Revelation 4:9

Revelation 4:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
• New International Version (NIV)Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,
• English Standard Version (ESV)And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

Context of Revelation 4:9

7The first of these beings was like a lion. The second being was like an ox. The third being had a face like a man's face. And the fourth being was like an eagle that was flying. 8Each of these four beings had six wings. They had eyes all over them, even under their wings. All day and all night they never stop saying: ‘The Lord God has all power and authority. He has no bad thing in him. He is completely good. He has always been alive. He is alive now. He will continue to be alive for ever.’ God sits on the throne and he is alive for ever. The four beings that are alive worship him and they thank him. 10When they do this, the 24 leaders bend down to the ground. They also worship the Lord God, who sits on the throne and is alive for ever. They put their crowns in front of God's throne, and they praise him. They say: 11‘God, our Lord, you are very good! Everyone should give you honour and say how great and powerful you are! Everyone should worship you, because you created everything. You decided to make them and so you made them! That is why everything in the world is here.’

Revelation 4:9 word by word

καὶ ὅταν δώσουσιν τὰ ζῷα δόξαν καὶ τιμὴν καὶ εὐχαριστίαν τῷ καθημένῳ ἐπὶ τῷ θρόνῳ, τῷ ζῶντι εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
• thoseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• beastsζῷονzōon · living thingG2226
• giveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• gloryδόξαdoxa · gloryG1391
• honourτιμήtimē · honorG5092
• thanksεὐχαριστίαeucharistia · thankfulnessG2169
• that satκάθημαιkathēmai · to sitG2521
• onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• the throneθρόνοςthronos · throneG2362
• livethζάωzaō · to liveG2198
• forεἰςeis · towardG1519
• everαἰώνaiōn · an age: eternityG165

Cross-references for Revelation 4:9

• Revelation 5:13Then I heard everything that is alive singing. That was everything in heaven and everything on the earth, and everything under the earth and everything in the sea. They were singing: ‘We praise the one who sits on the throne. We praise the one who is the Lamb. We say that they are great! We worship them! They have power to rule for ever!’
• Revelation 7:11All the angels were standing around the throne, and around the leaders and the four beings. The angels all bent down so that their faces touched the ground. They worshipped God who was on the throne in front of them.
• Revelation 1:18I am the one who always lives. I died once. But look! Now I am alive and I will be alive for ever. I have authority over death and over Hades, the place for dead people.
• Revelation 5:14The four beings that are alive agreed. They said, ‘Yes, this is true.’ The leaders fell down and they worshipped God and the Lamb.
• Revelation 10:6He made a strong promise by the name of God, who lives for ever. He created heaven, the earth and the sea, as well as everything that is in them. The angel said, ‘There is no more time to wait!
• Revelation 15:7Then one of the four beings that were alive gave seven gold bowls to the seven angels. God had poured his anger into the bowls. He is the God who is alive for ever.
• Exodus 15:18The Lord will rule as king for ever!
• Psalms 48:14Yes, this is our God, who is with us for ever! He will always be our guide.
• Hebrews 7:8The Levite priests receive gifts, and they are people who one day will die. Melchizedek also received gifts, but we are told that he continues to live.

Commentaries on Revelation 4:9

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9And when those beasts give glory … - As often as those living beings ascribe glory to God. They did this continually Revelation 4:8; and, if the above explanation be correct, then the idea is that the ways and acts of God in his providential government are continually of such a nature as to honor him.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-11Verses 9-11 All true believers wholly ascribe their redemption and conversion, their present privileges and future hopes, to the eternal and most holy God. Thus rise the for-ever harmonious, thankful songs of the redeemed in heaven. Would we on earth do like them, let our praises be constant, not interrupted; united, not divided; thankful, not cold and formal; humble, not self-confident.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-11The twenty-four elders, who speak in an antiphonal chorus (two groups taking turns), give a divine perspective on creation. One seated on the throne: This shows a common Jewish practice of not speaking God’s name directly.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-119-11. The ground of praise here is God's eternity, and God's power and glory manifested in the creation of all things for His pleasure. Creation is the foundation of all God's other acts of power, wisdom, and love, and therefore forms the first theme of His creatures' thanksgivings. The four living creatures take the lead of the twenty-four elders, both in this anthem, and in that new song which follows on the ground of their redemption (Re 5:8-10)…Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 4:9

• Angel (a Spirit)
• Animals
• God
• Praise
• Thankfulness
• Throne

In the dictionaries

• Living creatures
• Receive
• Adoration
• Cherubim (1)
• Ethics
• Isaiah
• Luke, the Evangelist
• Revelation of John
• Seraphim

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