New English Translation
Revelation 1:17
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,
Revelation 1:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
- New International Version (NIV)When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last,
- New King James Version (NKJV)And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
Context of Revelation 1:17
15His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16He 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. When 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! 19Therefore write what you saw, what is, and what will be after these things.
Read all of Revelation 1Revelation 1:17 word by word
Καὶ ὅτε εἶδον αὐτόν, ἔπεσα πρὸς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ ὡς νεκρός, καὶ ἔθηκεν τὴν δεξιὰν αὐτοῦ ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ λέγων μὴ φοβοῦ. ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ πρῶτος καὶ ὁ ἔσχατοςRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
- I sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- I fellπίπτωpiptō petō · to collapseG4098
- atπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- feetὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- feetπούςpous · footG4228
- asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- deadνεκρόςnekros · deadG3498
- he laidἐπιτίθημιepitithēmi · to put/lay onG2007
- rightδεξιόςdexios · rightG1188
- handχείρcheir · handG5495
- uponἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Fearφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
- notμήmē · notG3361
- amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the firstπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413
- the lastἔσχατοςeschatos · last/leastG2078
Cross-references for Revelation 1:17
- Ezekiel 1:28like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds after the rain. This was the appearance of the surrounding brilliant light; it looked like the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I threw myself face down, and I heard a voice speaking.
- Daniel 8:18As he spoke with me, I fell into a trance with my face to the ground. But he touched me and stood me upright.
- Daniel 10:8I alone was left to see this great vision. My strength drained from me, and my vigor disappeared; I was without energy.
- Habakkuk 3:16I listened and my stomach churned; the sound made my lips quiver. My frame went limp, as if my bones were decaying, and I shook as I tried to walk. I long for the day of distress to come upon the people who attack us.
- Matthew 17:2And he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
- John 13:23One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was at the table to the right of Jesus in a place of honor.
- John 21:20Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. (This was the disciple who had leaned back against Jesus’ chest at the meal and asked, “Lord, who is the one who is going to betray you?”)
- Daniel 10:10Then a hand touched me and set me on my hands and knees.
- Genesis 15:1After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance.”
- Exodus 14:13Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord that he will provide for you today; for the Egyptians that you see today you will never, ever see again.
- Exodus 20:20Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you so that you do not sin.”
- Isaiah 41:10Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you – yes, I help you – yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!
- Daniel 10:12Then he said to me, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel, for from the very first day you applied your mind to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come in response to your words.
- Matthew 28:4The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him.
- Mark 16:5Then as they went into the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
- Luke 24:37But they were startled and terrified, thinking they saw a ghost.
Commentaries on Revelation 1:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17I fell at his feet as dead - The appearance of the glory of the Lord had then same effect upon Ezekiel, Ezekiel 1:28; : and the appearance of Gabriel had the same effect on Daniel, Daniel 8:17. The terrible splendor of such majesty was more than the apostle could bear, and he fell down deprived of his senses, but was soon enabled to behold the vision by a communication of strength from our Lord's right hand.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead - As if I were dead; deprived of sense and consciousness. He was overwhelmed with the suddenness of the vision; he saw that this was a divine being; but he did not as yet know that it was the Saviour. It is not probable that in this vision he would immediately recognize any of the familiar features of the Lord Jesus as he had been accustomed to see him some sixty years before; and if he did, the effect would…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. 17When I saw Him, I fell … dead: Terror and fainting, if not death itself (see Exodus 33:20), often occur when someone sees God (see Isaiah 6:1–5; Matthew 28:4). The Lord kindly responds by touching with his right hand (compare Matthew 25:34) and saying, Do not be afraid (compare Luke 1:13), showing both grace and acceptance. I am: This phrase identifies Jesus as God (see study note on Revelation 1:8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. So fallen is man that God's manifestation of His glorious presence overwhelms him. laid his right hand upon me--So the same Lord Jesus did at the Transfiguration to the three prostrate disciples, of whom John was one, saying, Be not afraid. The "touch" of His hand, as of old, imparted strength. unto me--omitted in the oldest manuscripts. the first ... the last--(Is 41:4; 44:6; 48:12). From eternity, and enduring to eternity: "the First by creation…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 1:17
In the dictionaries
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
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