WHAT IT MEANS
The End of Tears
Christian hope looks toward a renewed creation where death, mourning, crying, and pain no longer define human life.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Revelation 21:4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
CONTEXT
What is happening here?
John is describing the new heaven and new earth, with God dwelling among His people after evil and death are finally judged.
APPLY IT
For today
Grieve honestly now while allowing future resurrection hope to keep grief from becoming despair.
Read it in 5 translations
KJV King James Version
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
BSB Berean Standard Bible
‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”
WEB World English Bible
He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.”
ASV American Standard Version
and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and the death shall not be any more, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor shall there be any more pain, because the first things did go away.’
Surrounding context — Revelation 21
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 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.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
καὶG2532 · kaiandἐξαλείψειG1813 · exaleiphōto blot outπᾶνG3956 · pasallδάκρυονG1144 · dakru, dakruonteardropἐκG1537 · ekout fromτῶνG3588 · hothe/this/whoὀφθαλμῶνG3788 · ophthalmoseyeαὐτῶν,G846 · autosit/s/heκαὶG2532 · kaiandὁG3588 · hothe/this/whoθάνατοςG2288 · thanatosdeathοὐκG3756 · ounoἔσταιG1510 · eimito beἔτιG2089 · etistillοὔτεG3777 · outeneitherπένθοςG3997 · penthosgriefοὔτεG3777 · outeneitherκραυγή,G2906 · kraugēshoutingοὔτεG3777 · outeneitherπόνοςG4192 · ponostravailοὐκG3756 · ounoἔσταιG1510 · eimito beἔτι·G2089 · etistillτὰG3588 · hothe/this/whoπρῶταG4413 · prōtosfirstἀπῆλθαν.¶G565 · aperchomaito go away
Cross-references
Isaiah 25:8He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken [it].Revelation 7:17For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.1 Corinthians 15:26The last enemy [that] shall be destroyed [is] death.Isaiah 35:10And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.Isaiah 60:20Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.1 John 2:17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.Isaiah 65:18-19But be ye glad and rejoice for ever [in that] which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.Isaiah 51:11Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy [shall be] upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; [and] sorrow and mourning shall flee away.Matthew 24:35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.Jeremiah 31:13Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.1 Corinthians 15:54-58So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.Isaiah 30:19For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.Revelation 20:14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.Revelation 21:1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.Isaiah 61:3To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.Hebrews 2:14-15Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;Revelation 22:3And 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:2 Peter 3:10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
Compare classic commentaries on Revelation 21:4
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