Revelation 22:4
in Revelation 22They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and they shall see his face; and his name shall be on their foreheads.
KJV
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
⋯
This verse in Revelation 22
Commentary
14 notes on this verseAnd this will come from seeing his face; for he says they shall see his face; and they will see, insofar as is attainable by human nature, even his name upon their foreheads. The present passage plainly signifies the unceasing remembrance and communion of God. …
This site's exposition
will there be any curse
on Revelation 22:3-4
No longer will there be any curse answers the curse on the ground at Genesis 3:17. They will see His face, which Moses was refused at Exodus 33:20, and His name will be on their foreheads, set against the mark.
This site's exposition
They will see His face
Moses was told at Exodus 33:20 that no one could see God's face and live. Here His servants see it, which Adam Clarke calls the beatific vision, the sight of God Himself. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown add that the Father is seen in Christ.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
This implies that there is in store for us a reward for our faith, that vision that John had in mind when he said, "When he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him just as he is." For, of course, face …
The Medieval Church3 voices
And they will see his face. The vision of God is kept as the reward of faith for us, which Philip, understanding to be the highest good, said: Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us (John XIV). For it was carefully …
And his name will be on their foreheads. The confession of the holy name, now preserved among enemies, will then glorify the victors in their homeland.
Those who become the throne of God because of the rest of the Lord among them will be the inhabitants of that city. They will see him no longer in shadows but face to face, even as the holy apostles saw him on the holy …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The kingdom of God is taken by force; but the prize is worth all the labour. Whatever of high, lovely, or excellent is in all the monarchies of the earth is all together not a grain of dust, compared to the glory of the children of God. God "is not ashamed to be called their God, for whom he hath prepared this city." But who shall come up into his holy place?
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And they shall see his face,....
The Nineteenth Century5 voices
See his face - Enjoy what is called the beatific vision; and they shall exhibit the fullest evidence that they belong entirely to him, for his name shall be written on their foreheads.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
God the Father can only be seen in Christ. in--Greek, "on their foreheads." Not only shall they personally and in secret (Re 3:17) know their sonship, but they shall be known as sons of God to all the citizens of the new Jerusalem, so that the free flow of mutual love among the members of Christ's family will not be checked by suspicion as here.
THE Italians so much admire the city of Naples that their proverb is, "See Naples and die," as if there remained nothing more to be seen after that fair bay and city had been gazed upon. To behold the far fairer sight mentioned in the text, men might well be content to die a thousand times! If it shall please God that we shall depart this life before the Master's appearing, we may laugh at death and count it to be gain, seeing that it introduces us to the place where we shall see His face. "You cannot see My face and live," said the Lord of old. But that was true of mortals only, and refers not to immortals who have put on incorruption! In yonder Glory they see the face of God and yet live! Yes, the sight is the essence and excellence of their life! Here, that vision might be too overpowering for the soul and body, and might painfully separate them with excess of delight and so cause us death. But up yonder the disembodied spirit is able to endure the blaze of splendor, and so will the body, also, when it shall have been refined and strengthened in its powers by resurrection from the dead. Then these eyes, which now would be struck with blindness should they look upon the superlative Glory, shall be strengthened to behold eternally the Lord of angels who is the brightness of His Father's Glory and the express image of His Person. Brothers and Sisters, regard the object of our expectations! See the happiness which is promised us! Behold the Heaven which awaits us! Forget, for awhile, your present cares—let all your difficulties and your sorrows vanish for a season—and live for awhile in the future which is so certified by faithful promises that you may rejoice in it even now! The veil which parts us from our great reward is very thin—Hope gazes through its gauzy fabric. Faith, with eagle eyes, penetrates the mist which hides eternal delights from longing eyes.
THE Italians so much admire the city of Naples that their proverb is, "See Naples and die," as if there remained nothing more to be seen after that fair bay and city had been gazed upon. To behold the far fairer sight mentioned in the text, men might well be content to die a thousand times! If it shall please God that we shall depart this life before the Master's appearing, we may laugh at death and count it to be gain, seeing that it introduces us to the place where we shall see His face.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And they shall see his face - See the notes on Mat 18:10. They would be constantly in his presence, and be permitted continually to behold his glory. And his name shall be in their foreheads - They shall be designated as his. See the notes on Rev 3:12; Rev 7:3; Rev 13:16.
The words behind it
13 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 |
| ὄψονται | opsontai | they will behold | G3700 → | 54 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πρόσωπον | prosopon | face | G4383 → | 75 times |
| αὐτοῦ, | autou | of Him, | G846 → | 5565 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὄνομα | onoma | name | G3686 → | 227 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | [will be] on | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τῶν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μετώπων | metopon | foreheads | G3359 → | 8 times |
| αὐτῶν. | auton | of them. | G846 → | 5565 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὄψονταιthey will behold
opsontaiG3700 →54 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
πρόσωπονface
prosoponG4383 →75 times
αὐτοῦ,of Him,
autouG846 →5565 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ὄνομαname
onomaG3686 →227 times
αὐτοῦof Him
autouG846 →5565 times
ἐπὶ[will be] on
epiG1909 →883 times
τῶνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
μετώπωνforeheads
metoponG3359 →8 times
αὐτῶν.of them.
autonG846 →5565 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
Matthew 5:8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
it leads to
- Psalms 24:4
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully.
- Psalms 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
- Hebrews 10:22
let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
- Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
- Ezekiel 36:25–27
I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
- Psalms 24:4
Through
Hebrews 12:14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
- 1 Peter 1:15–16
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.
- 2 Corinthians 7:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies34
On this verse
On this chapter
Show the next 6 titles
Show the next 6 titles
About Revelation
This page draws on 11 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); Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:3-4; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 824: “The Heavan of Heavan” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); 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 Primasius of Hadrumetum, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:4.