Revelation · Chapter 21 · Hope
Revelation 21:3 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context
Hope is the anchor that holds when feelings cannot.
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Both translations, side by side
WEB · World English Bible
"I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God."
KJV · King James Version
"And2532 I heard191 a great3173 voice5456 out of1537 heaven3772 saying3004, Behold2400, the tabernacle4633 of God2316 is with3326 men444, and2532 he will dwell4637 with3326 them846, and2532 they846 shall be2071 his846 people2992, and2532 God2316 himself846 shall be2071 with3326 them846, and be their846 God2316."
How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses great, the, tabernacle, men, while the WEB renders these as loud, dwelling. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.
In context
Revelation 21:3 in Revelation 21
A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Revelation 21:3 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Revelation 21. Read the full chapter →
- v.1 I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more.
- v.2 I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
- v.3 I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
- v.4 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.”
- v.5 He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.”
Book background
About the Book of Revelation
- Testament
- New Testament
- Genre
- Apocalyptic prophecy
- Author
- John the apostle
- Date written
- c. 95 AD
- Audience
- Seven churches in Roman Asia (Asia Minor) facing persecution
- Chapters
- 22
Revelation is the Bible's closing book — a series of dramatic visions given to John on Patmos. It opens with letters to seven churches, then unveils the throne room of heaven, the lamb who was slain, judgment cycles of seals/trumpets/bowls, the final defeat of evil, the millennium, the great white throne, and the new heavens and new earth. Christ's final invitation closes the Bible: "Come, Lord Jesus" (22:20).
Setting: Written from John's exile on the island of Patmos under Emperor Domitian.
Key themes: victory of Christ · judgment · worship · perseverance · new creation
Memorisation aid
How to memorise Revelation 21:3
Revelation 21:3 contains 37 words in 6 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.
- 1
I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying
IHALVO
- 2
“Behold
B
- 3
God’s dwelling is with people
GDIWP
- 4
and he will dwell with them
AHWDWT
- 5
and they will be his people
ATWBHP
- 6
and God himself will be with them as their God.
AGHWBW
Frequently asked
FAQ about Revelation 21:3
What does Revelation 21:3 say?
Revelation 21:3 reads: "I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God." — from the New Testament, Revelation (Apocalyptic prophecy). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.
What book of the Bible is Revelation 21:3 in?
Revelation 21:3 is in the book of Revelation, traditionally attributed to John the apostle and written around c. 95 AD. Revelation is apocalyptic prophecy in the New Testament, originally addressed to Seven churches in Roman Asia (Asia Minor) facing persecution. Best known for the lamb who was slain and the new heavens and new earth.
What is Revelation 21:3 about?
Revelation 21:3 is primarily a Bible verse about Hope, with related themes including God's Love. Within Revelation, Revelation is the Bible's closing book — a series of dramatic visions given to John on Patmos. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.
What is the difference between Revelation 21:3 in WEB and KJV?
Revelation 21:3 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "And2532 I heard191 a great3173 voice5456 out of1537 heaven3772 saying3004, Behold2400, the tabernacle4633 of God2316 is with3326 men444, and2532 he will dwell4637 with3326 them846, and2532 they846 shall be2071 his846 people2992, and2532 God2316 himself846 shall be2071 with3326 them846, and be their846 God2316.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.
How long is Revelation 21:3?
Revelation 21:3 is 37 words in the WEB translation (188 characters), broken into 6 clauses. It is a longer verse, often broken into smaller phrases for memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 11 seconds.
How can I memorise Revelation 21:3?
To memorise Revelation 21:3, split it into its 6 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.
Why does Revelation 21:3 matter in Revelation?
Revelation is the Bible's closing book — a series of dramatic visions given to John on Patmos. It opens with letters to seven churches, then unveils the throne room of heaven, the lamb who was slain, judgment cycles of seals/trumpets/bowls, the final defeat of evil, the millennium, the great white throne, and the new heavens and new earth. Christ's final invitation closes the Bible: "Come, Lord Jesus" (22:20). Revelation 21:3 sits within this larger story — Revelation as a whole emphasises victory of Christ, judgment, worship.
How can I apply Revelation 21:3 today?
Many readers use Revelation 21:3 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Revelation 21:3 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.
More designs
10 verses to read next
A fresh set of verses every visit — each on its own photo background. Tap any card to open the full study page.
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Psalms 23:1
“A Psalm by David. Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.”
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John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
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Romans 8:28
“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
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Psalms 23:4
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
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Isaiah 40:31
“But those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and no…”
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Lamentations 3:22-23
“It is because of Yahweh's loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassion doesn't fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithf…”
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Psalm 23:1
“Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.”
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Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a latter end.”
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John 16:33
“I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.””
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1 Corinthians 13:13
“But now faith, hope, and love remain — these three. The greatest of these is love.”
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More featured verses in Revelation 21
Read full chapter →
Revelation 21:1
“I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more.”
Read context →
Revelation 21:4
“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 th…”
Read context →
Revelation 21:5
“He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.””
Read context →
More featured verses in Revelation
Browse Revelation →
Revelation 3:20
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me.”
Read context →
Revelation 1:8
““I am the Alpha and the Omega, ” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.””
Read context →
Revelation 7:17
“for the Lamb who is in the middle of the throne shepherds them, and leads them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.””
Read context →