Lexical Summary hualos: Glass Original Word: ὕαλος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance glass. Perhaps from the same as huetos (as being transparent like rain); glass -- glass. see GREEK huetos HELPS Word-studies 5194 hýalos – glass. 5194 (hýalos) refers to any transparent substance (like crystal), i.e. "see-through stones." On both of its occasions in the NT, 5194 ("pure, transparent glass") refers to the New Jerusalem – "apparently a metaphor (personification) of all the glorified saints, serving as the eternal dwelling place of God" (G. Archer). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originprobably of foreign origin Definition a clear transparent stone, glass NASB Translation glass (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5194: ὕαλοςὕαλος, ὑαλου, ὁ (probably allied with ὑει, ὑετός (which see); hence, 'rain-drop', Curtius, 9604; Vanicek, p. 1046; but others make it of Egyptian origin (cf. Liddell and Scott, under the word)), from Herodotus ((3, 24) who writes ὕελος; (cf. Winer's Grammar, 22)) down; 1. any stone transparent like glass. 2. glass: Revelation 21:18, 21. Strong’s Greek 5194 (ὕαλος, hualos) denotes a substance that is translucent and brilliantly reflective. In the first-century Mediterranean world finished glass of high clarity was rare and costly, reserved for the most prestigious settings. John twice employs the word at the climax of his Apocalypse to describe features of the New Jerusalem, underscoring its matchless purity and radiance. Occurrences in Revelation • Revelation 21:18 – “The city’s wall was made of jasper, and the city itself was pure gold, as clear as glass.” In both verses ὕαλος functions as the standard of comparison. Even gold—normally opaque—assumes a glass-like, crystal clarity when transfigured by the glory of God. Symbolic Significance of Glass Imagery Transparency: Nothing is hidden in the consummated kingdom. Every surface allows the unmediated splendor of God’s presence to shine through (compare Revelation 22:5). Purity: Glass without defect illustrates moral perfection. Impurities that cloud earthly metals or human hearts are absent (compare Psalm 24:3-4). Stability and Permanence: Ancient glass, once cooled, retained its form without corrosion—an apt picture of the eternal, unchanging character of the heavenly city. Old Testament Background and Johannine Development Exodus 24:10 records that under the feet of the God of Israel was “something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself,” and Ezekiel 1:22 speaks of an “expanse, sparkling like crystal.” John adopts this prophetic vocabulary; earlier in Revelation he describes “a sea of glass, clear as crystal” before the throne (Revelation 4:6; 15:2, using the cognate ὑάλινος). By the time the vision reaches chapter 21, what had been before the throne now permeates the very fabric of the city, indicating that the holiness once confined to the throne-room fills the entire renewed cosmos. Historical Notes on First-Century Glass Roman glassmaking (cf. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 36.66-67) produced mostly translucent or greenish vessels. Only exceptionally refined pieces achieved the colorless clarity John envisions. By invoking this highest grade of workmanship, the apostle conveys a reality surpassing all human artisanship—fabricated directly by the Creator. Theological Implications for the Church Revelation’s glass metaphor challenges believers to cultivate lives of transparency before God and others (2 Corinthians 4:2). The coming city calls saints to anticipate its purity now, “perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Furthermore, because the city itself is “made ready as a bride” (Revelation 21:2), the Church’s eschatological identity is bound to this glass-bright holiness. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Worship: Services may incorporate the theme of transparent glass to highlight God’s unveiled glory and prompt confession of hidden sin. Eschatological Fulfillment and Mission The ὕαλος imagery assures the faithful that God’s redemptive plan culminates in a habitat perfectly suited to His glory and to redeemed humanity. As the Church proclaims the gospel, it invites the world into this destiny—life in a city whose very streets preach the message of transparent, triumphant grace. |
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