New Jerusalem impact your view of cultural diversity within the church today?**
* **In what practical ways can you live now as a citizen of the New Jerusalem, striving to bring glory and honor to God in all you do?**

### FAQ
**Does "glory and honour of the nations" imply that earthly cultures and achievements will be literally preserved in heaven?**

Answer: While the imagery is symbolic, it conveys a profound truth: God does not obliterate but redeems and perfects. The "glory and honour" refer to the essence of what is truly good, noble, beautiful, and praiseworthy within human cultures and achievements—those aspects that reflect God's own character and design. This includes creativity, wisdom, justice, compassion, and unique cultural expressions, purified from sin and dedicated to God. It's not about preserving sinful or worldly elements, but about the sanctified fruit of human endeavor, now fully consecrated to God. The vision suggests that the diversity of human experience, when redeemed, will contribute to the richness and splendor of the eternal city, serving as a perpetual offering of worship to the Lamb (cf. [Revelation 22:3](/revelation/22-3 "Revelation 22:3 - The Throne of God and the Lamb")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Revelation 21:26 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, for it is through Him alone that the "glory and honour of the nations" can be brought into the New Jerusalem. Christ, as the Lamb "slain from the foundation of the world" (cf. [Revelation 13:8](/revelation/13-8 "Revelation 13:8 - The Lamb Slain")), is the one who redeems people "from every tribe and language and people and nation" (cf. [Revelation 5:9](/revelation/5-9 "Revelation 5:9 - The Redeemed from Every Nation")), making them a kingdom and priests to God. It is His atoning sacrifice that purifies the nations and their contributions, transforming what was once tainted by sin into an acceptable offering to God. Furthermore, Christ Himself is the light and glory of the New Jerusalem (cf. [Revelation 21:23](/revelation/21-23 "Revelation 21:23 - God's Glory and the Lamb are its Light")), meaning that the "glory and honour" brought into the city ultimately find their source and purpose in Him. As King of kings and Lord of lords (cf. [Revelation 19:16](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - King of Kings and Lord of Lords")), all true glory and honor are His by right, and the nations' willing tribute is a testament to His supreme reign and redemptive power. Thus, this verse beautifully illustrates that all things, including the redeemed best of humanity, are ultimately gathered up and consecrated to God *through* and *in* Christ, for His eternal praise.

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

Revelation 21:24

And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.