Revelation 8:1

Revelation 8:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
• New International Version (NIV)When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
• New King James Version (NKJV)When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

Context of Revelation 8:1

The Lamb opened the seventh seal. Then it became completely quiet in heaven for about half an hour. 2Then I saw the seven angels who stand in front of God. Someone gave them seven trumpets. 3Then another angel came. He stood at the altar where people offered gifts to God. He had a gold bowl to put incense in. He received a lot of incense and he burned it as a gift to God. It made a nice smell and it mixed with the prayers of God's people. The angel offered the incense and the prayers on the gold altar that was in front of God's throne.

Revelation 8:1 word by word

Καὶ ὅταν ἤνοιξεν τὴν σφραγῖδα τὴν ἑβδόμην, ἐγένετο σιγὴ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ὡς ἡμιώριον.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
• he had openedἀνοίγωanoigō · to openG455
• the seventhὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the seventhἕβδομοςhebdomos · seventhG1442
• sealσφραγίςsphragis · sealG4973
• there wasγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• silenceσιγήsigē · silenceG4602
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• aboutὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• the space of half an hourἡμιώριονhēmiōrion · half an hourG2256

Cross-references for Revelation 8:1

• Revelation 5:1Then I looked at the one who was sitting on the throne. I saw that he held a book in his right hand. Words were written on both sides, the inside and the outside. Seven seals kept the book closed.
• Revelation 6:1Then I watched while the Lamb opened one of the seven seals on the book. I heard one of the four beings say, ‘Come!’ It spoke very loudly with a voice like thunder.
• Job 4:16Something stopped and it stood in front of me. I could not recognize its shape. Then I heard a quiet voice say:
• Psalms 37:7Be patient as you wait for the Lord to help you. Trust him to bring help. Do not become upset when bad people seem to do well, when their wicked ideas really happen.
• Psalms 62:1I will be patient as I wait for God to help me. He is the only one who can make me safe.
• Habakkuk 2:20But the Lord rules from his holy temple. Everybody on the earth should be quiet in front of him.’
• Zechariah 2:13Be quiet, all people, because the Lord has left his home in heaven to come among you.’

Commentaries on Revelation 8:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1The seventh seal - This is ushered in and opened only by the Lamb. Silence in heaven - This must be a mere metaphor, silence being put here for the deep and solemn expectation of the stupendous things about to take place, which the opening of this seal had produced. When any thing prodigious or surprising is expected, all is silence, and even the breath is scarcely heard to be drawn. Half an hour - As heaven may signify the place in which all these…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1And when he had opened the seventh seal - See the notes on Revelation 5:1. There was silence in heaven - The whole scene of the vision is laid in heaven Revelation 4:1-11, and John represents things as they seem to be passing there. The meaning here is, that on the opening of this seal, instead of voices, thunderings, tempests, as perhaps was expected from the character of the sixth seal (Revelation 6:12 ff), and which seemed only to have been suspended…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The seventh seal is opened and seven angels appear with seven trumpets, ready to proclaim the purposes of God. (1-2) Another angel casts fire on the earth, which produces terrible storms of vengeance. (3-5) The seven angels prepare to sound their trumpets. (6) Four sound them. (7-12) Another angel denounces greater woes to come. (13) Verses 1-6 The seventh seal is opened. There was profound silence in heaven for a space; all was quiet in the church, for…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1The opening of the seventh seal ends the first act and starts a dramatic silence. This silence suggests the mystery of God's actions in the world (Revelation 10:4; 1 Kings 19:11–12). This mysterious silence may be similar to God's rest on the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:1–3; see also Hebrews 4:1–11). half an hour: This short pause comes before the second act of divine judgment, when God will answer his people's prayers.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-131. was--Greek, "came to pass"; "began to be." silence in heaven about ... half an hour--The last seal having been broken open, the book of God's eternal plan of redemption is opened for the Lamb to read to the blessed ones in heaven. The half hour's silence contrasts with the previous jubilant songs of the great multitude, taken up by the angels (Re 7:9-11). It is the solemn introduction to the employments and enjoyments of the eternal Sabbath-rest of the…Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 8:1

• Heaven
• Hours

In the dictionaries

• Censer
• Ethics
• Literature, Sub-Apostolic
• Midian; Midianites
• Revelation of John
• Silence
• Zeruiah
• Incense

Commentaries on Revelation 8

• 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