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 that throne were 24 other thrones, and on these thrones sat 24 leaders wearing white clothes. They had gold crowns on their heads. 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. In 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. 8Each of the four living creatures had six wings and were covered with eyes, inside and out. Without stopping day or night they were singing, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is coming.”

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 15:2Then I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire. Those who had won the victory over the beast, its statue, and the number of its name were standing on the glassy sea. They were holding God’s harps
• Exodus 38:8He made the basin and stand out of the bronze mirrors given by the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
• 1 Kings 7:23Hiram made a pool from cast metal. It was 15 feet in diameter. It was round, 7½ feet high, and had a circumference of 45 feet.
• Revelation 21:11It had the glory of God. Its light was like a valuable gem, like gray quartz, as clear as crystal.
• Revelation 22:1The angel showed me a river filled with the water of life, as clear as crystal. It was flowing from the throne of God and the lamb.
• Job 28:17Neither gold nor glass can equal its value. Nor can gold ornaments, jewels, or crystal
• Ezekiel 1:22Something like a dome was spread over the heads of the living creatures. It looked like dazzling crystal.
• Revelation 5:6I saw a lamb standing in the center near the throne with the four living creatures and the leaders. The lamb looked like he had been slaughtered. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent all over the world.
• Revelation 7:17The lamb in the center near the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs filled with the water of life, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
• Ezekiel 1:4As I looked, I saw a storm coming from the north. There was an immense cloud with flashing lightning surrounded by a bright light. The middle of the lightning looked like glowing metal.
• Revelation 4:8Each of the four living creatures had six wings and were covered with eyes, inside and out. Without stopping day or night they were singing, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is coming.”
• Revelation 6:1I watched as the lamb opened the first of the seven seals. I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Go!”
• Revelation 7:11All the angels stood around the throne with the leaders and the four living creatures. They bowed in front of the throne with their faces touching the ground, worshiped God,
• Revelation 14:3They were singing a new song in front of the throne, the four living creatures, and the leaders. Only the 144,000 people who had been bought on earth could learn the song.
• Revelation 15:7One of the four living creatures gave seven gold bowls full of the anger of God, who lives forever and ever, to the seven angels.
• Revelation 19:4The 24 leaders and the 4 living creatures bowed and worshiped God, who was sitting on the throne. They said, “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