New English Translation
Revelation 20:4
4Then I saw thrones and seated on them were those who had been given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. These had not worshiped the beast or his image and had refused to receive his mark on their forehead or hand. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
- New International Version (NIV)I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Context of Revelation 20:4
2He seized the dragon – the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan – and tied him up for a thousand years. 3The angel then threw him into the abyss and locked and sealed it so that he could not deceive the nations until the one thousand years were finished. (After these things he must be released for a brief period of time.) Then I saw thrones and seated on them were those who had been given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. These had not worshiped the beast or his image and had refused to receive his mark on their forehead or hand. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were finished.) This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is the one who takes part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
Read all of Revelation 20Revelation 20:4 word by word
Καὶ εἶδον θρόνους, καὶ ἐκάθισαν ἐπ᾽ αὐτούς, καὶ κρίμα ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς, καὶ τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν πεπελεκισμένων διὰ τὴν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ καὶ διὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ οἵτινες οὐ προσεκύνησαν τὸ θηρίον οὐδὲ τὴν εἰκόνα αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἔλαβον τὸ χάραγμα ἐπὶ τὸ μέτωπον καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν χεῖρα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἔζησαν καὶ ἐβασίλευσαν μετὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ χίλια ἔτη.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- I sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- thronesθρόνοςthronos · throneG2362
- they satκαθίζωkathizō · to seatG2523
- uponἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- judgmentκρίμαkrima · judgmentG2917
- was givenδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- the soulsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the soulsψυχήpsuchē · soulG5590
- that were beheadedπελεκίζωpelekizō · to beheadG3990
- forδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- the witnessμαρτυρίαmarturia · testimonyG3141
- of JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- the wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- whichὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
- hadπροσκυνέωproskuneō · to worshipG4352
- notοὐou · noG3756
- the beastθηρίονthērion · wild animalG2342
- neitherοὔτεoute · neitherG3777
- imageεἰκώνeikōn · imageG1504
- had receivedλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- markχάραγμαcharagma · image/markG5480
- foreheadsμέτωπονmetopon · foreheadG3359
- handsχείρcheir · handG5495
- they livedζάωzaō · to liveG2198
- reignedβασιλεύωbasileuō · to reignG936
- withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- a thousandχίλιοιchilioi · thousandG5507
- yearsἔτοςetos · yearG2094
Cross-references for Revelation 20:4
- Daniel 7:9“While I was watching, thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His attire was white like snow; the hair of his head was like lamb’s wool. His throne was ablaze with fire and its wheels were all aflame.
- Matthew 19:28Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth: In the age when all things are renewed, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
- Luke 22:30that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
- 1 Corinthians 6:2Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you not competent to settle trivial suits?
- Revelation 6:9Now when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given.
- Malachi 4:5Look, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord arrives.
- Matthew 17:10The disciples asked him, “Why then do the experts in the law say that Elijah must come first?”
- Mark 9:11Then they asked him, “Why do the experts in the law say that Elijah must come first?”
- Luke 1:17And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”
- Luke 9:7Now Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed, because some people were saying that John had been raised from the dead,
- Matthew 24:10Then many will be led into sin, and they will betray one another and hate one another.
- Mark 6:16But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised!”
- Luke 9:9Herod said, “I had John beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” So Herod wanted to learn about Jesus.
- Revelation 1:9I, John, your brother and the one who shares with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.
- Revelation 11:3And I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.
- Revelation 12:11But they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
Commentaries on Revelation 20:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4I saw thrones - Christianity established in the earth, the kings and governors being all Christians. Reigned with Christ a thousand years - I am satisfied that this period should not be taken literally. It may signify that there shall be a long and undisturbed state of Christianity; and so universally shall the Gospel spirit prevail, that it will appear as if Christ reigned upon earth; which will in effect be the case, because his Spirit shall rule in the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4And I saw thrones - ́ thronousSee Revelation 1:4; Revelation 3:21; Revelation 4:3-4. John here simply says, that he saw in vision thrones, with persons sitting on them, but without intreating who they were that sat on them. It is not the throne of God that is now revealed, for the word is in the plural number, though the writer does not hint how “many” thrones there were. It is intimated, however, that these thrones were placed with some reference to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-6Verses 4-6 Here is an account of the reign of the saints, for the same space of time as Satan is bound. Those who suffer with Christ, shall reign with him in his spiritual and heavenly kingdom, in conformity to him in his wisdom, righteousness, and holiness: this is called the first resurrection, with which none but those who serve Christ, and suffer for him, shall be favoured. The happiness of these servants of God is declared. None can be blessed but…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4thrones, and those seated on them: This image of a heavenly court includes the elders (Revelation 4:4) on thrones (see Daniel 7:9–10), the victorious martyrs (see Daniel 7:22), and all of God's people. beheaded for … Jesus: Beheading was a common execution method for Roman citizens. The faithful who refused the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:16–17) will judge the condemned (see 1 Corinthians 6:2–3) on thrones like those of the worshiping elders (see…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-54-5. they sat--the twelve apostles, and the saints in general. judgment was given unto there--(See on Da 7:22). The office of judging was given to them. Though in one sense having to stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, yet in another sense they "do not come into judgment (Greek), but have already passed from death unto life." souls--This term is made a plea for denying the literality of the first resurrection, as if the resurrection were the…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 20:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Revelation 20
- 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
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