1And he showed me a river of pure water of life, bright as crystal, flowing out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. [22:2] In the middle of its street and of the river, from here and from there, was a tree of life producing twelve fruits, yielding its fruit each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. [22:3] And no curse will be there any longer. And the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and the slaves of Him will serve Him. [22:4] And they will behold the face of Him, and the name of Him will be on their foreheads. [22:5] And night will be no longer, and they have no need of the light of a lamp and the light of the sun, because the Lord God will enlighten upon them. And they will reign into the ages of the ages.
REV 22:1-5
The River of Life
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st century, water was a vital and symbolic resource, often associated with life, purity, and divine provision. The image of a river flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb would evoke Genesis 2:10, where a river waters Eden, and Ezekiel 47:1-12, where a life-giving river flows from the Temple. For Jewish listeners, this imagery signaled restoration and eschatological fulfillment. The tree of life, producing fruit monthly, recalls Eden’s tree (Genesis 2:9) and the promise of healing in Ezekiel 47:12. The mention of healing leaves for the nations suggests the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s redemptive plan, a theme resonant in early Christian communities. The absence of any curse points to the reversal of Genesis 3:17, emphasizing the restoration of creation. The servants beholding God’s face contrasts with Exodus 33:20, where seeing God’s face was forbidden, highlighting the intimacy and access granted in this new reality.
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How other translations render this
REV 22:1
- KJV
- And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
- BSB
- Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
- Koinōnos
- And he showed me a river of pure water of life, bright as crystal, flowing out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
REV 22:2
- KJV
- In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
- BSB
- down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
- Koinōnos
- In the middle of its street and of the river, from here and from there, was a tree of life producing twelve fruits, yielding its fruit each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
REV 22:3
- KJV
- And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
- BSB
- No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him.
- Koinōnos
- And no curse will be there any longer. And the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and the slaves of Him will serve Him.
REV 22:4
- KJV
- And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
- BSB
- They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.
- Koinōnos
- And they will behold the face of Him, and the name of Him will be on their foreheads.
REV 22:5
- KJV
- And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
- BSB
- There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.
- Koinōnos
- And night will be no longer, and they have no need of the light of a lamp and the light of the sun, because the Lord God will enlighten upon them. And they will reign into the ages of the ages.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
REV 22:1
- pure:The word translated 'pure' here describes water that is not only clean but also clear and sparkling, suggesting its life-giving and refreshing qualities.
REV 22:2
- [was a] tree:The term used here for 'tree' often referred to wood in general, or something made of wood, rather than exclusively a living tree. It can carry a sense of something sturdy and foundational.
REV 22:3
- servants:The word translated 'servants' here specifically refers to slaves, highlighting a relationship of complete ownership and submission, rather than merely hired help.
REV 22:5
- ages:The word translated 'ages' refers to a long, indefinite period of time, often implying eternity or a distinct era, rather than just multiple human lifetimes.