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In[a] a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on those thrones were twenty-four elders. They were[b] dressed in white clothing and had golden crowns[c] on their heads. From[d] the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring[e] and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God,[f] were burning in front of the throne and in front of the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal.[g]

In[h] the middle of the throne[i] and around the throne were four living creatures[j] full of eyes in front and in back.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 4:4 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  2. Revelation 4:4 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the words “They were” to indicate the connection to the preceding material.
  3. Revelation 4:4 sn See the note on the word crown in Rev 3:11.
  4. Revelation 4:5 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  5. Revelation 4:5 tn Or “sounds,” “voices.” It is not entirely clear what this refers to. BDAG 1071 s.v. φωνή 1 states, “In Rv we have ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί (cp. Ex 19:16) 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18 (are certain other sounds in nature thought of here in addition to thunder, as e.g. the roar of the storm?…).”
  6. Revelation 4:5 sn Some interpret the seven spirits of God as angelic beings, while others see them as a reference to the sevenfold ministry of the Holy Spirit.
  7. Revelation 4:6 tn This could refer to rock crystal, but it is possible this refers to ice (an older meaning). See BDAG 571 s.v. κρύσταλλος.
  8. Revelation 4:6 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  9. Revelation 4:6 tn Perhaps, “in the middle of the throne area” (see L&N 83.10).
  10. Revelation 4:6 tn On the meaning of ζῴον (zōon) BDAG 431 s.v. 2 states, “Of the four peculiar beings at God’s throne, whose description Rv 4:6-9 reminds one of the ζῷα in Ezk 1:5ff, the cherubim. S. also Rv 5:6, 8, 11, 14; 6:1, 3, 5-7; 7:11; 14:3; 15:7; 19:4.”

Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders.(A) They were dressed in white(B) and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.(C) In front of the throne, seven lamps(D) were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a](E) of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass,(F) clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures,(G) and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 4:5 That is, the sevenfold Spirit