having a great and high wall; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names inscribed, which are those of the twelve tribes of [the] sons of Israel.
Commentary for this verse has not been generated yet.
On [the] east three gates; and on [the] north three gates; and on [the] south three gates; and on [the] west three gates.
The verse counts the gates of the holy city, and the count is even: three on each of the four sides. Why does one city need so many gates, and why do they face every direction?
One writer contrasts what gates normally do in a great city with what these gates are for.
The city will be four-square, facing without fear or shame every point of the compass. It will be equal on every side, and on every side there will be three gates... A great city like London keeps its gates open all the time, because it depends on every part of the earth for its very life. Supplies pour into it from north, south, east, and west. But the gates of the holy city will open for the opposite reason. They will open not to let supplies flow in, but to let blessing flow out — blessing for the whole earth.
One commentator breaks twelve into its two factors and finds a meaning in each.
The wall has four sides, and in it are twelve gates — three gates on every side, for going out and coming in. This city is the home of a life that never stops working. The number 12 is stamped on the whole city. It is an expanded 7, with the same factors (4 × 3 instead of 4 + 3), and it is the sign of open divine government, with God clearly supreme here... The 12 here is the usual 4 × 3. The 3 still speaks of God showing Himself, while the 4 shows that this is universal, the sides facing every way.
These gates are set in the city wall. Wall and gates do opposite jobs, and both are needed.
Walls are to keep out what ought to be out. On the other hand, its twelve gates are to allow in what ought to be in... Three gates stand on each side of the city (v. 13). This reminds us how the tribes of Israel camped around the tabernacle in the wilderness (Num. 2:1-31).
Another writer draws out what a wall with no openings would have meant.
It also has twelve gates. Since the city is foursquare, it looks the same from every side you approach it, and the way in is generous. If the wall had no gates it would be a poor thing.
The previous verse writes the names of Israel's tribes on these gates. One writer explains what those names mean, with a picture from everyday town naming.
In cities on earth people often name the main streets after the towns those streets lead to. In the same way, the gates of the heavenly city carry the names of the tribes that its blessings flow to. That blessing will reach every quarter of the globe in equal measure, because there are three gates on each of the four sides of the city.
The names sit on the gates, but they do not make up the city itself.
As for the twelve tribes of Israel, their names are only written there, nothing more. Nothing at all suggests that they make up the city; their names are simply inscribed on the outside. That city will be a constant reminder of those who came before restored Israel on earth, and it will certainly be used for their blessing during the thousand years — but not for theirs alone. On the contrary, we shall find that the city looks out toward the whole universe, and yet Israel has its special place there.
An earlier prophet saw a city with the same shape and the same gate count. Setting the two side by side shows where they part company.
In Ezekiel the city is also four-sided, with twelve gates, three on each side, named after the twelve tribes of Israel. (Ezek. 48:30-35.) In both cases there is complete order and symmetry, and in both cases a connection between the city and Israel. But in Ezekiel's city the connection is earthly. In the city of Revelation the connection is heavenly, for twelve angels stand at the gates.
- Shape — the city is equal on every side. Three gates stand on each of the four sides, so the city favours no direction and forgets none.
- Number — twelve is four times three: three for God showing Himself, four for the universal spread, with the sides facing every way.
- Guard — the wall keeps out what ought to be out; the gates let in what ought to be in. A wall with no gates would be a poor thing.
- Channel — the gates carry Israel's names, the way city streets carry the names of the towns they lead to. Blessing flows out to every quarter of the globe in equal measure.
- Reach — Ezekiel saw a city of the same shape, but its link was earthly. Here the link is heavenly, and this city looks out toward the whole universe.