New English Translation
Revelation 4:5
5From the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning in front of the throne
Revelation 4:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
- New International Version (NIV)From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God,
- New King James Version (NKJV)And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Context of Revelation 4:5
3And the one seated on it was like jasper and carnelian in appearance, and a rainbow looking like it was made of emerald encircled the throne. 4In a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on those thrones were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white clothing and had golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning in front of the throne 6and in front of the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal. In the middle of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like an ox, the third creature had a face like a man’s, and the fourth creature looked like an eagle flying.
Read all of Revelation 4Revelation 4:5 word by word
καὶ ἐκ τοῦ θρόνου ἐκπορεύονται ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί, καὶ ἑπτὰ λαμπάδες πυρὸς καιόμεναι ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου ἅ εἰσιν τὰ ἑπτὰ πνεύματα τοῦ θεοῦ,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- out ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- the throneὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the throneθρόνοςthronos · throneG2362
- proceededἐκπορεύωekporeuomai · to departG1607
- lightningsἀστραπήastrapē · lightningG796
- thunderingsβροντήbrontē · thunderG1027
- voicesφωνήphōnē · voice/sound: noiseG5456
- sevenἑπτάhepta · sevenG2033
- lampsλαμπάςlampas · windowG2985
- of fireπῦρpur · fireG4442
- burningκαίωkaiō · to kindle/burnG2545
- beforeἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- Spiritsπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
Cross-references for Revelation 4:5
- Revelation 8:5Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it on the earth, and there were crashes of thunder, roaring, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
- Revelation 11:19Then the temple of God in heaven was opened and the ark of his covenant was visible within his temple. And there were flashes of lightning, roaring, crashes of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.
- Revelation 16:17Finally the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying: “It is done!”
- Exodus 19:16On the third day in the morning there was thunder and lightning and a dense cloud on the mountain, and the sound of a very loud horn; all the people who were in the camp trembled.
- Exodus 20:18All the people were seeing the thundering and the lightning, and heard the sound of the horn, and saw the mountain smoking – and when the people saw it they trembled with fear and kept their distance.
- Psalms 18:13The Lord thundered in the sky; the sovereign One shouted.
- Psalms 68:35You are awe-inspiring, O God, as you emerge from your holy temple! It is the God of Israel who gives the people power and strength. God deserves praise!
- Joel 3:16The Lord roars from Zion; from Jerusalem his voice bellows out. The heavens and the earth shake. But the Lord is a refuge for his people; he is a stronghold for the citizens of Israel.
- Hebrews 12:18For you have not come to something that can be touched, to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind
- Genesis 15:7The Lord said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”
- Exodus 37:23He made its seven lamps, its trimmers, and its trays of pure gold.
- 2 Chronicles 4:20the pure gold lampstands and their lamps which burned as specified at the entrance to the inner sanctuary,
- Ezekiel 1:13In the middle of the living beings was something like burning coals of fire or like torches. It moved back and forth among the living beings. It was bright, and lightning was flashing out of the fire.
- Zechariah 4:2He asked me, “What do you see?” I replied, “I see a menorah of pure gold with a receptacle at the top and seven lamps, with fourteen pipes going to the lamps.
- Revelation 1:4From John, to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from “he who is,” and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
- 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.
Commentaries on Revelation 4:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Seven lamps of fire - Seven angels, the attendants and ministers of the supreme King. See Revelation 1:4, and the note there.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices - Expressive of the majesty and glory of Him that sat upon it. We are at once reminded by this representation of the sublime scene that occurred at Sinai Exodus 19:16, where “there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud.” Compare Ezekiel 1:13, Ezekiel 1:24. So Milton: “Forth rushed with whirlwind sound. The chariot of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5The thunder that follows flashes of lightning is a call from God to pay attention (see Revelation 8:5; 11:19; 16:18). Before the throne burned seven torches of fire: In ancient times, people placed torches before rulers to show their authority. These torches with burning flames represent the perfect spirit of God.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. proceeded--Greek, "proceed." thunderings and voices--The two oldest manuscripts transpose, "voices and thunderings." Compare at the giving of the law on Sinai, Ex 19:16. "The thunderings express God's threats against the ungodly: there are voices in the thunders (Re 10:3), that is, not only does He threaten generally, but also predicts special judgments" [Grotius]. seven lamps ... seven Spirits--The Holy Spirit in His sevenfold operation, as the…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 4:5
In the dictionaries
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
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