👑WEB · Revelation 21:14
What does Revelation 21:14 mean?
"The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb."
— Revelation 21:14 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
having a great and high wall; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
On the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
He who spoke with me had for a measure a golden reed to measure the city, its gates, and its walls.
The city is square, and its length is as great as its width. He measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand twelve stadia. Its length, width, and height are equal.
Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits, by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
Explanation
Revelation 21:14 describes one detail in John's vision of the New Jerusalem, the glorified city that descends from heaven as God's dwelling place with humanity in the age to come. The verse states plainly that the city's wall rests on twelve foundation stones, and each of these stones bears the name of one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, here called "the Lamb." This is part of a longer architectural description in Revelation 21 that includes the city's gates, measurements, and materials, all of which convey symbolic meaning about the nature of God's eternal community with his people.
The book of Revelation was written by the apostle John, likely while exiled on the island of Patmos, to encourage churches in Asia Minor who were facing persecution and pressure to compromise their faith. Writing in the genre of apocalyptic literature, John uses vivid, symbolic imagery drawn heavily from the Old Testament to reveal ultimate spiritual realities—God's judgment on evil and his final victory and restoration for his people. The vision of the New Jerusalem in chapter 21 answers the suffering and uncertainty of the earlier chapters with a picture of permanent security, beauty, and divine presence.
Theologically, the twelve foundations bearing the apostles' names connect directly to the twelve gates of the city, which in the preceding verses are said to bear the names of the twelve tribes of Israel (Revelation 21:12). Together these two sets of twelve symbolize the unity of God's redeemed people across both the Old and New Covenants—
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