Berean Standard Bible
Revelation 1:17
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,
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 polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters. 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. When 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. 19Therefore write down the things you have seen, the things that are, and the things that will happen after this.
Read all of Revelation 1Revelation 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
- ·καίkai · 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
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- feetπούςpous · footG4228
- likeὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- a deadνεκρόςnekros · deadG3498
- He placedτίθημιtithēmi · to placeG5087
- right handδεξιόςdexios · rightG1188
- onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Do notμήmē · notG3361
- be afraidφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
- amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- Firstπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413
- Lastἔσχατοςeschatos · last/leastG2078
Cross-references for Revelation 1:17
- Ezekiel 1:28The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.
- Daniel 8:18While he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me, helped me to my feet,
- Daniel 10:8So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision. No strength remained in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless.
- Habakkuk 3:16I heard and trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Decay entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Yet I must wait patiently for the day of distress to come upon the people who invade us.
- Matthew 17:2There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
- John 13:23One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side.
- John 21:20Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper to ask, “Lord, who is going to betray You?”
- Daniel 10:10Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
- Genesis 15:1After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
- Exodus 14:13But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again.
- Exodus 20:20“Do not be afraid,” Moses replied. “For God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you, to keep you from sinning.”
- Isaiah 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
- Daniel 10:12“Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
- Matthew 28:4The guards trembled in fear of him and became like dead men.
- Mark 16:5When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
- Luke 24:37But they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen 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
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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