New International Version
Revelation 7:9
9After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
Revelation 7:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
- English Standard Version (ESV)After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
- New King James Version (NKJV)After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
- New Living Translation (NLT)After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands.
Context of Revelation 7:9
7from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, 8from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000. After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
Read all of Revelation 7Revelation 7:9 word by word
Μετὰ ταῦτα εἶδον καὶ ἰδοὺ ὄχλος πολὺς ὃν ἀριθμῆσαι αὐτὸν οὐδεὶς ἐδύνατο ἐκ παντὸς ἔθνους καὶ φυλῶν καὶ λαῶν καὶ γλωσσῶν ἑστῶτες ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου καὶ ἐνώπιον τοῦ ἀρνίου, περιβεβλημένους στολὰς λευκὰς καὶ φοίνικες ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτῶν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Afterμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- I beheldὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- a greatπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
- multitudeὄχλοςochlos · crowdG3793
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- noοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- manαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- couldδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- numberἀριθμέωarithmeō · to numberG705
- ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- nationsἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
- kindredsφυλήphulē · tribeG5443
- peopleλαόςlaos · a peopleG2992
- tonguesγλῶσσαglōssa · tongueG1100
- stoodἵστημιhistēmi · to standG2476
- beforeἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
- the throneὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the throneθρόνοςthronos · throneG2362
- the Lambἀρνίονarnion · lambG721
- clothedπεριβάλλωperiballō · to clotheG4016
- with whiteλευκόςleukos · whiteG3022
- robesστολήstolē · robeG4749
- palmsφοῖνιξphoinix · palmG5404
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- handsχείρcheir · handG5495
Cross-references for Revelation 7:9
- Genesis 49:10The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.
- Psalms 2:8Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.
- Psalms 22:27All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,
- Psalms 72:7In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.
- Psalms 76:4You are radiant with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game.
- Psalms 77:2When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted.
- Psalms 98:3He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
- Psalms 110:2The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!”
- Psalms 117:1Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.
- Isaiah 2:2In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.
- Isaiah 49:6he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
- Isaiah 60:1“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
- Jeremiah 3:17At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the Lord. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.
- Jeremiah 16:19Lord, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress, to you the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, “Our ancestors possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good.
- Zechariah 2:11“Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.
- Zechariah 8:20This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come,
Commentaries on Revelation 7:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9A great multitude - This appears to mean the Church of Christ among the Gentiles, for it was different from that collected from the twelve tribes; and it is here said to be of all nations, kindreds, people, and tongues. Clothed with white robes - As emblems of innocence and purity. With palms in their hands, in token of victory gained over the world, the devil, and the flesh.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9After this - Greek,” After these things” - ̀ ͂ Meta tautathat is, after I saw these things thus represented I had another vision. This would undoubtedly imply, not only that he saw these things after he had seen the sealing of the hundred and forty-four thousand, but that they would occur subsequently to that. But he does not state whether they would immediately occur, or whether other things might not intervene. As a matter of fact, the vision seems to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-12Verses 9-12 The first fruits of Christ having led the way, the Gentiles converted later follow, and ascribe their salvation to God and the Redeemer, with triumph. In acts of religious worship we come nigh to God, and must come by Christ; the throne of God could not be approached by sinners, were it not for a Mediator. They were clothed with the robes of justification, holiness, and victory; and they had palms in their hands, as conquerors used to appear…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9This large group of believers (Revelation 7:14) is too numerous to count, fulfilling God's promises to Abraham (Genesis 15:5; 17:4–5; Romans 4:16–24; Galatians 3:29). White robes (Revelation 6:11) and palm branches (John 12:13) are ancient symbols of victory and success. They add to the celebration that happens after God ends the hostile world.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. no man--Greek, "no one." of all nations--Greek, "OUT OF every nation." The human race is "one nation" by origin, but afterwards separated itself into tribes, peoples, and tongues; hence, the one singular stands first, followed by the three plurals. kindreds--Greek, "tribes." people--Greek, "peoples." The "first-fruits unto the Lamb," the 144,000 (Re 14:1-4) of Israel, are followed by a copious harvest of all nations, an election out of the Gentiles, as…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 7:9
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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