Revelation 21:16; And the City Lieth Foursquare

Revelation 21:16 (KJV)  And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 

the angel first measures the size and shape of the city – And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 

And he measured the city with the rod to the extent of twelve thousand stadia; her length and width and height are equal. The predicate adjective “foursquare” indicates that the city is in the shape of a quadrangle (cf. v12-13; Ezekiel 48:16, 20).

Revelation 21:12-13 (KJV)  And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 

Ezekiel 48:16 (KJV)  And these shall be the measures thereof; the north side four thousand and five hundred, and the south side four thousand and five hundred, and on the east side four thousand and five hundred, and the west side four thousand and five hundred. 

Ezekiel 48:20 (KJV)  All the oblation shall be five and twenty thousand by five and twenty thousand: ye shall offer the holy oblation foursquare, with the possession of the city. 

The word depict a cube-shaped stone used for building purposes. The added words “and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.” Ancient Babylon and Nineveh were both laid out in the shape of squares also.

The angel measured the city and came up with “twelve thousand furlongs” as her length, width, and height. It is not clear whether twelve thousand furlongs – the equivalent of fourteen or fifteen hundred miles depending on the exact length of a furlong – is the length of each of the sides or the combined total of the four sides. Those who want to amen it the combined total of the four sides. Those who want to make it the combined total of the four sides usually do so with a desire to reduce the vast dimensions of the city. The words immediately following give the impression that this is the dimension of each direction, however.

The same three directional indicators as in the words “the length and the breadth and the height” are expressive of Christ’s love in Ephesians 3:18 where a fourth dimension “depth” is added to the other three.

Ephesians 3:18 (KJV) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

The “equal” shows that the shape of the city is that of a perfect cube, just like the cube-shaped Holy of Holies in Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6:19-20).

1 Kings 6:19-20 (KJV)  And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD. And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar. 

Though not expressly stated in Scripture, the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle had each of its dimensions as ten cubits according to Philo, Josepheus, and all tradition (Lee). The math ethical and architectural equality of the city expresses the symmetry and harmony of divine life (Moffatt).

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody 1995, 467-468]