And he that spoke with me had a measure of a reed of gold, to measure the city and the gates thereof and the wall.
και ο λαλων μετ εμου ειχεν μετρον καλαμον χρυσουν ινα μετρηση την πολιν και τους πυλωνας αυτης και το τειχος αυτης OMIT και το τειχος αυτης
7 Church Fathers comment on this verse
The golden reed signifies the purity and high dignity of the measuring angel, who appeared in the form of a man, and the nobility of the city being measured, whose wall signifies Christ. Because of the purity and wisdom of the supramundane natures, it is measured not by a man but by angels, who know the greatness and beauty of the radiant city. We think that the wall here signifies the divine enclosure and protection that will guard the saints.
The fiery wall around it is, as we have already said, the Lord. The golden reed is faith in the Lord's Incarnation. Because of His purity and sinlessness, His body appeared more radiant than any metal. He alone is the One through whom the measure of faith is made and the faultlessness of the holy city is attained. He is acknowledged as the measure of the city's gates and the height of its wall.
Through the golden reed John indicates the people of the Church, though weak in the flesh, yet strengthened by golden faith, as the Apostle says: bearing treasures in earthen vessels (2 Cor 4:7).
Earlier John said that a measuring reed was given to him, that is, the authority of preaching was entrusted to him. Now he reports that the Angel who spoke with him has a golden reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.
Here, of course, Christ must be understood, who is the Wisdom of God, “reaching mightily from one end to the other and ordering all things beneficially” (Wis 8:1). Therefore we read: “Receive wisdom as gold” (Prov 16:16).
Moreover, only Christ is permitted to measure the city. He distributes the gifts of spiritual grace to each of the faithful, and He also, as we read, “has arranged all things by measure, number, and weight” (Wis 11:21).
Here one may also think of the teachers of the Church, frail in body but heavenly in mind, examining the merits of each person. Bede has in mind the interpretation of Primasius.
The city is measured not by men but by an angel, for by their purity and wisdom the angels know the greatness and beauty of the city above, says St. Andrew of Caesarea.
By what features does the seer of mysteries depict the New Jerusalem, which came down before his eyes from heaven? Here are some of these remarkable features.
“The city has the glory of God, and its light is like a most precious stone” (Rev 21:11). This signifies a certain special nearness of the Lord God to it, so that the whole city is illumined with divine light.
A high wall surrounds the city as a sign that no unworthy person can enter there. The same thought is expressed by the fact that Angels of God keep watch at its twelve gates.
The gates bear the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. For as these tribes on earth formed the society of God’s chosen people, so their names are also assigned to the chosen ones of heaven.
The city has the form of a regular quadrangle. This geometric figure is used in the image as a symbolic mark of perfection.
On the twelve foundations of the wall are written the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. This is, of course, a sign that the apostles are the foundations, or founders, of the Christian faith among all nations.
The city is measured by an angel before the eyes of the seer of mysteries. This signifies, first, that the number of the chosen citizens of this city was foreseen from eternity. It also signifies that each of these chosen ones has attained a known and definite measure of righteousness and holiness.
When measured, the city was found to have equal length, breadth, and height, and its wall to be 144 cubits. All these numerical expressions are plainly used to signify the perfection, firmness, and wondrous symmetry of the whole building of the Church of God.
The city wall is built of jasper, which in Revelation signifies divine glory (see above, Rev 21:11). The city itself is of pure gold. The foundations of the city wall are made of twelve solid precious stones, and the twelve gates are made of twelve whole pearls. The street of the city is pure gold, like transparent glass.
All these details express one and the same idea: in the heavenly Church of God all is holy, pure, luminous, and steadfast. Everything in her is majestic, spiritual, and precious. The gold of God’s grace and love is scattered everywhere in her in abundance, for the full blessedness of her holy members.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 21 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS