Revelation 21:17
New International Version
The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick.

New Living Translation
Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel).

English Standard Version
He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement.

Berean Standard Bible
And he measured its wall to be 144 cubits, by the human measure the angel was using.

Berean Literal Bible
And he measured its wall, one hundred forty-four cubits, the measure of man, that is of the angel.

King James Bible
And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

New King James Version
Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

New American Standard Bible
And he measured its wall, 144 cubits, by human measurements, which are also angelic measurements.

NASB 1995
And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements.

NASB 1977
And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he measured its wall, 144 cubits, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements.

Amplified Bible
He measured its wall also—a hundred forty-four cubits (about 200 feet), according to man’s measurements, which are [also] angelic [measurements].

Christian Standard Bible
Then he measured its wall, 144 cubits according to human measurement, which the angel used.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then he measured its wall, 144 cubits according to human measurement, which the angel used.

American Standard Version
And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

Contemporary English Version
Then the angel measured the wall, and by our measurements it was about 60 meters high.

English Revised Version
And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He measured its wall. According to human measurement, which the angel was using, it was 144 cubits.

Good News Translation
The angel also measured the wall, and it was 216 feet high, according to the standard unit of measure which he was using.

International Standard Version
He also measured its wall. According to the human measurement that the angel was using, it was 144 cubits.

Majority Standard Bible
And he measured its wall to be 144 cubits, by the human measure the angel was using.

NET Bible
He also measured its wall, one hundred forty-four cubits according to human measurement, which is also the angel's.

New Heart English Bible
Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits, by human measurement, that is, of an angel.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he measured the wall of it a hundred and forty four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

Weymouth New Testament
And he measured the wall of it--a wall of a hundred and forty-four cubits, according to human measure, which was also that of the angel.

World English Bible
Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits, by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he measured its wall—one hundred forty-four cubits, the measure of a man, that is, of the messenger;

Berean Literal Bible
And he measured its wall, one hundred forty-four cubits, the measure of man, that is of the angel.

Young's Literal Translation
and he measured its wall, an hundred forty-four cubits, the measure of a man, that is, of the messenger;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he measured her wall, an hundred forty-four cubits, the measure of a man, which is the angel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he measured the wall thereof an hundred and forty-four cubits, the measure of a man, which is of an angel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he measured its wall as one hundred and forty-four cubits, the measure of a man, which is of an Angel.

New American Bible
He also measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits according to the standard unit of measurement the angel used.

New Revised Standard Version
He also measured its wall, one hundred forty-four cubits by human measurement, which the angel was using.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he measured its wall 144 cubits by the measure of a man, that is, of the Angel.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he measured the wall of it, a hundred and forty-four cubits, the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

Godbey New Testament
And he measured the wall of it, a hundred and forty-four cubits, the measure of the man, that is of the angel.

Haweis New Testament
He measured also the wall of it a hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, for such is that of an angel.

Mace New Testament
he measured the wall, and it was an hundred and forty four cubits, according to the common measure, which was what the angel employed.

Weymouth New Testament
And he measured the wall of it--a wall of a hundred and forty-four cubits, according to human measure, which was also that of the angel.

Worrell New Testament
And he measured its wall a hundred and forty-four cubits, a man's measure, that is, an angel's.

Worsley New Testament
And he measured the wall of it an hundred forty four cubits according to the measure of a man, for such was that of the angel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The New Jerusalem
16The city lies foursquare, with its width the same as its length. And he measured the city with the rod, and all its dimensions were equal—12,000 stadia in length and width and height. 17And he measured its wall to be 144 cubits, by the human measure the angel was using. 18The wall was made of jasper, and the city itself of pure gold, as pure as glass.…

Cross References
Ezekiel 40:5
And I saw a wall surrounding the temple area. Now the length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits (each measuring a cubit and a handbreadth), and he measured the wall to be one rod thick and one rod high.

Ezekiel 40:3
So He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze. He was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand.

Ezekiel 43:13
These are the measurements of the altar in long cubits (a cubit and a handbreadth): Its gutter shall be a cubit deep and a cubit wide, with a rim of one span around its edge. And this is the height of the altar:

Ezekiel 45:6
As the property of the city, you are to set aside an area 5,000 cubits wide and 25,000 cubits long, adjacent to the holy district. It will belong to the whole house of Israel.

Ezekiel 48:30-35
“These will be the exits of the city: Beginning on the north side, which will be 4,500 cubits long, / the gates of the city will be named after the tribes of Israel. On the north side there will be three gates: the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah, and the gate of Levi. / On the east side, which will be 4,500 cubits long, there will be three gates: the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin, and the gate of Dan. ...

Zechariah 2:1-2
Then I lifted up my eyes and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. / “Where are you going?” I asked. “To measure Jerusalem,” he replied, “and to determine its width and length.”

1 Kings 6:2
The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high.

1 Kings 6:20
The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar.

1 Kings 7:15
He cast two pillars of bronze, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference.

2 Chronicles 3:3
The foundation that Solomon laid for the house of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide, according to the old standard.

2 Chronicles 3:8
Then he made the Most Holy Place; its length corresponded to the width of the temple—twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. And he overlaid the inside with six hundred talents of fine gold.

2 Chronicles 4:2
He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference.

Genesis 6:15
And this is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high.

Genesis 7:20
The waters rose and covered the mountaintops to a depth of fifteen cubits.

Exodus 27:1
“You are to build an altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high.


Treasury of Scripture

And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

an.

Revelation 7:4
And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Revelation 14:3
And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

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Angel Angelic Angel's Cubits Forty Forty-Four Four Human Hundred Measure Measured Measurement Measurements Messenger Seventy-Two Thereof Thick Using Wall Yards
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Angel Angelic Angel's Cubits Forty Forty-Four Four Human Hundred Measure Measured Measurement Measurements Messenger Seventy-Two Thereof Thick Using Wall Yards
Revelation 21
1. A new heaven and a new earth.
10. The heavenly Jerusalem, with a full description thereof.
23. She needs no sun, the glory of God being her light.
24. The kings of the earth bring their riches unto her.














And he measured
The act of measuring in biblical terms often signifies the establishment of boundaries or the confirmation of divine order. In the Greek, the word "measured" (ἐμέτρησεν, emetresen) implies precision and intentionality. This measurement is not arbitrary but divinely ordained, reflecting God's meticulous plan for the New Jerusalem. It reassures believers of the certainty and perfection of God's promises.

its wall
The wall represents protection and separation, a common theme in ancient cities where walls were essential for defense. In the context of the New Jerusalem, the wall symbolizes the security and sanctity of God's eternal kingdom. Historically, walls were also a sign of strength and stability, indicating that the New Jerusalem is a place of eternal safety for God's people.

to be 144 cubits
The number 144 is significant, being the product of 12 times 12, which in biblical numerology often represents completeness and divine authority. The use of "cubits" (πηχῶν, pechōn) as a unit of measurement ties back to ancient practices, where a cubit was the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, approximately 18 inches. This specific measurement underscores the perfection and divine order of the heavenly city, reflecting the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles, symbolizing the unity of God's people.

by the human measure
This phrase emphasizes the comprehensibility of God's design. The Greek word for "human" (ἀνθρώπου, anthrōpou) indicates that the measurement is relatable and understandable to us. It bridges the divine and human realms, showing that God's plans, while divine, are also accessible and relevant to humanity.

the angel was using
The involvement of an angel in this measurement highlights the divine authority and heavenly origin of the New Jerusalem. Angels are often messengers or agents of God's will, and their participation in this act signifies the sacredness and authenticity of the measurement. It reassures believers that what is being described is not merely a human vision but a divine reality, orchestrated by God through His heavenly servants.

(17) And he measured the wall thereof . . .--Better. And he measured its wall by an hundred and forty-four cubits (i.e., in height), man's measure, which is angel's. The measurement is in man's measure, but the reed was handled by an angel; the measure is true for men and true for angels; it may mean that the angel used the ordinary human measure, but may it not imply that the vision is true for all, for the earthly and for the heavenly? it is man's measure, it is angel's measure; the human will not find the picture untrue, though the city is not literal: it is figurative, but not mere figure. The recurrence of the number hundred and forty-four recalls us to the figurative character of the description. (Comp. Note on Revelation 7:4.)

Verse 17. - And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits. (For the signification of the number, see on Revelation 7:4.) The parallel between the shape of the city as just related and the holy of holies (vide supra) almost seems to have insensibly suggested the transition from stadia to cubits. The discrepancy between the height of the city, which is twelve thousand furlongs (ver. 16), and the height of the wall, which is a hundred and forty-four cubits, has led to the suggestion that in the height of the city is included the hill on which it stands (Alford). Others understand that the wall is purposely described as of small height, because the writer wishes to indicate that "the most inconsiderable wall is sufficient to exclude all that is impure" (Dusterdieck). According to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel; of an angel. That is, the measure here used by the angel is that used by men (cf. "the number of a man," Revelation 13:18).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

he measured
ἐμέτρησεν (emetrēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3354: To measure (out), estimate. From metron; to measure; by implication, to admeasure.

its
αὐτῆς (autēs)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

wall [to be]
τεῖχος (teichos)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5038: A wall, especially of a city. Akin to the base of tikto; a wall.

144 {}
ἑκατὸν (hekaton)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 1540: One hundred. Of uncertain affinity; a hundred.

cubits,
πηχῶν (pēchōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 4083: A cubit, about a foot and a half. Of uncertain affinity; the fore-arm, i.e. a cubit.

by the human
ἀνθρώπου (anthrōpou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

measure
μέτρον (metron)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3358: An apparently primary word; a measure, literally or figuratively; by implication, a limited portion.

the angel
ἀγγέλου (angelou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 32: From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor.

was [using].
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.


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NT Prophecy: Revelation 21:17 Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits (Rev. Re Apocalypse)
Revelation 21:16
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