REV 4:5-11

Worship of the Creator

5And from the throne came lightnings and sounds and thunders. And seven torches of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

6And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne and around the throne were four living beings, full of eyes in front and behind.

7The first living being was like a lion, the second like a young bull, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle.

8And the four living beings, each one having six wings apiece, were full of eyes around and within. And without ceasing, day and night, they were saying: 'Holy, holy, holy — the Lord God, the All-Ruler, who was and who is and who is coming.'

9And whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one seated on the throne, who lives into the ages of the ages,

10the twenty-four elders fall before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives into the ages of the ages, and they cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

11'Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.'

In the world it was spoken into

The imagery in this passage draws heavily on Jewish apocalyptic and prophetic traditions, particularly Ezekiel’s visions (Ezekiel 1, 10) and Isaiah’s throne-room scene (Isaiah 6). The throne, lightning, thunder, and sea of glass evoke the Sinai theophany (Exodus 19:16-19) and the heavenly temple, familiar to Jewish audiences. The seven lamps recall the menorah in the Jerusalem Temple, symbolizing God’s presence. The four living creatures, resembling a lion, calf, man, and eagle, echo Ezekiel’s cherubim but also resonate with Roman imperial iconography, where such creatures symbolized power and dominion. The term (Almighty) emphasizes God’s sovereignty over all creation, a counterpoint to Roman claims of imperial divinity. The elders casting crowns before the throne reflects the Greco-Roman practice of proskynesis (obeisance) to rulers or deities, subverting it to honor the true Creator. The hymn of worship, declaring God’s worthiness as Creator, contrasts with emperor worship and reinforces the Jewish belief in God as the sole ruler of the cosmos.

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How other translations render this

REV 4:5

KJV: And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
BSB: From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven spirits of God.
Koinōnos: And from the throne came lightnings and sounds and thunders. And seven torches of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

REV 4:6

KJV: And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
BSB: And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back.
Koinōnos: And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne and around the throne were four living beings, full of eyes in front and behind.

REV 4:7

KJV: And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
BSB: The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight.
Koinōnos: The first living being was like a lion, the second like a young bull, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle.

REV 4:8

KJV: And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
BSB: And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
Koinōnos: And the four living beings, each one having six wings apiece, were full of eyes around and within. And without ceasing, day and night, they were saying: 'Holy, holy, holy — the Lord God, the All-Ruler, who was and who is and who is coming.

REV 4:9

KJV: And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
BSB: And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne who lives forever and ever,
Koinōnos: And whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one seated on the throne, who lives into the ages of the ages,

REV 4:10

KJV: The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
BSB: the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
Koinōnos: the twenty-four elders fall before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives into the ages of the ages, and they cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

REV 4:11

KJV: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
BSB: “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”
Koinōnos: Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

REV 4:5

seven:The word translated 'seven spirits' here refers to a spiritual essence or breath, often associated with divine power or influence. It can also carry the sense of a powerful, unseen force, like wind.

REV 4:6

living creatures:The term translated 'living creatures' literally means 'living beings' or 'animals.' It emphasizes their vitality and existence as distinct, animated entities.

REV 4:8

Almighty,:The word translated 'Almighty' literally means 'all-ruling' or 'all-powerful.' It emphasizes complete and absolute sovereignty over all things.

REV 4:9

ages:The word translated 'ages' refers to a long, indefinite period of time, an era, or an epoch. It can also imply eternity or a specific segment of time with its own characteristics.