The word that is used here describes a wide street, more the city square than a lane (Genesis 19:2), and so denotes the place where the city’s inhabitants meet (hence also the singular “street”); the term appears also in Revelation 11:8. Given that John had earlier indicated that the entire city was pure gold (Revelation 21:18), it is striking that John now adds that “the street of the city was pure gold.” The inference would be that the interaction of the inhabitants was gloriously touched by the splendour of God’s presence. The Bride enjoys the Bridegroom.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.