Revelation 21:17

21:17 He also measured its wall, one hundred forty-four cubits ¹  according to human measurement, which is also the angel’s. ² 

Revelation 21:16

21:16 Now ³  the city is laid out as a square, ⁴  its length and width the same. He ⁵  measured the city with the measuring rod ⁶  at fourteen hundred miles ⁷  (its length and width and height are equal).

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¹ tn Here the measurement was kept in cubits in the translation because of the possible symbolic significance of the number 144 (12 times 12). This is about 216 ft (65 m).

² tn Here L&N 81.1 translate the phrase μέτρον ἀνθρώπου, ὅ ἐστιν ἀγγέλου (metron anqrwpou, {o estin angelou) “‘the unit of measurement used by a person, that is, by an angel’ Re 21:17.” It is more likely that μέτρον is an accusative of respect or reference.

³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the somewhat parenthetical nature of the description of the city.

⁴ tn Or “the city lies square.” On κεῖμαι (keimai) in this context, BDAG 537 s.v. 2 states, “lie, of things…ἡ πόλις τετράγωνος κεῖται is laid out as a square Rv 21:16.”

⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

⁶ tn Grk “with the rod”; the word “measuring” is supplied from the description in v. 15.

⁷ tn Or “two thousand two hundred kilometers,” Grk “12,000 stades.” A stade was a measure of length about 607 ft (185 m).