English Standard Version
Revelation 1:17
17When 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,
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last.
Context of Revelation 1:17
15his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16In 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. 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, 18and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · 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
- feetὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- feetπούςpous · footG4228
- asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- deadνεκρόςnekros · deadG3498
- he laidἐπιτίθημιepitithēmi · to put/lay onG2007
- rightδεξιόςdexios · rightG1188
- handχείρcheir · handG5495
- uponἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Fearφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
- notμήmē · notG3361
- amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the firstπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413
- the lastἔσχατοςeschatos · last/leastG2078
Cross-references for Revelation 1:17
- Ezekiel 1:28Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
- Daniel 8:18And when he had spoken to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand up.
- Daniel 10:8So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength.
- Habakkuk 3:16I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us.
- Matthew 17:2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
- John 13:23One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side,
- John 21:20Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?"
- Daniel 10:10And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
- Genesis 15:1After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great."
- Exodus 14:13And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.
- Exodus 20:20Moses said to the people, "Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin."
- Isaiah 41:10fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
- Daniel 10:12Then he said to me, "Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.
- Matthew 28:4And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.
- Mark 16:5And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.
- Luke 24:37But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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