New International Version
Revelation 7:17
17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
Revelation 7:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
- New King James Version (NKJV)for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
Context of Revelation 7:17
15Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
Read all of Revelation 7Revelation 7:17 word by word
ὅτι τὸ ἀρνίον τὸ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ θρόνου ποιμανεῖ αὐτοὺς καὶ ὁδηγήσει αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ ζωῆς πηγὰς ὑδάτων, καὶ ἐξαλείψει ὁ θεὸς πᾶν δάκρυον ἐκ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- the Lambὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the Lambἀρνίονarnion · lambG721
- inἀνάana · eachG303
- the midstμέσοςmesos · midstG3319
- of the throneθρόνοςthronos · throneG2362
- shall feedποιμαίνωpoimainō · to shepherdG4165
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- shall leadὁδηγέωhodēgeō · to guideG3594
- untoἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- livingζάωzaō · to liveG2198
- fountainsπηγήpēgē · flowG4077
- of watersὕδωρhudōr hudatos · waterG5204
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- shall wipe awayἐξαλείφωexaleiphō · to blot outG1813
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- tearsδάκρυ, δάκρυονdakru dakruon · teardropG1144
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- eyesὀφθαλμόςophthalmos · eyeG3788
Cross-references for Revelation 7:17
- Revelation 5:6Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
- Psalms 22:26The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him— may your hearts live forever!
- Psalms 23:1The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
- Psalms 28:9Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.
- Psalms 36:8They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.
- Isaiah 25:6On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines.
- Isaiah 40:11He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
- Isaiah 49:9to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’ “They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill.
- Ezekiel 34:23I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.
- Micah 5:4He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
- Micah 7:14Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, which lives by itself in a forest, in fertile pasturelands. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in days long ago.
- Matthew 2:6“ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
- John 10:11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
- John 21:15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
- Acts 20:28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
- 1 Peter 5:2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
Commentaries on Revelation 7:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17The Lamb - The Lord Jesus, enthroned with his Father in ineffable glory. Shall feed them - Shall communicate to them every thing calculated to secure, continue, and increase their happiness. Living fountains of water - A spring in the Hebrew phraseology is termed living water, because constantly boiling up and running on. By these perpetual fountains we are to understand endless sources of comfort and happiness, which Jesus Christ will open out of his own…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne - notes on Revelation 5:6. He is still the great agent in promoting the happiness of the redeemed in heaven. Shall feed them - Rather, shall exercise over them the office of a shepherd - ͂ poimainōThis includes much more than mere feeding. It embraces all the care which a shepherd takes of his flock - watching them, providing for them, guarding them from danger. Compare Psalm 23:1-2, Psalm 23:5; Psalm…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-17Verses 13-17 Faithful Christians deserve our notice and respect; we should mark the upright. Those who would gain knowledge, must not be ashamed to seek instruction from any who can give it. The way to heaven is through many tribulations; but tribulation, how great soever, shall not separate us from the love of God. Tribulation makes heaven more welcome and more glorious. It is not the blood of the martyrs, but the blood of the Lamb, that can wash away…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-17For those living in deserts, water and shade from the sun feel like paradise (see also Revelation 21:6; 22:1, 17; Psalm 23:1–2; Ezekiel 47:1–12; John 7:37–38). in the center of the throne: The Lamb is closely connected with God. Christ’s role as the shepherd of God’s people (compare Psalm 23; Matthew 15:24; John 10:3, 11, 14; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25) means he protects and provides for the sheep, bringing hope and salvation to his people (see Ezekiel…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. in the midst of the throne--that is, in the middle point in front of the throne (Re 5:6). feed--Greek, "tend as a shepherd." living fountains of water--A, B, Vulgate, and Cyprian read, (eternal) "life's fountains of waters." "Living" is not supported by the old authorities.Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 7:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Revelation 7
- 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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