Charles Ellicott Commentary Revelation 21:15

"And he that spake with me had for a measure a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof." — Revelation 21:15 (ASV)

THE MEASUREMENT OF THE CITY.

And he that talked with me . . .—Or, better, And he who was talking with me had a golden reed . . . The allusion here is to the angel mentioned in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 15:3).

The reed, or measuring rod, is of gold; the one used in Revelation 11:1 was not said to be of gold. The measurement there was the symbol of preservation amid impending danger; the measuring here is more glorious—it is measuring that exhibits the beauty and proportion of the city, which is now dwelling at peace.

Gold is one of the features of the city; the street is gold (Revelation 21:18; Revelation 21:21); it may stand, as a token of the wealth (Psalms 72:15; 1 Kings 10:14–21) of the royal city; but the wealth of that city is love. (Compare to Note on Revelation 3:18.)