God’s Word Translation
Revelation 4:5
5Lightning, noise, and thunder came from the throne. Seven flaming torches were burning in front of the throne. These are the seven spirits of God.
Revelation 4:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
- New International Version (NIV)From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God,
- New King James Version (NKJV)And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Context of Revelation 4:5
3The one sitting there looked like gray quartz and red quartz. There was a rainbow around the throne which looked like an emerald. 4Around that throne were 24 other thrones, and on these thrones sat 24 leaders wearing white clothes. They had gold crowns on their heads. Lightning, noise, and thunder came from the throne. Seven flaming torches were burning in front of the throne. These are the seven spirits of God. 6In front of the throne, there was something like a sea of glass as clear as crystal. In the center near the throne and around the throne were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like a young bull, the third had a face like a human, and the fourth was like a flying eagle.
Read all of Revelation 4Revelation 4:5 word by word
καὶ ἐκ τοῦ θρόνου ἐκπορεύονται ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί, καὶ ἑπτὰ λαμπάδες πυρὸς καιόμεναι ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου ἅ εἰσιν τὰ ἑπτὰ πνεύματα τοῦ θεοῦ,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- out ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- the throneὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the throneθρόνοςthronos · throneG2362
- proceededἐκπορεύωekporeuomai · to departG1607
- lightningsἀστραπήastrapē · lightningG796
- thunderingsβροντήbrontē · thunderG1027
- voicesφωνήphōnē · voice/sound: noiseG5456
- sevenἑπτάhepta · sevenG2033
- lampsλαμπάςlampas · windowG2985
- of fireπῦρpur · fireG4442
- burningκαίωkaiō · to kindle/burnG2545
- beforeἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- Spiritsπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
Cross-references for Revelation 4:5
- Revelation 8:5The angel took the incense burner, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it on the earth. Then there was thunder, noise, lightning, and an earthquake.
- Revelation 11:19God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his promise was seen inside his temple. There was lightning, noise, thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
- Revelation 16:17The seventh angel poured his bowl into the air. A loud voice came from the throne in the temple, and said, “It has happened!”
- Exodus 19:16On the morning of the second day, there was thunder and lightning with a heavy cloud over the mountain, and a very loud blast from a ram’s horn ⌞was heard⌟. All the people in the camp shook with fear.
- Exodus 20:18All the people heard the thunder and saw the lightning. They heard the blast of the ram’s horn and saw the mountain covered with smoke. So they shook with fear and stood at a distance.
- Psalms 18:13The Lord thundered in the heavens. The Most High made his voice heard with hailstones and lightning.
- Psalms 68:35God, the God of Israel, is awe-inspiring in his holy place. He gives strength and power to his people. Thanks be to God!
- Joel 3:16The Lord will roar from Zion, and his voice will thunder from Jerusalem. The sky and the earth will shake. The Lord will be a refuge for his people. He will be a stronghold for the people of Israel.
- Hebrews 12:18You have not come to something that you can feel, to a blazing fire, to darkness, to gloom, to a storm,
- Genesis 15:7Then the Lord said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land so that you will take possession of it.”
- Exodus 37:23He made the seven lamps, the tongs, and the incense burners out of pure gold.
- 2 Chronicles 4:20lamp stands and lamps of pure gold (to burn as directed in front of the inner room),
- Ezekiel 1:13The living creatures looked like burning coals and torches. Fire moved back and forth between the living creatures. The fire was bright, and lightning came out of the fire.
- Zechariah 4:2He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lamp stand with a bowl on top and seven lamps on it. There are seven spouts for each lamp that is on top of it.
- Revelation 1:4From John to the seven churches in the province of Asia. Good will and peace to you from the one who is, the one who was, and the one who is coming, from the seven spirits who are in front of his throne,
- Revelation 3:1“To the messenger of the church in Sardis, write: The one who has God’s seven spirits and the seven stars says: I know what you have done. You are known for being alive, but you are dead.
Commentaries on Revelation 4:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Seven lamps of fire - Seven angels, the attendants and ministers of the supreme King. See Revelation 1:4, and the note there.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices - Expressive of the majesty and glory of Him that sat upon it. We are at once reminded by this representation of the sublime scene that occurred at Sinai Exodus 19:16, where “there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud.” Compare Ezekiel 1:13, Ezekiel 1:24. So Milton: “Forth rushed with whirlwind sound. The chariot of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5The thunder that follows flashes of lightning is a call from God to pay attention (see Revelation 8:5; 11:19; 16:18). Before the throne burned seven torches of fire: In ancient times, people placed torches before rulers to show their authority. These torches with burning flames represent the perfect spirit of God.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. proceeded--Greek, "proceed." thunderings and voices--The two oldest manuscripts transpose, "voices and thunderings." Compare at the giving of the law on Sinai, Ex 19:16. "The thunderings express God's threats against the ungodly: there are voices in the thunders (Re 10:3), that is, not only does He threaten generally, but also predicts special judgments" [Grotius]. seven lamps ... seven Spirits--The Holy Spirit in His sevenfold operation, as the…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 4:5
In the dictionaries
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
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