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A New Heaven and a New Earth

21 Then[a] I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist,[b] and the sea existed no more. And I saw the holy city—the new Jerusalem—descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Look! The residence[c] of God is among human beings.[d] He[e] will live among them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them.[f] He[g] will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more—or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist.”[h]

And the one seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new!” Then[i] he said to me, “Write it down,[j] because these words are reliable[k] and true.”

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 21:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
  2. Revelation 21:1 tn For the translation of ἀπέρχομαι (aperchomai; here ἀπῆλθαν [apēlthan]) L&N 13.93 has “to go out of existence—‘to cease to exist, to pass away, to cease.’”
  3. Revelation 21:3 tn Or “dwelling place”; traditionally, “tabernacle”; literally “tent.”
  4. Revelation 21:3 tn Or “people”; Grk “men” (ἀνθρώπων, anthrōpōn), a generic use of the term. In the translation “human beings” was used here because “people” occurs later in the verse and translates a different Greek word (λαοί, laoi).
  5. Revelation 21:3 tn Grk “men, and he.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  6. Revelation 21:3 tc ‡ Most mss (א MK) do not add the words “[as] their God” (αὐτῶν θεός, autōn theos) after “he will be with them.” The mss with these words include A 2030 2050 2329 al. The Andreas group (MA) also has the words, but in a different arrangement with the preceding (ἔσται μετ᾿ αὐτῶν θεὸς αὐτῶν, estai metautōn theos autōn). Not only do the words float, but scribes may have been motivated to make a connection here more directly with Isa 7:14; 8:8; Jer 24:7; 31:33; Zech 8:8. In light of sufficient external evidence as well as the possibility that the longer reading is theologically motivated, the shorter reading is preferred. NA28 places the words in brackets, indicating doubts as to their authenticity.
  7. Revelation 21:4 tn Grk “God, and he.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
  8. Revelation 21:4 tn For the translation of ἀπέρχομαι (aperchomai; here ἀπῆλθαν [apēlthan]) L&N 13.93 has “to go out of existence—‘to cease to exist, to pass away, to cease.’”
  9. Revelation 21:5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
  10. Revelation 21:5 tn The words “it down” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
  11. Revelation 21:5 tn Grk “faithful.”