God’s Word Translation
Revelation 7:17
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.”
Revelation 7:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
- New International Version (NIV)For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
- English Standard Version (ESV)For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
- New King James Version (NKJV)for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Context of Revelation 7:17
15That is why they are in front of the throne of God. They serve him day and night in his temple. The one who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. 16They will never be hungry or thirsty again. Neither the sun nor any burning heat will ever overcome them. The 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.”
Read all of Revelation 7Revelation 7:17 word by word
ὅτι τὸ ἀρνίον τὸ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ θρόνου ποιμανεῖ αὐτοὺς καὶ ὁδηγήσει αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ ζωῆς πηγὰς ὑδάτων, καὶ ἐξαλείψει ὁ θεὸς πᾶν δάκρυον ἐκ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- the Lambὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the Lambἀρνίονarnion · lambG721
- inἀνάana · eachG303
- the midstμέσοςmesos · midstG3319
- of the throneθρόνοςthronos · throneG2362
- shall feedποιμαίνωpoimainō · to shepherdG4165
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- shall leadὁδηγέωhodēgeō · to guideG3594
- untoἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- livingζάωzaō · to liveG2198
- fountainsπηγήpēgē · flowG4077
- of watersὕδωρhudōr hudatos · waterG5204
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- shall wipe awayἐξαλείφωexaleiphō · to blot outG1813
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- tearsδάκρυ, δάκρυονdakru dakruon · teardropG1144
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- eyesὀφθαλμόςophthalmos · eyeG3788
Cross-references for Revelation 7:17
- 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.
- Psalms 22:26Oppressed people will eat until they are full. Those who look to the Lord will praise him. May you live forever.
- Psalms 23:1The Lord is my shepherd. I am never in need.
- Psalms 28:9Save your people, and bless those who belong to you. Be their shepherd, and carry them forever.
- Psalms 36:8They are refreshed with the rich foods in your house, and you make them drink from the river of your pleasure.
- Isaiah 25:6On this mountain the Lord of Armies will prepare for all people a feast with the best foods, a banquet with aged wines, with the best foods and the finest wines.
- Isaiah 40:11Like a shepherd he takes care of his flock. He gathers the lambs in his arms. He carries them in his arms. He gently helps the sheep and their lambs.
- Isaiah 49:9You will say to the prisoners, “Come out,” and to those who are in darkness, “Show yourselves.” They will graze along every path, and they will find pastures on every bare hill.
- Ezekiel 34:23Then I will place one shepherd over them, my servant David, and he will take care of them. He will take care of them and be their shepherd.
- Micah 5:4The child will become the shepherd of his flock. ⌞He will lead them⌟ with the strength of the Lord, with the majestic name of the Lord his God. They will live in safety because his greatness will reach the ends of the earth.
- Micah 7:14With your shepherd’s staff, take care of your people, the sheep that belong to you. They live alone in the woods, in fertile pastures. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead like before.
- Matthew 2:6Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are by no means least among the leaders of Judah. A leader will come from you. He will shepherd my people Israel.”
- John 10:11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.
- John 21:15After they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than the other disciples do?” Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.”
- Acts 20:28Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops to be shepherds for God’s church which he acquired with his own blood.
- 1 Peter 5:2Be shepherds over the flock God has entrusted to you. Watch over it as God does: Don’t do this because you have to, but because you want to. Don’t do it out of greed, but out of a desire to serve.
Commentaries on Revelation 7:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17The Lamb - The Lord Jesus, enthroned with his Father in ineffable glory. Shall feed them - Shall communicate to them every thing calculated to secure, continue, and increase their happiness. Living fountains of water - A spring in the Hebrew phraseology is termed living water, because constantly boiling up and running on. By these perpetual fountains we are to understand endless sources of comfort and happiness, which Jesus Christ will open out of his own…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne - notes on Revelation 5:6. He is still the great agent in promoting the happiness of the redeemed in heaven. Shall feed them - Rather, shall exercise over them the office of a shepherd - ͂ poimainōThis includes much more than mere feeding. It embraces all the care which a shepherd takes of his flock - watching them, providing for them, guarding them from danger. Compare Psalm 23:1-2, Psalm 23:5; Psalm…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-17Verses 13-17 Faithful Christians deserve our notice and respect; we should mark the upright. Those who would gain knowledge, must not be ashamed to seek instruction from any who can give it. The way to heaven is through many tribulations; but tribulation, how great soever, shall not separate us from the love of God. Tribulation makes heaven more welcome and more glorious. It is not the blood of the martyrs, but the blood of the Lamb, that can wash away…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-17For those living in deserts, water and shade from the sun feel like paradise (see also Revelation 21:6; 22:1, 17; Psalm 23:1–2; Ezekiel 47:1–12; John 7:37–38). in the center of the throne: The Lamb is closely connected with God. Christ’s role as the shepherd of God’s people (compare Psalm 23; Matthew 15:24; John 10:3, 11, 14; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25) means he protects and provides for the sheep, bringing hope and salvation to his people (see Ezekiel…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. in the midst of the throne--that is, in the middle point in front of the throne (Re 5:6). feed--Greek, "tend as a shepherd." living fountains of water--A, B, Vulgate, and Cyprian read, (eternal) "life's fountains of waters." "Living" is not supported by the old authorities.Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 7:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Revelation 7
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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