Revelation 21:4 Text
King James Version (KJV)
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.
World English Bible (WEB)
He will wipe away 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.”
What Revelation 21:4 Means
This verse is part of John's vision of a new heaven and a new earth. The image of God personally wiping away tears is tender: it casts God as someone who comforts, not only as a ruler. The list that follows names what will be gone: death, mourning, crying, pain. The KJV says 'sorrow' where the WEB says 'mourning', and the Greek word is closer to grief or lament. The final phrase, 'the first things have passed away', means the old order, marked by suffering and loss, is replaced. Because Revelation uses vivid symbolic language, readers differ on how literally to take some of its imagery, but the promise here is plain: God ends what hurts. A common misreading treats it as describing a person's own death alone. The vision is of a restored creation in which God lives among his people.
Context of Revelation 21:4
Revelation is traditionally attributed to a man named John, who writes that he was exiled on the island of Patmos. Many scholars date it to the 90s AD, during pressure on Christians under Roman rule. It uses apocalyptic imagery to encourage believers to remain faithful. This verse closes the vision of final judgment and opens the new creation, where God's dwelling is with humanity. The voice that follows declares that all things are made new. To read the whole book, see random verse from Revelation.
How to Apply Revelation 21:4
If you are grieving, this verse does not ask you to hurry past sorrow. It points to a future where your pain will be met by God himself. Let it give you permission to mourn now with hope, and let it motivate small acts of comfort toward people around you who are hurting.
Related Verses
- Isaiah 25:8 – He 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 7:17 – For 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.
- Psalm 30:5 – For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
- 2 Corinthians 4:17 – For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
Looking for more verses on this theme? Browse Bible Verses About Hope, each with a short note on its context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Revelation 21:4 mean?
It describes God ending all suffering in the new creation: tears wiped away, and death, grief, crying, and pain gone for good. It is a promise of final comfort and restoration, offered to believers who face hardship now.
Is Revelation 21:4 about heaven?
It is about the new heaven and new earth, which the vision presents as God coming to live with his people. Christians often speak of it as heaven, though the text describes a renewed creation. Interpretations vary, but the promise of no more pain is clear.
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