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New Living Translation

Revelation 4:5

From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Holy Spirit;   Lamp;   Lightning;   Seven;   Throne;   Vision;   Scofield Reference Index - Elders;   Thompson Chain Reference - Lightning;   Meteorology;   Thunder;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Lamps;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Cherub;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Seven;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Lightning;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Revelation of John, the;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Archangel;   Revelation, the Book of;   Torch;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Enoch Book of;   Fire;   Lamp Lampstand;   Lightning;   Numbers;   Numbers (2);   Rainbow ;   Throne ;   Thunder ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Standard;   Thunder;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Lamp;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Cherub;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Fire;   Lamp;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Cherubim (1);   Isaiah;   Lightning;   Luke, the Evangelist;   Number;   Raphael;   Revelation of John:;   Seraphim;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.
King James Version (1611)
And out of the Throne proceeded lightnings, and thundrings, and voyces: and there were seuen lampes of fire burning before the Throne, which are the seuen Spirits of God.
King James Version
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.
New American Standard Bible
Out from the throne came flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God;
New Century Version
Lightning flashes and noises and thunder came from the throne. Before the throne seven lamps were burning, which are the seven spirits of God.
English Standard Version
From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
Berean Standard Bible
From 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.
Contemporary English Version
Flashes of lightning and roars of thunder came out from the throne in the center of the circle. Seven torches, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning in front of the throne.
Complete Jewish Bible
From the throne came forth lightnings, voices and thunderings; and before the throne were seven flaming torches, which are the sevenfold Spirit of God.
Darby Translation
And out of the throne go forth lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and seven lamps of fire, burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
Easy-to-Read Version
Lightning flashes and noises of thunder came from the throne. Before the throne there were seven lamps burning, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And out of the throne proceeded lightnings, and thundrings, and voyces, and there were seuen lampes of fire burning before the throne, which are the seuen spirits of God.
George Lamsa Translation
And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and noises: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Good News Translation
From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. In front of the throne seven lighted torches were burning, which are the seven spirits of God.
Lexham English Bible
And from the throne came out lightnings and sounds and thunders, and seven torches of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.
Literal Translation
And out of the throne come forth lightnings and thunders and voices. And seven lamps of fire are burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
Amplified Bible
From the throne came flashes of lightning and [rumbling] sounds and peals of thunder. Seven lamps of fire were burning in front of the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
American Standard Version
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;
Bible in Basic English
And out of the high seat came flames and voices and thunders. And seven lights of fire were burning before the high seat, which are the seven Spirits of God;
Hebrew Names Version
Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
International Standard Version
Flashes of lightning, noises, and peals of thunder came from the throne. Burning in front of the throne were seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God.Exodus 37:23; 2 Chronicles 4:20; Ezekiel 1:13; Zechariah 4:2; Revelation 1:4; 3:1; 5:6; 8:5; 16:18;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And from the throne went forth lightnings and the voice of thunders. And there were seven lamps of fire which burned before His throne, which are the seven Spirits of Aloha.
Murdock Translation
And from the throne proceeded lightnings, and the sound of thunders; and seven lamps of fire were burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And out of the throne proceaded lightnynges, and thundrynges, and voyces, and there were seue lampes of fire burnyng before the throne, whiche are the seuen spirites of God.
English Revised Version
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;
World English Bible
Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And out of the throne go forth lightnings and voices and thunders; and seven lamps of fire burn before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Weymouth's New Testament
Out from the throne there came flashes of lightning, and voices, and peals of thunder, while in front of the throne seven blazing lamps were burning, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And leitis, and voices, and thundringis camen out of the trone; and seuene laumpis brennynge bifore the trone, whiche ben the seuene spiritis of God.
Update Bible Version
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;
Webster's Bible Translation
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.
New English Translation
From the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning in front of the throne
New King James Version
And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. [fn] Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the [fn] seven Spirits of God.
New Life Bible
Lightning and noise and thunder came from the throne. Seven lights of fire were burning before the throne. These were the seven Spirits of God.
New Revised Standard
Coming from the throne are flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne burn seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, out of the throne, are coming forth lightnings, and voices, and thunderings; and there are seven torches of fire, burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And from the throne proceeded lightnings and voices and thunders. And there were seven lamps burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Revised Standard Version
From the throne issue flashes of lightning, and voices and peals of thunder, and before the throne burn seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God;
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And out of the seate proceded lightnynges and thundrynges and voyces and there wer vii. lampes of fyre burninge before ye seate which are the vii. sprettes of God.
Young's Literal Translation
and out of the throne proceed do lightnings, and thunders, and voices; and seven lamps of fire are burning before the throne, which are the Seven Spirits of God,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And out of ye seate proceded lightnynges, and thundrynges, & voyces, and there wer seuen lapes of fyre, burninge before the seate, which are the seuen spretes of God.
Mace New Testament (1729)
out of the throne proceeded lightnings, and thundrings, and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Thunder and lightning rolled from the throne down to the seven torches that were blazing bright.

Contextual Overview

1 Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this." 2 And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. 3 The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. 4 Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. 6 In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal. In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. 7 The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

proceeded: Revelation 8:5, Revelation 11:19, Revelation 16:17, Revelation 16:18, Exodus 19:16, Exodus 20:18, Psalms 18:13, Psalms 18:14, Psalms 68:35, Joel 3:16, Hebrews 12:18-29

seven: Genesis 15:7, Exodus 37:23, 2 Chronicles 4:20, Ezekiel 1:13, Zechariah 4:2, Zechariah 4:11-14

the seven: Revelation 1:4, Revelation 3:1, Revelation 5:6, Matthew 3:11, Acts 2:3, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Reciprocal: Exodus 25:31 - a candlestick Exodus 25:37 - seven Exodus 40:25 - General Numbers 8:2 - General Psalms 29:3 - thundereth Revelation 4:2 - a throne Revelation 6:1 - the noise Revelation 6:16 - the face Revelation 19:6 - and as the voice of mighty Revelation 22:1 - proceeding

Cross-References

Genesis 4:10
But the Lord said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground!
Genesis 4:11
Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother's blood.
Genesis 31:2
And Jacob began to notice a change in Laban's attitude toward him.
Genesis 31:5
He said to them, "I have noticed that your father's attitude toward me has changed. But the God of my father has been with me.
Numbers 16:15
Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord , "Do not accept their grain offerings! I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, and I have never hurt a single one of them."
Job 5:2
Surely resentment destroys the fool, and jealousy kills the simple.
Psalms 20:3
May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Interlude
Matthew 20:15
Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?'
Acts 13:45
But when some of the Jews saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said.
Hebrews 11:4
It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel's offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings,

and voices,.... Which may be understood either of the doctrines of the Gospel which come out of Zion, and out of Jerusalem, the church of God, where he has his throne; and which are comparable to "lightning", both for the light and knowledge they give, and for the swiftness with which they were spread over the world, by the apostles of Christ; and to "thunderings", for the awfulness, authority, and majesty of them, especially as they were delivered out by the Boanergeses, or sons of thunder; and as the prophesies of the prophets are called "the voices" of the prophets, Acts 13:27; so may the doctrines of the Gospel be called "voices", as they are the voice of God, and of Christ, and of his ministers; and are voices of love, grace, mercy, peace, pardon, righteousness, and eternal life. The allusion is to the giving of the law on Mount Sinai, when such things were seen and heard, Exodus 19:16 or else the judgments of God, and the punishments inflicted upon his enemies, and the enemies of his church and people, and his awful threatenings of them, may be designed; see Psalms 18:13; with which compare Revelation 8:5.

And [there were] seven lamps of burning fire before the throne,

which are the seven spirits of God; in allusion to the seven lamps in the tabernacle and temple, which were trimmed by the priests, and always kept burning, and are expressive of the Spirit, and his gifts; and these being signified by the number "seven", denote the fulness and perfection of them; and being said to be "before the throne", show that there is always a sufficiency of them for the supply of the churches in all ages, to fit and qualify proper persons to minister the word, and administer ordinances; and these being called "lamps of burning fire", point at the light the Spirit of God in his gifts communicates to the churches; and that warmth and heat, comfort and refreshment; conveyed to them, through the preaching of the Gospel, and the dispensation of the ordinances of it, under his illuminating and quickening influences.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 Exodus 19:16, where “there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud.” Compare Ezekiel 1:13, Ezekiel 1:24. So Milton:

“Forth rushed with whirlwind sound.

The chariot of Paternal Deity,

Flashing thick flames.”

“And from about him fierce effusion rolled.

Of smoke, and lightning flame, and sparkles dire.”

Par. Lost, b. vi.

The word “voices” here connected with “thunders” perhaps means “voices even thunders” - referring to the sound made by the thunder. The meaning is, that these were echoing and re-echoing sounds, as it were a multitude of voices that seemed to speak on every side.

And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne - Seven burning lamps that constantly shone there, illuminating the whole scene. These steadily burning lamps would add much to the beauty of the vision.

Which are the seven Spirits of God - Which represent, or are emblematic of, the seven Spirits of God. On the meaning of the phrase, “the seven Spirits of God,” see the notes on Revelation 1:4. If these lamps are designed to be symbols of the Holy Spirit, according to the interpretation proposed in Revelation 1:4, it may be perhaps in the following respects:

  1. They may represent the manifold influences of that Spirit in the world - as imparting light; giving consolation; creating the heart anew; sanctifying the soul, etc.

(2)They may denote that all the operations of that Spirit are of the nature of light, dissipating darkness, and vivifying and animating all things.

(3)Perhaps their being placed here before the throne, in the midst of thunder and lightning, may be designed to represent the idea that - amidst all the scenes of magnificence and grandeur; all the storms, agitations, and tempests on the earth; all the political changes; all the convulsions of empire under the providence of God; and all the commotions in the soul of man, produced by the thunders of the law - the Spirit of God beams calmly and serenely, shedding a steady influence over all, like lamps burning in the very midst of lightnings, and thunderings, and voices. In all the scenes of majesty and commotion that occur on the earth, the Spirit of God is present, shedding a constant light, and undisturbed in his influence by all the agitations that are abroad.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Revelation 4:5. Seven lamps of fire — Seven angels, the attendants and ministers of the supreme King. See Revelation 1:4, and the note there.


 
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