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 the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. 5Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. 7The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”

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

• and beforeἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
• the throneθρόνοςthronos · throneG2362
• likeὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• seaθάλασσαthalassa · seaG2281
• of glassὑάλινοςhualinos · glassG5193
• likeὅμοιοςhomoios · likeG3664
• crystalκρύσταλλοςkrustallos · crystalG2930
• centerμέσοςmesos · midstG3319
• aroundκύκλῳkuklō · surroundingG2945
• fourτέσσαρεςtessares tessara · fourG5064
• livingζῷονzōon · living thingG2226
• fullγέμωgemō · be fullG1073
• of eyesὀφθαλμόςophthalmos · eyeG3788
• in frontἔμπροσθενemprosthen · beforeG1715
• and behindὄπισθενopisthen · afterG3693

Cross-references for Revelation 4:6

• Revelation 15:2And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.
• Exodus 38:8Moreover, he made the laver of bronze with its base of bronze, from the mirrors of the serving women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting.
• 1 Kings 7:23Now he made the sea of cast metal ten cubits from brim to brim, circular in form, and its height was five cubits, and thirty cubits in circumference.
• Revelation 21:11having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.
• Revelation 22:1Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb,
• Job 28:17Gold or glass cannot equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold.
• Ezekiel 1:22Now over the heads of the living beings there was something like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, spread out over their heads.
• Revelation 5:6And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.
• Revelation 7:17for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
• Ezekiel 1:4As I looked, behold, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright light around it, and in its midst something like glowing metal in the midst of the fire.
• Revelation 4:8And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”
• Revelation 6:1Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.”
• Revelation 7:11And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
• Revelation 14:3And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth.
• Revelation 15:7Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.
• Revelation 19:4And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “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