Revelation 7:8
in Revelation 7from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, and from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
KJV
Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
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This verse in Revelation 7
Commentary
10 notes on this verse"From the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand." Zebulun is interpreted "abode of power" or "fragrance," through which are indicated those who by the indwelling of Christ have been made firm against sufferings and have become his sweet smell, as Paul says. "From the tribe of …
This site's exposition
From the tribe of Judah 12,000
on Revelation 7:5-8
Judah heads the list, the tribe of the scepter in Genesis 49:10, and each tribe has 12,000. Dan is missing, and Levi, which held no land under Numbers 18:20, is counted, with the tribe of Joseph beside the tribe of Manasseh.
This site's exposition
from the tribe of Joseph 12,000
The list ends with Joseph and Benjamin, Rachel's sons. Wesley saw Dan left out of the tribes of Israel, having come down to one family long before. Andreas of Caesarea saw in Zebulun the servants of God made strong by Christ, who dwells in them.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
A commentator
Victorinus of PettauCommentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John · Written before 304.
proposed
"And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God" He speaks of Elias the prophet, who is the precursor of the times of Antichrist, for the restoration and establishment of the churches from the great and intolerable persecution.
The equality is according to the number of those sealed and also those who have believed from each tribe. It hints at an equal zeal and a unanimous confession of faith, even if from this tribe more were saved and believed in Christ, and from …
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 23 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
On the western side [of the city], there is a perfect sense of God. And this sense makes us contemplate, and as companions, it has the stability of repose and the excess of joy. For in repose there can be stability together with thinking and …
Of the tribe of Juda, were twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Ruben, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Aser, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Nephthali, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand,.... Which signifies "dwelling", Gen 30:20; and was the tribe in which Christ had his dwelling, and where he much conversed; and may denote his gracious inhabitation, as well as that of God the Father, md of the Spirit, among the saints and sealed ones. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand; whose name signifies "adding", Gen 30:24; and may intend the additions both of numbers, and of gifts and graces to the churches of those times.
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
It is farther observable of Daniel, that it was very early reduced to a single family; which family itself seems to have been cut off in war, before the time of Ezra; for in the Chronicles, where the posterity of the patriarchs is recited, Dan. is wholly omitted.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
The word "tribes," Greek, implies that believing Israelites are in this countless multitude). Both are in heaven, yet ruling over the earth, as ministers of blessing to its inhabitants: while upon earth the world of nations is added to the kingdom of Israel.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
The words behind it
16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐκ | ek | out of | G1537 → | 911 times |
| φυλῆς | phules | [the] tribe | G5443 → | 31 times |
| Ζαβουλὼν | zaboulon | of Zebulun | G2194 → | |
| δώδεκα | dodeka | twelve | G1427 → | 75 times |
| χιλιάδες | chiliades | thousand | G5505 → | 23 times |
| ἐκ | ek | out of | G1537 → | 911 times |
| φυλῆς | phules | [the] tribe | G5443 → | 31 times |
| Ἰωσὴφ | ioseph | of Joseph | G2501 → | |
| δώδεκα | dodeka | twelve | G1427 → | 75 times |
| χιλιάδες | chiliades | thousand | G5505 → | 23 times |
| ἐκ | ek | out of | G1537 → | 911 times |
| φυλῆς | phules | [the] tribe | G5443 → | 31 times |
| Βενιαμὶν | beniamin | of Benjamin | G958 → | |
| δώδεκα | dodeka | twelve | G1427 → | 75 times |
| χιλιάδες | chiliades | thousand | G5505 → | 23 times |
| ἐσφραγισμένοι.¶ | esphragismenoi | sealed. | G4972 → | 15 times |
ἐκout of
ekG1537 →911 times
φυλῆς[the] tribe
phulesG5443 →31 times
Ζαβουλὼνof Zebulun
zaboulonG2194 →
δώδεκαtwelve
dodekaG1427 →75 times
χιλιάδεςthousand
chiliadesG5505 →23 times
ἐκout of
ekG1537 →911 times
φυλῆς[the] tribe
phulesG5443 →31 times
Ἰωσὴφof Joseph
iosephG2501 →
δώδεκαtwelve
dodekaG1427 →75 times
χιλιάδεςthousand
chiliadesG5505 →23 times
ἐκout of
ekG1537 →911 times
φυλῆς[the] tribe
phulesG5443 →31 times
Βενιαμὶνof Benjamin
beniaminG958 →
δώδεκαtwelve
dodekaG1427 →75 times
χιλιάδεςthousand
chiliadesG5505 →23 times
ἐσφραγισμένοι.¶sealed.
esphragismenoiG4972 →15 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies14
About Revelation
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Alcuin of York, COMMENTARY ON REVELATION; Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 7:8; Andreas of Caesarea, Commentary on the Apocalypse; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 23; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation and Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John.