Revelation 1:17

Revelation 1:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
• New International Version (NIV)When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last,
• New King James Version (NKJV)And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.

Context of Revelation 1:17

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]. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. And He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last [absolute Deity, the Son of God], 18and the Ever-living One [living in and beyond all time and space]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of [absolute control and victory over] death and of Hades (the realm of the dead). 19So write the things which you have seen [in the vision], and the things which are [now happening], and the things which will take place after these things.

Revelation 1:17 word by word

Καὶ ὅτε εἶδον αὐτόν, ἔπεσα πρὸς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ ὡς νεκρός, καὶ ἔθηκεν τὴν δεξιὰν αὐτοῦ ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ λέγων μὴ φοβοῦ. ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ πρῶτος καὶ ὁ ἔσχατοςRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
• I sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• I fellπίπτωpiptō petō · to collapseG4098
• atπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• feetὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• feetπούςpous · footG4228
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• deadνεκρόςnekros · deadG3498
• he laidἐπιτίθημιepitithēmi · to put/lay onG2007
• rightδεξιόςdexios · rightG1188
• handχείρcheir · handG5495
• uponἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Fearφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
• notμήmē · notG3361
• amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the firstπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413
• the lastἔσχατοςeschatos · last/leastG2078

Cross-references for Revelation 1:17

• Ezekiel 1:28As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory and brilliance of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell face downward and I heard a voice of One speaking.
• Daniel 8:18Now as he (Gabriel) was speaking with me, I drifted into a deep sleep (unconsciousness) with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand [where I had stood before].
• Daniel 10:8So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my normal appearance turned to a deathly pale, and I grew weak and faint [with fright].
• Habakkuk 3:16I heard and my whole inner self trembled; My lips quivered at the sound. Decay and rottenness enter my bones, And I tremble in my place. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, For the people to arise who will invade and attack us.
• Matthew 17:2And His appearance changed dramatically in their presence; and His face shone [with heavenly glory, clear and bright] like the sun, and His clothing became as white as light.
• John 13:23One of His disciples, whom Jesus loved (esteemed), was leaning against Jesus’ chest.
• John 21:20Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His chest at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray You?”
• Daniel 10:10Then behold, a hand touched me and set me unsteadily on my hands and knees.
• Genesis 15:1After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; Your reward [for obedience] shall be very great.”
• Exodus 14:13Then Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid! Take your stand [be firm and confident and undismayed] and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for those Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see again.
• Exodus 20:20Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him [that is, a profound reverence for Him] will remain with you, so that you do not sin.”
• Isaiah 41:10Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’
• Daniel 10:12Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.
• Matthew 28:4The guards shook, paralyzed with fear [at the sight] of him and became like dead men [pale and immobile].
• Mark 16:5Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right, wearing a [long, stately] white robe; and they were amazed and bewildered.
• Luke 24:37But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a spirit.

Commentaries on Revelation 1:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17I fell at his feet as dead - The appearance of the glory of the Lord had then same effect upon Ezekiel, Ezekiel 1:28; : and the appearance of Gabriel had the same effect on Daniel, Daniel 8:17. The terrible splendor of such majesty was more than the apostle could bear, and he fell down deprived of his senses, but was soon enabled to behold the vision by a communication of strength from our Lord's right hand.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead - As if I were dead; deprived of sense and consciousness. He was overwhelmed with the suddenness of the vision; he saw that this was a divine being; but he did not as yet know that it was the Saviour. It is not probable that in this vision he would immediately recognize any of the familiar features of the Lord Jesus as he had been accustomed to see him some sixty years before; and if he did, the effect would…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. 17When I saw Him, I fell … dead: Terror and fainting, if not death itself (see Exodus 33:20), often occur when someone sees God (see Isaiah 6:1–5; Matthew 28:4). The Lord kindly responds by touching with his right hand (compare Matthew 25:34) and saying, Do not be afraid (compare Luke 1:13), showing both grace and acceptance. I am: This phrase identifies Jesus as God (see study note on Revelation 1:8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. So fallen is man that God's manifestation of His glorious presence overwhelms him. laid his right hand upon me--So the same Lord Jesus did at the Transfiguration to the three prostrate disciples, of whom John was one, saying, Be not afraid. The "touch" of His hand, as of old, imparted strength. unto me--omitted in the oldest manuscripts. the first ... the last--(Is 41:4; 44:6; 48:12). From eternity, and enduring to eternity: "the First by creation…Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 1:17

• Faith
• I Am That I Am
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Vision
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Alpha
• Beginning
• Star
• Adoration
• Alliance
• Asia Minor
• Canon of the New Testament
• Ephesians, Epistle to the
• First
• Gods

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