Revelation 1:14

Revelation 1:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
• New International Version (NIV)The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,
• New King James Version (NKJV)His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;

Context of Revelation 1:14

12Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw seven golden lampstands; 13and in the midst of the lampstands I saw someone like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe reaching to His feet, and with a golden sash wrapped around His chest. His head and His hair were white like white wool, [glistening white] like snow; and His [all-seeing] eyes were [flashing] like a flame of fire [piercing into my being]. 15His feet were like burnished [white-hot] bronze, refined in a furnace, and His voice was [powerful] like the sound of many waters. 16In His right hand He held seven stars, and from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword [of judgment]; and His face [reflecting His majesty and the Shekinah glory] was like the sun shining in [all] its power [at midday].

Revelation 1:14 word by word

ἡ δὲ κεφαλὴ αὐτοῦ καὶ αἱ τρίχες λευκαὶ ὡς ἔριον λευκὸν ὡς χιὼν καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ὡς φλὸξ πυρὸςRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• headκεφαλήkephalē · headG2776
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• hairsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• hairsθρίξthrix trichos · hairG2359
• whiteλευκόςleukos · whiteG3022
• likeὡσείhōsei · like/as/aboutG5616
• woolἔριονerion · woolG2053
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• as snowχιώνchiōn · snowG5510
• eyesὀφθαλμόςophthalmos · eyeG3788
• a flameφλόξphlox · flameG5395
• of fireπῦρpur · fireG4442
• ·δέde · thenG1161

Cross-references for Revelation 1:14

• Daniel 7:9“I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days (God) took His seat; His garment was white as snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was flames of fire; Its wheels were a burning fire.
• Matthew 28:3The angel’s appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow.
• Revelation 2:18“And to the angel (divine messenger) of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes [that flash] like a flame of fire [in righteous judgment], and whose feet are like burnished [white-hot] bronze:
• Revelation 19:12His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many royal crowns; and He has a name inscribed [on Him] which no one knows or understands except Himself.
• Daniel 10:6His body also was like beryl [with a golden luster], his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and his feet like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words was like the noise of a multitude [of people or the roaring of the sea].

Commentaries on Revelation 1:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14His head and his hairs were white like wool - This was not only an emblem of his antiquity, but it was the evidence of his glory; for the whiteness or splendor of his head and hair doubtless proceeded from the rays of light and glory which encircled his head, and darted from it in all directions. The splendor around the head was termed by the Romans nimbus, and by us a glory; and was represented round the heads of gods, deified persons, and saints. It is…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow - Exceedingly or perfectly white - the first suggestion to the mind of the apostle being that of wool, and then the thought occurring of its extreme whiteness resembling snow - the purest white of which the mind conceives. The comparison with wool and snow to denote anything especially white is not uncommon. See Isaiah 1:18. Prof. Stuart supposes that this means, not that his hairs were…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-20Verses 12-20 The churches receive their light from Christ and the gospel, and hold it forth to others. They are golden candlesticks; they should be precious and pure; not only the ministers, but the members of the churches; their light should so shine before men, as to engage others to give glory to God. And the apostle saw as though of the Lord Jesus Christ appeared in the midst of the golden candlesticks. He is with his churches always, to the end of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14White hair symbolizes wisdom and maturity. This image reflects Daniel’s vision of the Ancient One (Daniel 7:9). His eyes, like flames of fire, see through deception. The one who knows everything will judge everyone (see Daniel 10:6; Hebrews 4:13).Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 1:14

• Colors
• Jesus, the Christ
• Vision

In the dictionaries

• Flame of fire
• Alpha
• Beginning
• Fire
• Star
• Alliance
• Asia Minor
• Canon of the New Testament
• Color; Colors
• Ephesians, Epistle to the

Commentaries on Revelation 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings