He who talked to me: “the angel who was talking with me” or, simply, “The angel.”

A measuring rod of gold: this is like the measuring rod John was given in 11.1, except that this one is made of gold.

To measure the city and its gates and walls: this seems to be a comprehensive way of saying “to measure the whole city, including its gates and walls.” What seems to be implied is that the measuring is to be done on the outside of the wall that surrounds the city.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• The angel who had been speaking to me held a gold stick for measuring the size of things. He was going to measure the city….

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .