Revelation 21:3

Authorized King James Version

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And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Original Language Analysis

καὶ And G2532
καὶ And
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 1 of 34
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἤκουσα I heard G191
ἤκουσα I heard
Strong's: G191
Word #: 2 of 34
to hear (in various senses)
φωνῆς voice G5456
φωνῆς voice
Strong's: G5456
Word #: 3 of 34
a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or language
μεγάλης a great G3173
μεγάλης a great
Strong's: G3173
Word #: 4 of 34
big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)
ἐκ out of G1537
ἐκ out of
Strong's: G1537
Word #: 5 of 34
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
τοῦ G3588
τοῦ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 6 of 34
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
οὐρανοῦ heaven G3772
οὐρανοῦ heaven
Strong's: G3772
Word #: 7 of 34
the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of god); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the gospel (christianity)
λεγούσης saying G3004
λεγούσης saying
Strong's: G3004
Word #: 8 of 34
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
Ἰδού, Behold G2400
Ἰδού, Behold
Strong's: G2400
Word #: 9 of 34
used as imperative lo!
ἡ G3588
ἡ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 10 of 34
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
σκηνὴ the tabernacle G4633
σκηνὴ the tabernacle
Strong's: G4633
Word #: 11 of 34
a tent or cloth hut (literally or figuratively)
τοῦ G3588
τοῦ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 12 of 34
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεός God G2316
θεός God
Strong's: G2316
Word #: 13 of 34
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
μετ' is with G3326
μετ' is with
Strong's: G3326
Word #: 14 of 34
properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)
τῶν G3588
τῶν
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 15 of 34
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀνθρώπων men G444
ἀνθρώπων men
Strong's: G444
Word #: 16 of 34
man-faced, i.e., a human being
καὶ And G2532
καὶ And
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 17 of 34
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
σκηνώσει he will dwell G4637
σκηνώσει he will dwell
Strong's: G4637
Word #: 18 of 34
to tent or encamp, i.e., (figuratively) to occupy (as a mansion) or (specially), to reside (as god did in the tabernacle of old, a symbol of protectio
μετ' is with G3326
μετ' is with
Strong's: G3326
Word #: 19 of 34
properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)
αὐτῶν and be their G846
αὐτῶν and be their
Strong's: G846
Word #: 20 of 34
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καὶ And G2532
καὶ And
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 21 of 34
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
αὐτῶν and be their G846
αὐτῶν and be their
Strong's: G846
Word #: 22 of 34
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
λαοὶ people G2992
λαοὶ people
Strong's: G2992
Word #: 23 of 34
a people (in general; thus differing from g1218, which denotes one's own populace)
αὐτῶν and be their G846
αὐτῶν and be their
Strong's: G846
Word #: 24 of 34
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἔσται shall be G2071
ἔσται shall be
Strong's: G2071
Word #: 25 of 34
will be
καὶ And G2532
καὶ And
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 26 of 34
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
αὐτῶν and be their G846
αὐτῶν and be their
Strong's: G846
Word #: 27 of 34
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ὁ G3588
ὁ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 28 of 34
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεός God G2316
θεός God
Strong's: G2316
Word #: 29 of 34
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
ἔσται shall be G2071
ἔσται shall be
Strong's: G2071
Word #: 30 of 34
will be
μετ' is with G3326
μετ' is with
Strong's: G3326
Word #: 31 of 34
properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)
αὐτῶν and be their G846
αὐτῶν and be their
Strong's: G846
Word #: 32 of 34
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
θεός God G2316
θεός God
Strong's: G2316
Word #: 33 of 34
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
αὐτῶν and be their G846
αὐτῶν and be their
Strong's: G846
Word #: 34 of 34
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

Cross References

2 Corinthians 6:16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.Ezekiel 37:27My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.John 14:23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.Zechariah 8:8And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.Hebrews 8:10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:Jeremiah 31:33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.Zechariah 13:9And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.Hebrews 11:16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.Jeremiah 32:38And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:Revelation 7:15Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

Analysis & Commentary

Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them (ἡ σκηνὴ τοῦ θεοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων)—the Greek skēnē (tabernacle) evokes the wilderness Tabernacle where God's glory dwelt (Exodus 40:34-35). This is the ultimate fulfillment of Immanuel—"God with us" (Matthew 1:23). The verb skēnoō (to dwell/tabernacle) recalls John 1:14: "The Word became flesh and dwelt [tabernacled] among us."

They shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them—this is the consummation of the covenant formula repeated throughout Scripture (Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 37:27; 2 Corinthians 6:16). What began in Eden, was interrupted by sin, promised to Abraham, pictured in the Tabernacle, violated by Israel, and inaugurated through Christ's incarnation now reaches its eternal perfection. The phrase "God himself" (αὐτὸς ὁ θεὸς) emphasizes the unmediated presence—no temple, no veil, no priesthood needed (Revelation 21:22).

This verse is the theological climax of redemptive history: God dwelling directly with His redeemed people in perfect covenant relationship forever. Every previous "dwelling"—Eden, Tabernacle, Temple, Incarnation—was a shadow of this reality.

Historical Context

Written circa AD 95-96 during Domitian's persecution, John's vision provided hope to suffering Asian churches. The imagery of God's tabernacle with humanity would resonate powerfully with Jewish Christians who understood the Temple's destruction (AD 70) as catastrophic loss of God's dwelling place. John announces something greater: the eternal Temple is not a building but God Himself dwelling with His people in the new creation. The covenant formula ("they shall be his people") had been violated repeatedly in Israel's history—exile proved covenant failure. Revelation 21:3 promises the New Covenant's consummation: unbreakable, eternal fellowship with God secured by the Lamb's blood (Revelation 21:27).

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