REV 7:9-17

Praise from the Great Multitude

9After these things I looked, and behold — a great multitude that no one was able to number, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and with palm branches in their hands.

10And they cry out with a loud voice, saying: 'Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!'

11And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings, and they fell before the throne on their faces and worshiped God,

12saying: 'Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength be to our God into the ages of the ages. Amen.'

13And one of the elders spoke up, saying to me: 'These who are clothed in white robes — who are they, and where did they come from?'

14And I said to him: 'My lord, you know.' And he said to me: 'These are the ones coming out of the great crushing affliction, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15Because of this they are before the throne of God and render priestly service to him in his sanctuary day and night. And the one seated on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

16They will hunger no more and thirst no more, nor will the sun beat down on them or any scorching heat,

17for the Lamb in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'

In the world it was spoken into

In the first-century Mediterranean world, the imagery of a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue would have evoked the Roman Empire’s vast diversity, where ethnic and cultural identities were sharply defined and often hierarchically ordered. The white robes signify purity and honor, garments typically reserved for dignitaries or those celebrating a significant victory. Palm branches, associated with Jewish festivals like Sukkot, symbolized triumph and deliverance, resonating with Jewish listeners familiar with their use in celebrating God’s provision. The cry of salvation to God and the Lamb would have been heard against the backdrop of Roman imperial cults, where salvation was often attributed to the emperor. The scene of worship before the throne reflects Jewish apocalyptic traditions, where heavenly worship mirrors earthly temple rituals. The promise of no more hunger, thirst, or suffering would have offered profound hope to communities enduring persecution and hardship under Roman rule.

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How other translations render this

REV 7:9

KJV: After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
BSB: After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
Koinōnos: After these things I looked, and behold — a great multitude that no one was able to number, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and with palm branches in their hands.

REV 7:10

KJV: And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
BSB: And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Koinōnos: And they cry out with a loud voice, saying: 'Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!

REV 7:11

KJV: And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
BSB: And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God,
Koinōnos: And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings, and they fell before the throne on their faces and worshiped God,

REV 7:12

KJV: Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
BSB: saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
Koinōnos: saying: 'Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength be to our God into the ages of the ages. Amen.

REV 7:13

KJV: And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
BSB: Then one of the elders addressed me: “These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?”
Koinōnos: And one of the elders spoke up, saying to me: 'These who are clothed in white robes — who are they, and where did they come from?

REV 7:14

KJV: And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
BSB: “Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Koinōnos: And I said to him: 'My lord, you know.' And he said to me: 'These are the ones coming out of the great crushing affliction, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

REV 7:15

KJV: Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
BSB: For this reason, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.
Koinōnos: Because of this they are before the throne of God and render priestly service to him in his sanctuary day and night. And the one seated on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

REV 7:16

KJV: They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
BSB: ‘Never again will they hunger, and never will they thirst; nor will the sun beat down upon them, nor any scorching heat.’
Koinōnos: They will hunger no more and thirst no more, nor will the sun beat down on them or any scorching heat,

REV 7:17

KJV: For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
BSB: For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
Koinōnos: for the Lamb in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

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

Translator's notes

REV 7:9

nation:The word translated 'nation' here often referred to a people group or ethnic identity, particularly non-Israelite peoples, rather than a modern political state.
robes:The term for 'robes' here specifically denotes a long, flowing garment, often associated with dignity, status, or ceremonial wear.

REV 7:14

tribulation:The word translated 'tribulation' literally means 'pressure' or 'crushing,' conveying intense distress, affliction, or suffering that presses in on someone.

REV 7:15

serve:The word translated 'serve' implies a dedicated, often ritualistic or priestly service, distinct from general labor or servitude.