Revelation 4:5
in Revelation 4From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven Spirits of God.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And out of the throne proceed lightnings and voices and thunders. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
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.
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This verse in Revelation 4
Commentary
15 notes on this verseBehold the seven horns of the Lamb, the seven eyes of God -the seven eyes are the seven spirits of the Lamb; seven torches burning before the throne of God seven golden candlesticks, seven young sheep, the seven women in Isaiah, the seven churches in Paul, seven deacons, seven angels, seven trumpets, seven seals to the book, seven periods of seven days with which Pentecost is completed, the seven weeks in Daniel, also the forty-three weeks in Daniel; with Noah, seven of all clean things in the ark; seven revenges of Cain, seven years for a debt to be acquitted, the lamp with seven orifices, seven pillars of wisdom in the house of Solomon...
This site's exposition
flashes of lightning, and rumblings
From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder, as at Sinai in Exodus 19:16. The seven torches of fire are the seven Spirits of God, tying the scene to the greeting of 1:4 and the title of 3:1.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
[Daniel 7:9] "I beheld until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of days took His seat. His garment was as white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was composed of fiery flames and its wheels were set on fire. From before His presence there issued forth a rushing, fiery stream."
In the voices and thunder the proclamation of the gospel is indicated, while the lightning signifies the miraculous signs, as we read in the Gospel, "They went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs which …
These seven lamps are the seven spirits of God. Even if he had not explained it, we would have properly understood these seven lamps to represent the Holy Spirit. For we know that at the beginning he had illuminated the apostles in the form of …
The flashes of lightning and the sounds of thunder emanating from the throne once again signify the awe-inspiring presence of God. For divine beauty does not lie in some long-winded pleasure or delight, but in a wondrous and awe-inspiring reverence. And knowing this, the prophet …
He desires that we understand that the entire original preaching of the apostles and indeed the heavenly and sacred doctrine proceeds from the judgment and inspiration of God. We interpret therefore the flashes of lightning to be the words of all the saints, and likewise …
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church4 voices
And from the throne proceed flashes of lightning and voices and peals of thunder. This is what Mark says: But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the accompanying signs (Mark 16).
And seven burning lamps before the throne, etc. He speaks of the one Spirit in a sevenfold way, for there is one Spirit. But the sevenfold nature is perfection and fullness. Having mentioned the Holy Spirit, it is fitting that the wave of baptism follows, …
This passage shows how fearful and terrible God is to those unworthy of his long-suffering. However, [the lightning and thunder] become, to those worthy of salvation, their enlightenment. The lightning enlightens the eyes of the mind, and the thunder falls upon spiritual ears.
And from the throne proceeded lightnings, and voices, and thunders. Here it is clearly shown that the throne symbolizes the Church, which all these things tally with. For by lightnings we understand miraculous signs; whence the Psalmist: Thy lightnings enlightened the world, [Ps. 76:19] and …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings, and voices,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And 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 Exo 19:16, where “there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud.” Compare Eze 1:13, Eze 1:24. So Milton: “Forth rushed with whirlwind sound. The chariot of Paternal Deity, Flahing thick flames.” “And from about him fierce effusion rolled. Of smoke, and lightning flame, and sparkles dire.” Par.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
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.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Seven lamps of fire - Seven angels, the attendants and ministers of the supreme King. See Rev 1:4, and the note there.
The words behind it
25 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐκ | ek | out of | G1537 → | 911 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θρόνου | thronou | throne | G2362 → | 62 times |
| ἐκπορεύονται | ekporeuontai | come | G1607 → | 33 times |
| ἀστραπαὶ | astrapai | flashes of lightning | G796 → | 9 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| φωναὶ | phonai | voices | G5456 → | 139 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| βρονταί, | brontai | thunderings, | G1027 → | 12 times |
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἑπτὰ | hepta | [there were] seven | G2033 → | 86 times |
| λαμπάδες | lampades | lamps | G2985 → | |
| πυρὸς | puros | of fire | G4442 → | 70 times |
| καιόμεναι | kaiomenai | burning | G2545 → | 11 times |
| ἐνώπιον | enopion | before | G1799 → | 94 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θρόνου | thronou | throne | G2362 → | 62 times |
| ἅ | ha | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| εἰσιν | eisin | are | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἑπτὰ | hepta | seven | G2033 → | 86 times |
| πνεύματα | pneumata | Spirits | G4151 → | 378 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ, | theou | of God, | G2316 → | 1312 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐκout of
ekG1537 →911 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
θρόνουthrone
thronouG2362 →62 times
ἐκπορεύονταιcome
ekporeuontaiG1607 →33 times
ἀστραπαὶflashes of lightning
astrapaiG796 →9 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
φωναὶvoices
phonaiG5456 →139 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
βρονταί,thunderings,
brontaiG1027 →12 times
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἑπτὰ[there were] seven
heptaG2033 →86 times
λαμπάδεςlamps
lampadesG2985 →
πυρὸςof fire
purosG4442 →70 times
καιόμεναιburning
kaiomenaiG2545 →11 times
ἐνώπιονbefore
enopionG1799 →94 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
θρόνουthrone
thronouG2362 →62 times
ἅwhich
haG3739 →1405 times
εἰσινare
eisinG1510 →2333 times
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
ἑπτὰseven
heptaG2033 →86 times
πνεύματαSpirits
pneumataG4151 →378 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦ,of God,
theouG2316 →1312 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Revelation 1:4John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven Spirits before His throne,
it leads to
- Isaiah 11:2
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.
- John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
- Psalms 90:2
Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.
- Revelation 5:6
Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven…
- Isaiah 11:2
Through
Revelation 5:6Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven…
it leads to
- Zechariah 4:10
For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven eyes of the LORD, which scan the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.”
- John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
- Revelation 5:12
In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
- Zechariah 4:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
About Revelation
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alcuin of York, COMMENTARY ON REVELATION; Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 4:5; Apringius of Beja, TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 4:5; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER SEVEN; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation; Primasius of Hadrumetum, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 4:5 and Victorinus of Pettau, Victorinus On the Creation of the World.