New English Translation
Revelation 4:6
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.
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
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. 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 and 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. 8Each one of the four living creatures had six wings and was full of eyes all around and inside. They never rest day or night, saying: “Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God, the All-Powerful, Who was and who is, and who is still to come!”
Read all of Revelation 4Revelation 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- beforeἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
- the throneὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the throneθρόνοςthronos · throneG2362
- a seaθάλασσαthalassa · seaG2281
- of glassὑάλινοςhualinos · glassG5193
- like untoὅμοιοςhomoios · likeG3664
- crystalκρύσταλλοςkrustallos · crystalG2930
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the midstμέσοςmesos · midstG3319
- round aboutκύκλῳkuklō · surroundingG2945
- fourτέσσαρεςtessares tessara · fourG5064
- beastsζῷονzōon · living thingG2226
- full ofγέμωgemō · be fullG1073
- eyesὀφθαλμόςophthalmos · eyeG3788
- beforeἔμπροσθενemprosthen · beforeG1715
- behindὄπισθενopisthen · afterG3693
Cross-references for Revelation 4:6
- Revelation 15:2Then I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and his image and the number of his name. They were standing by the sea of glass, holding harps given to them by God.
- Exodus 38:8He made the large basin of bronze and its pedestal of bronze from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
- 1 Kings 7:23He also made the large bronze basin called “The Sea.” It measured 15 feet from rim to rim, was circular in shape, and stood seven-and-a-half feet high. Its circumference was 45 feet.
- Revelation 21:11The city possesses the glory of God; its brilliance is like a precious jewel, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper.
- Revelation 22:1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life – water as clear as crystal – pouring out from the throne of God and of the Lamb,
- Job 28:17Neither gold nor crystal can be compared with it, nor can a vase of gold match its worth.
- Ezekiel 1:22Over the heads of the living beings was something like a platform, glittering awesomely like ice, stretched out over their heads.
- Revelation 5:6Then I saw standing in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been killed. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
- Revelation 7:17because the Lamb in the middle of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
- Ezekiel 1:4As I watched, I noticed a windstorm coming from the north – an enormous cloud, with lightning flashing, such that bright light rimmed it and came from it like glowing amber from the middle of a fire.
- Revelation 4:8Each one of the four living creatures had six wings and was full of eyes all around and inside. They never rest day or night, saying: “Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God, the All-Powerful, Who was and who is, and who is still to come!”
- Revelation 6:1I looked on when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a thunderous voice, “Come!”
- Revelation 7:11And all the angels stood there in a circle around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground before the throne and worshiped God,
- Revelation 14:3and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one was able to learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth.
- Revelation 15:7Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God who lives forever and ever,
- Revelation 19:4The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures threw themselves to the ground and worshiped God, who was seated 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
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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