Tree of Life Version
Revelation 1:16
16In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came forth a sharp, two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at full strength.
Revelation 1:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
- New International Version (NIV)In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
- English Standard Version (ESV)In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
Context of Revelation 1:16
14His head and His hair were white like wool, white like snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire. 15His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of rushing waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came forth a sharp, two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at full strength. 17When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid! I am the First and the Last, 18and the One who lives. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever! Moreover, I hold the keys of death and Sheol.
Read all of Revelation 1Revelation 1:16 word by word
καὶ ἔχων ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ ἀστέρας ἑπτὰ καὶ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ ῥομφαία δίστομος ὀξεῖα ἐκπορευομένη καὶ ἡ ὄψις αὐτοῦ ὡς ὁ ἥλιος φαίνει ἐν τῇ δυνάμει αὐτοῦ.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- he hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- right handδεξιόςdexios · rightG1188
- sevenἑπτάhepta · sevenG2033
- starsἀστήρastēr · starG792
- outἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- ofὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- ofστόμαstoma · mouthG4750
- wentἐκπορεύωekporeuomai · to departG1607
- aῥομφαίαrhomphaia · swordG4501
- sharpὀξύςoxus · sharp/swiftG3691
- twoedgedδίστομοςdistomos · double-edgedG1366
- countenanceὄψιςopsis · faceG3799
- asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- the sunἥλιοςhēlios · sunG2246
- shinethφαίνωphainō · to shine/appearG5316
- strengthδύναμιςdunamis · powerG1411
- ·χείρcheir · handG5495
Cross-references for Revelation 1:16
- Revelation 1:20As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden menorot—the seven stars are the angels of Messiah’s seven communities, and the seven menorahs are the seven communities.”
- Revelation 2:1To the angel of Messiah’s community in Ephesus write: “Thus says the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks in the midst of the seven golden menorot:
- Revelation 3:1To the angel of Messiah’s community in Sardis write: “Thus says the One having the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your deeds—you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead.
- Revelation 12:1A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
- Job 38:7when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
- Daniel 8:10It grew as high as the host of heaven and hurled some of the host and the stars down to the earth and trampled them.
- Daniel 12:3Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavenly expanse. And those who turn many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever.
- Revelation 2:12To the angel of Messiah’s community in Pergamum write: “Thus says the One who has the sharp two-edged sword:
- Revelation 19:15From His mouth comes a sharp sword—so that with it He may strike down the nations—and He shall rule them with an iron rod, and He treads the winepress of the furious wrath of Elohei-Tzva’ot.
- Isaiah 11:4But with righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the poor of the land. He will strike the land with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.
- Isaiah 49:2He made My mouth like a sharp sword. in the shadow of His hand He hid Me. He made Me a polished arrow, He has hidden Me in His quiver.
- Ephesians 6:17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
- Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword—piercing right through to a separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Revelation 10:1Then I saw another powerful angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud with a rainbow over his head. His face was like the sun and his feet like pillars of fire.
- Isaiah 24:23Then the moon will be abashed and the sun ashamed, for Adonai-Tzva’ot will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His elders, gloriously.
- Isaiah 60:19No more will the sun be your light by day, nor the glow of the moon be your light, but Adonai will be your everlasting light, and your God for your glory.
Commentaries on Revelation 1:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16In his right hand seven stars - The stars are afterwards interpreted as representing the seven angels, messengers, or bishops of the seven Churches. Their being in the right hand of Christ shows that they are under his special care and most powerful protection. See below. Out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword - This is no doubt intended to point out the judgments about to be pronounced by Christ against the rebellious Jews and persecuting Romans…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16And he had in his right hand seven stars - Emblematic of the angels of the seven churches. How he held them is not said. It may be that they seemed to rest on his open palm; or it may be that he seemed to hold them as if they were arranged in a certain order, and with some sort of attachment, so that they could be grasped. It is not improbable that, as in the case of the seven lamp-bearers (see the notes at Revelation 1:13), they were so arranged as to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-20Verses 12-20 The churches receive their light from Christ and the gospel, and hold it forth to others. They are golden candlesticks; they should be precious and pure; not only the ministers, but the members of the churches; their light should so shine before men, as to engage others to give glory to God. And the apostle saw as though of the Lord Jesus Christ appeared in the midst of the golden candlesticks. He is with his churches always, to the end of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16The seven stars symbolize the complete church. The church is safe in the right hand of the Son of Man, which means it is under his care, acceptance, and blessing. The sharp sword coming from his mouth represents his powerful message and judgment (see Revelation 19:15; Genesis 3:24; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). Jesus announces both grace and judgment, but here the focus is on his role in carrying out judgment (see Revelation 2:12, 16; 19:15, 21; compare…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. he had--Greek, "having." John takes up the description from time to time, irrespective of the construction, with separate strokes of the pencil [Alford]. in ... right hand seven stars--(Re 1:20; Re 2:1; 3:1). He holds them as a star-studded "crown of glory," or "royal diadem," in His hand: so Is 62:3. He is their Possessor and Upholder. out of ... mouth went--Greek, "going forth"; not wielded in the hand. His Word is omnipotent in executing His will…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 1:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Revelation 1
- 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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