Berean Standard Bible
Revelation 1:16
16He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
Revelation 1:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
- New International Version (NIV)In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
- English Standard Version (ESV)In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
Context of Revelation 1:16
14The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire. 15His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters. He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest. 17When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, 18the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.
Read all of Revelation 1Revelation 1:16 word by word
καὶ ἔχων ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ ἀστέρας ἑπτὰ καὶ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ ῥομφαία δίστομος ὀξεῖα ἐκπορευομένη καὶ ἡ ὄψις αὐτοῦ ὡς ὁ ἥλιος φαίνει ἐν τῇ δυνάμει αὐτοῦ.¶Read the interlinear
- ·καίkai · andG2532
- He heldἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- Hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- rightδεξιόςdexios · rightG1188
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- handχείρcheir · handG5495
- sevenἑπτάhepta · sevenG2033
- starsἀστήρastēr · starG792
- a sharpὀξύςoxus · sharp/swiftG3691
- double-edgedδίστομοςdistomos · double-edgedG1366
- swordῥομφαίαrhomphaia · swordG4501
- cameἐκπορεύωekporeuomai · to departG1607
- fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- mouthστόμαstoma · mouthG4750
- faceὄψιςopsis · faceG3799
- likeὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- sunἥλιοςhēlios · sunG2246
- shiningφαίνωphainō · to shine/appearG5316
- brightestδύναμιςdunamis · powerG1411
Cross-references for Revelation 1:16
- Revelation 1:20This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
- Revelation 2:1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
- Revelation 3:1“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of the One who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation for being alive, yet you are dead.
- Revelation 12:1And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed in the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.
- Job 38:7while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
- Daniel 8:10It grew as high as the host of heaven, and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the earth and trampled them.
- Daniel 12:3Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.
- Revelation 2:12To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword.
- Revelation 19:15And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
- Isaiah 11:4but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.
- Isaiah 49:2He made My mouth like a sharp sword; He hid Me in the shadow of His hand. He made Me like a polished arrow; He hid Me in His quiver.
- Ephesians 6:17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
- Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Revelation 10:1Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire.
- Isaiah 24:23The moon will be confounded and the sun will be ashamed; for the LORD of Hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His elders with great glory.
- Isaiah 60:19No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor.
Commentaries on Revelation 1:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16In his right hand seven stars - The stars are afterwards interpreted as representing the seven angels, messengers, or bishops of the seven Churches. Their being in the right hand of Christ shows that they are under his special care and most powerful protection. See below. Out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword - This is no doubt intended to point out the judgments about to be pronounced by Christ against the rebellious Jews and persecuting Romans…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16And he had in his right hand seven stars - Emblematic of the angels of the seven churches. How he held them is not said. It may be that they seemed to rest on his open palm; or it may be that he seemed to hold them as if they were arranged in a certain order, and with some sort of attachment, so that they could be grasped. It is not improbable that, as in the case of the seven lamp-bearers (see the notes at Revelation 1:13), they were so arranged as to…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. 16The seven stars symbolize the complete church. The church is safe in the right hand of the Son of Man, which means it is under his care, acceptance, and blessing. The sharp sword coming from his mouth represents his powerful message and judgment (see Revelation 19:15; Genesis 3:24; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). Jesus announces both grace and judgment, but here the focus is on his role in carrying out judgment (see Revelation 2:12, 16; 19:15, 21; compare…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. he had--Greek, "having." John takes up the description from time to time, irrespective of the construction, with separate strokes of the pencil [Alford]. in ... right hand seven stars--(Re 1:20; Re 2:1; 3:1). He holds them as a star-studded "crown of glory," or "royal diadem," in His hand: so Is 62:3. He is their Possessor and Upholder. out of ... mouth went--Greek, "going forth"; not wielded in the hand. His Word is omnipotent in executing His will…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 1:16
In the dictionaries
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
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