What is the meaning of “all kinds of precious stones” in Revelation 21:19?

In Revelation 21, John is shown the New Jerusalem that comes “down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). It’s a beautiful city: “It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal” (Revelation 21:11). John comments on the gates of the city, watches an angel measure the city’s dimensions, describes the walls, and then notes the foundations: “The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones” (Revelation 21:19, NKJV).

In addition to the precious stones, the foundations of the walls of the New Jerusalem are inscribed with the names of the apostles: “The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:14). The walls have twelve foundations—one for each apostle.

The precious stones are identified as follows:

1. jasper
2. sapphire
3. chalcedony / agate
4. emerald
5. sardonyx / onyx
6. sardius / ruby
7. chrysolite
8. beryl
9. topaz
10. chrysoprase / turquoise
11. jacinth
12. amethyst (Revelation 21:19–20, NKJV / NIV)

The fact that the walls of the New Jerusalem are founded on “precious stones” indicates that everything in this city is glorious, beautiful, and valued. The whole city shines in the light of the Lamb and the glory of God (Revelation 21:23). The “all kinds” of precious stones speaks of the variety of God’s creation. The names of the apostles will remind us, for all eternity, of the men God used to help lay the foundation of the church (see Ephesians 2:20).

It’s interesting to compare the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem with God’s instructions for making the high priest’s breastplate, which also contained precious stones: “Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions—the work of skilled hands. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. It is to be square—a span long and a span wide—and folded double. . . . There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes” (Exodus 28:15–16, 21). The precious stones were mounted in four rows:

1. sardius / carnelian
2. topaz / chrysolite
3. emerald / beryl
4. turquoise
5. sapphire / lapis lazuli
6. diamond / emerald
7. jacinth
8. agate
9. amethyst
10. beryl / topaz
11. onyx
12. jasper (Exodus 28:18–20, NKJV / NIV)

Nine of the gemstones are found in both Exodus and Revelation. The other parings are closely related and share similar characteristics. The memorializing of the twelve tribes of Israel, who also appear on the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem, and the twelve apostles serves to emphasize the continuity of the Old and New testaments. All of God’s people, no matter from what era, will be part of God’s eternal kingdom.

God had promised that His city, Zion, would be restored and experience eternal peace and safety:


The glorious descent of the New Jerusalem from heaven in Revelation 21 is the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.

The precious stones that make up the foundation of God’s city have a rich and evocative significance. In short, “the twelve stones of Revelation 21:20 encapsulate the unity of Scripture, the faithfulness of God’s covenant, the splendor of Christ’s salvation, and the sure hope of a restored cosmos” (https://biblehub.com/q/Meaning_of_12_stones_in_Rev_21_20.htm, accessed 7/9/26).