Revelation 22:1
in Revelation 22Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,
KJV
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
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This verse in Revelation 22
Commentary
19 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And he showed me a pure river of water of life - In the New Jerusalem; the happy abode of the redeemed. The phrase “water of life,” means living or running water, like a spring or fountain, as contrasted with a stagnant pool. See the notes on Joh 4:
This site's exposition
the water of life
on Revelation 22:1-2
The angel shows a river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, as in Ezekiel 47:1-12. On either side stood a tree of life, barred since Genesis 3:24 and promised at 2:7, and its leaves are for the healing.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
The living water is the Lord Jesus Christ. Of this water he spoke to the Samaritan woman: "If you knew the gift of God and who it was who says to you, 'give me to drink,' you would rather ask from him, and he would …
A commentator
Victorinus of PettauCommentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John · Written before 304.
proposed
The river of life sets forth that the grace of spiritual doctrine flowed through the minds of the faithful, and that manifold flourishing forms of odours germinated therein. The tree of life on either bank sets forth the Advent of Christ, according to the flesh, who satisfied the peoples wasted with famine, that received life from One by the wood of the Cross, with the announcement of God's word.
A commentator
Caesarius of ArlesEXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:1, HOMILY 19 · Written before 542.
proposed
This passage shows the fountain of baptism flowing from God and from Christ in the midst of the church. For what kind of honor would there be for this city were the river to flow through the streets to the hindrance of the inhabitants?
But My People hath changed their glory: whence no profit shall accrue to them: the heaven turned pale thereat" (and when did it turn pale? undoubtedly when Christ suffered), "and shuddered," he says, "most exceedingly; " and "the sun grew dark at mid-day: " (and when did it "shudder exceedingly" except at the passion of Christ, when the earth also trembled to her centre, and the veil of the temple was rent, and the tombs were burst asunder? "because these two evils hath My People done; Me," He says, "they have quite forsaken, the fount of water of life, and they have digged for themselves worn-out tanks, which will not be able to contain water.
The river of life that flows in the midst of the city no longer signifies the administration of baptism. Rather, the fruit of that sacrament is here revealed. For we sow now in tears what we shall then reap in joy, and so now the …
12 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers2 voices
'And whose leaves never fade.' [Psalm 1:3] The leaves of this tree are by no means useless. Even if one understands Holy Writ only as history, he has something useful for his soul.
And he showed me, he says, a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb in the midst of the city's square. The river of life would be the abundant and rich gifts of Christ, …
The Medieval Church5 voices
Concerning grace, therefore, insofar as it is a gift divinely given, the following must be held: that it is a gift which is immediately given and infused by God. For indeed, with it and in it the Holy Spirit is given, who is the uncreated …
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 1 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
John indeed beheld "a river in the midst of the city streets coming forth from the throne of God and of the Lamb." For the Lamb of God leads us, so that seeing the body and the soul and the divinity, we may find pastures …
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 18 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
If you are concerned with grace, all such things proceed from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Behold, says John, "a river coming forth from the throne of God and of the Lamb." If you consider the prophetic signs, all refer to Christ …
The river that flows from the church in the present life indicates the baptism of regeneration that is made effective through the Spirit and makes those who are washed more clean than snow and crystal. But the river of God, filled up with waters, namely, …
And he showed me a river of the water of life, etc. In the river of life flowing in the middle of the city, baptism is no longer celebrated, but the fruit of that sacrament is already revealed. For now, the Church sows in the …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
And he showed me a river of the water of life - The ever fresh and fruitful effluence of the Holy Ghost. See Ezek. xlvii, 1-12; where also the trees are mentioned which "bear fruit every month," that is, perpetually. Proceeding out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb - "All that the Father hath," saith the Son of God, "is mine;" even the throne of his glory.
This river is described, 1. By its fountain-head-- the throne of God and the Lamb. All our springs of grace, comfort, and glory, are in God; and all our streams from him are through the mediation of the Lamb.
And he showed me a pure river of water of life,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Zec 14:8), as the matured fruit is superior to the flower. The millennial waters represent full Gospel grace; these waters of new Jerusalem represent Gospel glory perfected.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Pure river of water of life - This is evidently a reference to the garden of paradise, and the river by which it was watered; and there is also a reference to the account, Eze 47:7-12. Water of life, as we have seen before, generally signifies spring or running water; here it may signify incessant communications of happiness proceeding from God.
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἔδειξέν | edeixen | he showed | G1166 → | 33 times |
| μοι | moi | me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ποταμὸν | potamon | a river | G4215 → | 17 times |
| ὕδατος | hudatos | of water | G5204 → | 76 times |
| ζωῆς, | zoes | of life, | G2222 → | 135 times |
| λαμπρὸν | lampron | clear | G2986 → | 9 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| κρύσταλλον, | krustallon | crystal, | G2930 → | |
| ἐκπορευόμενον | ekporeuomenon | flowing | G1607 → | 33 times |
| ἐκ | ek | out of | G1537 → | 911 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θρόνου | thronou | throne | G2362 → | 62 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀρνίου. | arniou | Lamb. | G721 → | 30 times |
ΚαὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἔδειξένhe showed
edeixenG1166 →33 times
μοιme
moiG3165 →1936 times
ποταμὸνa river
potamonG4215 →17 times
ὕδατοςof water
hudatosG5204 →76 times
ζωῆς,of life,
zoesG2222 →135 times
λαμπρὸνclear
lampronG2986 →9 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
κρύσταλλον,crystal,
krustallonG2930 →
ἐκπορευόμενονflowing
ekporeuomenonG1607 →33 times
ἐκout of
ekG1537 →911 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
θρόνουthrone
thronouG2362 →62 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦof God
theouG2316 →1312 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
ἀρνίου.Lamb.
arniouG721 →30 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
John 4:14But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”
it leads to
- John 7:38–39
Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”
- John 6:35
Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.
- Isaiah 49:10
They will not hunger or thirst, nor will scorching heat or sun beat down on them. For He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.
- Revelation 7:16
‘Never again will they hunger, and never will they thirst; nor will the sun beat down upon them, nor any scorching heat.’
- John 7:38–39
Through
Revelation 7:17For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
it leads to
- John 7:37–38
On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
- Psalms 36:8–9
They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from Your river of delights.
- John 4:14
But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”
- Psalms 23:1–2
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
- John 7:37–38
Where this verse is studied
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About Revelation
This page draws on 19 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:1-2; Apringius of Beja, TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:1; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Bonaventure, Breviloquium, Part 5; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 1; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 18; Caesarius of Arles, EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:1, HOMILY 19; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Homily 1, on Psalm 1; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation; Primasius of Hadrumetum, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:1; Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews and Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John.