The twelve gates were twelve pearls: here gates probably means the gateways, or else the watch towers above the gateways. For pearls see 17.4.

The street of the city: as in 11.8, either the broad main street or a collective term for all the streets (also 22.2); probably the main street.

Pure gold, transparent as glass: similar to the phrase in verse 18.

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 .