Revelation 4:6

Revelation 4:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
• New International Version (NIV)Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:
• New King James Version (NKJV)Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

Context of Revelation 4:6

4Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white clothes, with golden crowns on their heads. 5Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne. Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were around the throne on each side. 7The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like an ox; the third living creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come.

Revelation 4:6 word by word

καὶ ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου ὡς θάλασσα ὑαλίνη, ὁμοία κρυστάλλῳ, καὶ ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ θρόνου καὶ κύκλῳ τοῦ θρόνου τέσσαρα ζῷα γέμοντα ὀφθαλμῶν ἔμπροσθεν καὶ ὄπισθεν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• beforeἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
• the throneὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the throneθρόνοςthronos · throneG2362
• a seaθάλασσαthalassa · seaG2281
• of glassὑάλινοςhualinos · glassG5193
• like untoὅμοιοςhomoios · likeG3664
• crystalκρύσταλλοςkrustallos · crystalG2930
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the midstμέσοςmesos · midstG3319
• round aboutκύκλῳkuklō · surroundingG2945
• fourτέσσαρεςtessares tessara · fourG5064
• beastsζῷονzōon · living thingG2226
• full ofγέμωgemō · be fullG1073
• eyesὀφθαλμόςophthalmos · eyeG3788
• beforeἔμπροσθενemprosthen · beforeG1715
• behindὄπισθενopisthen · afterG3693

Cross-references for Revelation 4:6

• Revelation 15:2I also saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had won the victory over the beast, its image, and the number of its name, were standing on the sea of glass with harps from God.
• Exodus 38:8He made the bronze basin and its stand from the bronze mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
• 1 Kings 7:23He made the cast metal basin, 15 feet from brim to brim, perfectly round. It was 7½ feet high and 45 feet in circumference.
• Revelation 21:11arrayed with God’s glory. Her radiance was like a precious jewel, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
• Revelation 22:1Then he showed me the river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
• Job 28:17Gold and glass do not compare with it, and articles of fine gold cannot be exchanged for it.
• Ezekiel 1:22Over the heads of the living creatures the likeness of an expanse was spread out. It gleamed like awe-inspiring crystal,
• Revelation 5:6Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth.
• Revelation 7:17For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them; he will guide them to springs of the waters of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
• Ezekiel 1:4I looked, and there was a whirlwind coming from the north, a huge cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire, there was a gleam like amber.
• Revelation 4:8Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come.
• Revelation 6:1Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!”
• Revelation 7:11All the angels stood around the throne, and along with the elders and the four living creatures they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God,
• Revelation 14:3They sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, but no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
• Revelation 15:7One of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.
• Revelation 19:4Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who is seated on the throne, saying, Amen! Hallelujah!

Commentaries on Revelation 4:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Four beasts - · Four living creatures or four animals. The word beast is very improperly used here and elsewhere in this description. Wiclif first used it, and translators in general have followed him in this uncouth rendering. A beast before the throne of God in heaven sounds oddly.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6And before the throne there was a sea of glass - An expanse spread out like a sea composed of glass: that is, that was pellucid and transparent like glass. It is not uncommon to compare the sea with glass. See numerous examples in Wetstein, in loco. The point of the comparison here seems to be its transparent appearance. It was perfectly clear - apparently stretching out in a wide expanse, as if it were a sea. Like unto crystal - The word “crystal” means…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6a sea of glass, as clear as crystal: The most noticeable part of ancient theaters was the bright mosaic floor where the orchestra performed. This design helped people see the scene clearly (compare Revelation 15:2–4). The four living beings represent all of creation. covered with eyes: This phrase likely means they had knowledge or understanding. In the ancient world, figures were often covered with a feature to highlight a quality (for example, statues…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. Two oldest manuscripts, A, B, Vulgate, Coptic, and Syriac read, "As it were a sea of glass." like ... crystal--not imperfectly transparent as the ancient common glass, but like rock crystal. Contrast the turbid "many waters" on which the harlot "sitteth" (Re 17:1, 15). Compare Job 37:18, "the sky ... as a molten looking-glass." Thus, primarily, the pure ether which separates God's throne from John, and from all things before it, may be meant…Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 4:6

• Animals
• Crystal
• Laver
• Sea
• Throne
• Vision

In the dictionaries

• Sea of glass
• Cherub
• Crystal
• Glass
• Living creatures
• Receive
• Anath
• Cherubim (1)
• Crafts
• Creature, Living

Commentaries on Revelation 4

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings