New International Version
Revelation 4:5
5From 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God.
Context of Revelation 4:5
3And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 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. 6Also 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. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.
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 hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
- Revelation 11:19Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
- Revelation 16:17The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!”
- Exodus 19:16On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.
- Exodus 20:18When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance
- Psalms 18:13The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.
- Psalms 68:35You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!
- Joel 3:16The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.
- Hebrews 12:18You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;
- Genesis 15:7He also said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.”
- Exodus 37:23They made its seven lamps, as well as its wick trimmers and trays, of pure gold.
- 2 Chronicles 4:20the lampstands of pure gold with their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed;
- Ezekiel 1:13The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.
- Zechariah 4:2He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps.
- Revelation 1:4John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,
- Revelation 3:1“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but 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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