Cities were surrounded by walls, as distinguished from "unwalled villages" (Eze 38:11; Le 25:29-34). They were made thick and strong (Nu 13:28; De 3:5). Among the Jews walls were built of stone, some of those in the temple being of great size (1Ki 6:7; 7:9-12; 20:30; Mr 13:1-2). The term is used metaphorically of security and safety (Isa 26:1; 60:18; Re 21:12-20). (See Fence.)
As he went out of the temple one of his disciples said to him, "Look, teacher, what a size these stones and buildings are!" Jesus said to him, "You see these great buildings? Not a stone shall be left on another, without being torn down."
it has a huge, high wall with twelve gates, twelve angels at the twelve gates, and names inscribed thereon which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel, three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. read more. And the wall of the City has twelve foundation-stones, bearing the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. He who talked to me had a golden wand by way of a measuring-rod, to measure the City and its gates and wall; the City lies foursquare, the length the same as the breadth, and he measured fifteen hundred miles with his rod for the City, for its breadth and length and height alike; he made the measure of the wall seventy-two yards, by human, that is, by angelic reckoning. The material of the wall is jasper, but the City is made of pure gold, transparent like glass. The foundation-stones of the city-wall are adorned with all sorts of precious stones, the first foundation-stone being of jasper, the second of sapphire, the third of agate, the fourth of emerald, the fifth of onyx, the sixth of sardius, the seventh of chrysolite, the eighth of beryl, the ninth of topaz, the tenth of chrysoprase, the eleventh of jacinth, the twelfth of amethyst.