Revelation 1:16

Revelation 1:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
• New International Version (NIV)In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
• English Standard Version (ESV)In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

Context of Revelation 1:16

14His head and hair were as white as wool, even as white as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame. 15His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth. His face shone like the sun shining at full strength. 17When I saw him I fell down at his feet as though I were dead, but he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last, 18and the one who lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive – forever and ever – and I hold the keys of death and of Hades!

Revelation 1:16 word by word

καὶ ἔχων ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ ἀστέρας ἑπτὰ καὶ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ ῥομφαία δίστομος ὀξεῖα ἐκπορευομένη καὶ ἡ ὄψις αὐτοῦ ὡς ὁ ἥλιος φαίνει ἐν τῇ δυνάμει αὐτοῦ.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• he hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• right handδεξιόςdexios · rightG1188
• sevenἑπτάhepta · sevenG2033
• starsἀστήρastēr · starG792
• outἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• ofὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ofστόμαstoma · mouthG4750
• wentἐκπορεύωekporeuomai · to departG1607
• aῥομφαίαrhomphaia · swordG4501
• sharpὀξύςoxus · sharp/swiftG3691
• twoedgedδίστομοςdistomos · double-edgedG1366
• countenanceὄψιςopsis · faceG3799
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• the sunἥλιοςhēlios · sunG2246
• shinethφαίνωphainō · to shine/appearG5316
• strengthδύναμιςdunamis · powerG1411
• ·χείρcheir · handG5495

Cross-references for Revelation 1:16

• Revelation 1:20The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
• Revelation 2:1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who has a firm grasp on the seven stars in his right hand – the one who walks among the seven golden lampstands:
• Revelation 3:1“To the angel of the church in Sardis write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a reputation that you are alive, but in reality you are dead.
• Revelation 12:1Then a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and with the moon under her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars.
• Job 38:7when the morning stars sang in chorus, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
• Daniel 8:10It grew so big it reached the army of heaven, and it brought about the fall of some of the army and some of the stars to the ground, where it trampled them.
• Daniel 12:3But the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavenly expanse. And those bringing many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever.
• Revelation 2:12“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who has the sharp double-edged sword:
• Revelation 19:15From his mouth extends a sharp sword, so that with it he can strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod, and he stomps the winepress of the furious wrath of God, the All-Powerful.
• Isaiah 11:4He will treat the poor fairly, and make right decisions for the downtrodden of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and order the wicked to be executed.
• Isaiah 49:2He made my mouth like a sharp sword, he hid me in the hollow of his hand; he made me like a sharpened arrow, he hid me in his quiver.
• Ephesians 6:17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
• Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.
• Revelation 10:1Then I saw another powerful angel descending from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun and his legs were like pillars of fire.
• Isaiah 24:23The full moon will be covered up, the bright sun will be darkened; for the Lord who commands armies will rule on Mount Zion in Jerusalem in the presence of his assembly, in majestic splendor.
• Isaiah 60:19The sun will no longer supply light for you by day, nor will the moon’s brightness shine on you; the Lord will be your permanent source of light – the splendor of your God will shine upon you.

Commentaries on Revelation 1:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16In his right hand seven stars - The stars are afterwards interpreted as representing the seven angels, messengers, or bishops of the seven Churches. Their being in the right hand of Christ shows that they are under his special care and most powerful protection. See below. Out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword - This is no doubt intended to point out the judgments about to be pronounced by Christ against the rebellious Jews and persecuting Romans…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16And he had in his right hand seven stars - Emblematic of the angels of the seven churches. How he held them is not said. It may be that they seemed to rest on his open palm; or it may be that he seemed to hold them as if they were arranged in a certain order, and with some sort of attachment, so that they could be grasped. It is not improbable that, as in the case of the seven lamp-bearers (see the notes at Revelation 1:13), they were so arranged as to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-20Verses 12-20 The churches receive their light from Christ and the gospel, and hold it forth to others. They are golden candlesticks; they should be precious and pure; not only the ministers, but the members of the churches; their light should so shine before men, as to engage others to give glory to God. And the apostle saw as though of the Lord Jesus Christ appeared in the midst of the golden candlesticks. He is with his churches always, to the end of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16The seven stars symbolize the complete church. The church is safe in the right hand of the Son of Man, which means it is under his care, acceptance, and blessing. The sharp sword coming from his mouth represents his powerful message and judgment (see Revelation 19:15; Genesis 3:24; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). Jesus announces both grace and judgment, but here the focus is on his role in carrying out judgment (see Revelation 2:12, 16; 19:15, 21; compare…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. he had--Greek, "having." John takes up the description from time to time, irrespective of the construction, with separate strokes of the pencil [Alford]. in ... right hand seven stars--(Re 1:20; Re 2:1; 3:1). He holds them as a star-studded "crown of glory," or "royal diadem," in His hand: so Is 62:3. He is their Possessor and Upholder. out of ... mouth went--Greek, "going forth"; not wielded in the hand. His Word is omnipotent in executing His will…Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 1:16

• Jesus, the Christ
• Seven
• Stars
• Sun
• Sword
• Vision

In the dictionaries

• Seven Stars
• Alpha
• Beginning
• Star
• Stars
• Sword
• Alliance
• Armor; Arms
• Asia Minor
• Astronomy

Commentaries on Revelation 1

• 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