God’s Word Translation
Revelation 7:9
9After these things I saw a large crowd from every nation, tribe, people, and language. No one was able to count how many people there were. They were standing in front of the throne and the lamb. They were wearing white robes, holding palm branches in their hands,
Revelation 7:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
- New International Version (NIV)After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
- English Standard Version (ESV)After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
- New King James Version (NKJV)After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
Context of Revelation 7:9
712,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, 812,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed. After these things I saw a large crowd from every nation, tribe, people, and language. No one was able to count how many people there were. They were standing in front of the throne and the lamb. They were wearing white robes, holding palm branches in their hands, 10and crying out in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the lamb!” 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,
Read all of Revelation 7Revelation 7:9 word by word
Μετὰ ταῦτα εἶδον καὶ ἰδοὺ ὄχλος πολὺς ὃν ἀριθμῆσαι αὐτὸν οὐδεὶς ἐδύνατο ἐκ παντὸς ἔθνους καὶ φυλῶν καὶ λαῶν καὶ γλωσσῶν ἑστῶτες ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου καὶ ἐνώπιον τοῦ ἀρνίου, περιβεβλημένους στολὰς λευκὰς καὶ φοίνικες ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτῶν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Afterμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- I beheldὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- a greatπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
- multitudeὄχλοςochlos · crowdG3793
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- noοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- manαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- couldδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- numberἀριθμέωarithmeō · to numberG705
- ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- nationsἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
- kindredsφυλήphulē · tribeG5443
- peopleλαόςlaos · a peopleG2992
- tonguesγλῶσσαglōssa · tongueG1100
- stoodἵστημιhistēmi · to standG2476
- beforeἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
- the throneὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the throneθρόνοςthronos · throneG2362
- the Lambἀρνίονarnion · lambG721
- clothedπεριβάλλωperiballō · to clotheG4016
- with whiteλευκόςleukos · whiteG3022
- robesστολήstolē · robeG4749
- palmsφοῖνιξphoinix · palmG5404
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- handsχείρcheir · handG5495
Cross-references for Revelation 7:9
- Genesis 49:10A scepter will never depart from Judah nor a ruler’s staff from between his feet until Shiloh comes and the people obey him.
- Psalms 2:8Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance and the ends of the earth as your own possession.
- Psalms 22:27All the ends of the earth will remember and return to the Lord. All the families from all the nations will worship you
- Psalms 72:7May righteous people blossom in his day. May there be unlimited peace until the moon no longer ⌞shines⌟.
- Psalms 76:4You are the radiant one. You are more majestic than the ancient mountains.
- Psalms 77:2On the day I was in trouble, I went to the Lord for help. At night I stretched out my hands in prayer without growing tired. Yet, my soul refused to be comforted.
- Psalms 98:3He has not forgotten to be merciful and faithful to Israel’s descendants. All the ends of the earth have seen how our God saves ⌞them⌟.
- Psalms 110:2The Lord will extend your powerful scepter from Zion. Rule your enemies who surround you.
- Psalms 117:1Praise the Lord, all you nations! Praise him, all you people of the world!
- Isaiah 2:2In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established as the highest of the mountains and raised above the hills. All the nations will stream to it.
- Isaiah 49:6Now, the Lord says, “You are not just my servant who restores the tribes of Jacob and brings back those in Israel whom I have preserved. I have also made you a light for the nations so that you would save people all over the world.”
- Isaiah 60:1Arise! Shine! Your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has dawned.
- Jeremiah 3:17At that time they will call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord. All nations will gather in Jerusalem because the name of the Lord will be found there. They will no longer follow their own stubborn, evil ways.
- Jeremiah 16:19The Lord is my strength and my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. Nations come to you from the most distant parts of the world and say, “Our ancestors have inherited lies, worthless and unprofitable gods.”
- Zechariah 2:11On that day many nations will join the Lord and become my people. I will live among you. Then you will know that the Lord of Armies has sent me to you.
- Zechariah 8:20This is what the Lord of Armies says: People and citizens from many cities are going to come.
Commentaries on Revelation 7:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9A great multitude - This appears to mean the Church of Christ among the Gentiles, for it was different from that collected from the twelve tribes; and it is here said to be of all nations, kindreds, people, and tongues. Clothed with white robes - As emblems of innocence and purity. With palms in their hands, in token of victory gained over the world, the devil, and the flesh.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9After this - Greek,” After these things” - ̀ ͂ Meta tautathat is, after I saw these things thus represented I had another vision. This would undoubtedly imply, not only that he saw these things after he had seen the sealing of the hundred and forty-four thousand, but that they would occur subsequently to that. But he does not state whether they would immediately occur, or whether other things might not intervene. As a matter of fact, the vision seems to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-12Verses 9-12 The first fruits of Christ having led the way, the Gentiles converted later follow, and ascribe their salvation to God and the Redeemer, with triumph. In acts of religious worship we come nigh to God, and must come by Christ; the throne of God could not be approached by sinners, were it not for a Mediator. They were clothed with the robes of justification, holiness, and victory; and they had palms in their hands, as conquerors used to appear…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9This large group of believers (Revelation 7:14) is too numerous to count, fulfilling God's promises to Abraham (Genesis 15:5; 17:4–5; Romans 4:16–24; Galatians 3:29). White robes (Revelation 6:11) and palm branches (John 12:13) are ancient symbols of victory and success. They add to the celebration that happens after God ends the hostile world.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. no man--Greek, "no one." of all nations--Greek, "OUT OF every nation." The human race is "one nation" by origin, but afterwards separated itself into tribes, peoples, and tongues; hence, the one singular stands first, followed by the three plurals. kindreds--Greek, "tribes." people--Greek, "peoples." The "first-fruits unto the Lamb," the 144,000 (Re 14:1-4) of Israel, are followed by a copious harvest of all nations, an election out of the Gentiles, as…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 7:9
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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