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.
YLT: 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,
Darby: 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;
ASV: And out of the throne proceed lightnings and voices and thunders. And there was'seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
| ἐκ | out of |
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Parse: Preposition Root: ἐκ Sense: out of, from, by, away from. |
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| θρόνου | throne |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: θρόνος Sense: a throne seat. |
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| ἐκπορεύονται | come |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural Root: ἐκπορεύομαι Sense: to go forth, go out, depart. |
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| ἀστραπαὶ | flashes of lightning |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural Root: ἀστραπή Sense: lightning. |
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| φωναὶ | voices |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural Root: φωνή Sense: a sound, a tone. |
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| βρονταί | thunderings |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural Root: βροντή Sense: thunder. |
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| ἑπτὰ | [there were] seven |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Feminine Plural Root: ἑπτά Sense: seven. |
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| λαμπάδες | lamps |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural Root: λαμπάς Sense: a torch. |
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| πυρὸς | of fire |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular Root: πῦρ Sense: fire. |
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| καιόμεναι | burning |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Feminine Plural Root: καίω Sense: to set on fire, light, burning. |
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| ἐνώπιον | before |
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Parse: Preposition Root: ἐνώπιον Sense: in the presence of, before. |
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| ἑπτὰ | seven |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Plural Root: ἑπτά Sense: seven. |
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| Πνεύματα | Spirits |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Plural Root: πνεῦμα Sense: a movement of air (a gentle blast. |
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| τοῦ | - |
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Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| Θεοῦ | of God |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: θεός Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities. |
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Greek Commentary for Revelation 4:5
Back to the throne itself. The imagery is kin to that in Exodus 19:16; Exodus 24:9.; Ezekiel 1:22, Ezekiel 1:27. [source]
Graphic historical present.Lightnings and voices and thunders (αστραπαι και πωναι και βρονται astrapai kai phōnai kai brontai). So exactly in Revelation 11:19; Revelation 16:18, but in Revelation 8:5 with βρονται brontai first, αστραπαι astrapai last, all old and common words. “The thunderstorm is in Hebrew poetry a familiar symbol of the Divine power: cf., e.g., 1 Samuel 2:10; Psalm 18:9.; Job 37:4.” (Swete).Seven lamps of fire Return to the nominative “These torches blaze perpetually before the throne of God” (Swete). [source]
So exactly in Revelation 11:19; Revelation 16:18, but in Revelation 8:5 with βρονται brontai first, αστραπαι astrapai last, all old and common words. “The thunderstorm is in Hebrew poetry a familiar symbol of the Divine power: cf., e.g., 1 Samuel 2:10; Psalm 18:9.; Job 37:4.” (Swete). [source]
Return to the nominative “These torches blaze perpetually before the throne of God” (Swete). [source]
Rev., proceed. The tense is graphically changed to the present. [source]
Compare Exodus 19:16. Variously interpreted of God's might, His judgment, His power over nature, and His indignation against the wicked. [source]
The origin of our lamp, but, properly, a torch; the word for lamp being λύχνος , a hand-lamp filled with oil (Matthew 5:15; Luke 8:16; John 5:35). See on Matthew 25:1. Trench says: “The true Hindoo way of lighting up, is by torches, held by men who feed the flame with oil from a sort of bottle constructed for the purpose.” [source]
See on Revelation 1:4. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 4:5
Rev., torch. See on Revelation 4:5. [source]
He is called henceforward throughout the book He that sitteth on the throne, and is distinguished from the Son in Revelation 6:16; Revelation 7:10, and from the Holy Spirit in Revelation 4:5. He is commonly understood to be God the Father; but some understand the triune God. [source]
Paul nowhere joins the Spirit with the Father and the Son in his opening salutations. The nearest approach is 2 Corinthians 13:13. The reference is not to the seven principal angels (Revelation 8:2). These could not be properly spoken of as the source of grace and peace; nor be associated with the Father and the Son; nor take precedence of the Son, as is the case here. Besides, angels are never called spirits in this book. With the expression compare Revelation 4:5, the seven lamps of fire, “which are the seven Spirits of God:” Revelation 3:1, where Jesus is said to have “the seven Spirits of God.” Thus the seven Spirits belong to the Son as well as to the Father (see John 15:26). The prototype of John's expression is found in the vision of Zechariah, where the Messiah is prefigured as a stone with seven eyes, “the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth” (Zechariah 3:9; Zechariah 4:10). Compare also the same prophet's vision of the seven-branched candlestick (Zechariah 4:2). Hence the Holy Spirit is called the Seven Spirits; the perfect, mystical number seven indicating unity through diversity (1 Corinthians 12:4). Not the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit are meant, but the divine Personality who imparts them; the one Spirit under the diverse manifestations. Richard of St. Victor (cited by Trench, “Seven Churches”) says: “And from the seven Spirits, that is, from the sevenfold Spirit, which indeed is simple in nature, sevenfold in grace.”-DIVIDER- [source]
Dative case as in a letter (Galatians 1:1). John is writing, but the revelation is from God and Christ through an angel. It is the Roman province of Asia which included the western part of Phrygia. There were churches also at Troas (Acts 20:5.) and at Colossal and Hierapolis (Colossians 1:1; Colossians 2:1; Colossians 4:13) and possibly at Magnesia and Tralles. But these seven were the best points of communication with seven districts (Ramsay) and, besides, seven is a favorite number of completion (like the full week) in the book (Revelation 1:4, Revelation 1:12, Revelation 1:16; Revelation 4:5; Revelation 5:1, Revelation 5:6; Revelation 8:2; Revelation 10:3; Revelation 11:13; Revelation 12:3; Revelation 13:1; Revelation 14:6.). [source]
This use of the articular nominative participle of ειμι eimi after απο apo instead of the ablative is not due to ignorance or a mere slip Here again there is a deliberate change from the articular participle to the relative use of ο ho (used in place of ος hos to preserve identity of form in the three instances like Ionic relative and since no aorist participle of ειμι eimi existed). The oracle in Pausanias X. 12 has it: ευς ην ευς εστι ευς εσσεται Zeus ēnο ερχομενος Zeus estiο εσομενος Zeus essetai (Zeus was, Zeus is, Zeus will be).Which is to come “The Coming One,” futuristic use of the present participle instead of απο των επτα πνευματων ho esomenos See the same idiom in Revelation 1:8; Revelation 4:8 and (without των ho erchomenos) in Revelation 11:17; Revelation 16:5.From the seven spirits (α apo tōn hepta pneumatōn). A difficult symbolic representation of the Holy Spirit here on a par with God and Christ, a conclusion borne out by the symbolic use of the seven spirits in Revelation 3:1; Revelation 4:5; Revelation 5:6 (from Zechariah 4:2-10). There is the one Holy Spirit with seven manifestations here to the seven churches (Swete, The Holy Spirit in the N.T., p. 374), unity in diversity (1 Corinthians 12:4).Which are As in Revelation 4:5. [source]
“The Coming One,” futuristic use of the present participle instead of απο των επτα πνευματων ho esomenos See the same idiom in Revelation 1:8; Revelation 4:8 and (without των ho erchomenos) in Revelation 11:17; Revelation 16:5.From the seven spirits (α apo tōn hepta pneumatōn). A difficult symbolic representation of the Holy Spirit here on a par with God and Christ, a conclusion borne out by the symbolic use of the seven spirits in Zechariah 4:2-10; Revelation 4:5; Revelation 5:6 (from Revelation 3:1). There is the one Holy Spirit with seven manifestations here to the seven churches (Swete, The Holy Spirit in the N.T., p. 374), unity in diversity (1 Corinthians 12:4).Which are As in Revelation 4:5. [source]
A difficult symbolic representation of the Holy Spirit here on a par with God and Christ, a conclusion borne out by the symbolic use of the seven spirits in Revelation 3:1; Revelation 4:5; Revelation 5:6 (from Zechariah 4:2-10). There is the one Holy Spirit with seven manifestations here to the seven churches (Swete, The Holy Spirit in the N.T., p. 374), unity in diversity (1 Corinthians 12:4). [source]
As in Revelation 4:5. [source]
As in Revelation 4:5. [source]
A recognized group, but not explained here, perhaps John assuming them to be known. For βρονται brontai see note on Revelation 4:5; and note on Revelation 6:1; and note on Revelation 8:5. In Psalm 29:1-11 the Lord speaks in the sevenfold voice of the thunderstorm upon the sea. [source]
Like Zechariah 3:9; Zechariah 4:10 and denotes here, as there, omniscience. Here they are identified with the seven Spirits of Christ, while in Revelation 1:4 the seven Spirits are clearly the Holy Spirit of God (Revelation 3:1), and blaze like torches (Revelation 4:5), like the eyes of Christ (Revelation 1:14). The Holy Spirit is both Spirit of God and of Christ (Romans 8:9). [source]
He drops back to the narrative use of the first aorist active indicative of γεμιζω gemizō the fire Second aorist active indicative of βαλλω ballō See Genesis 19:24 (Sodom); Ezekiel 10:2 and Christ‘s bold metaphor in Luke 12:49. See this use of βαλλω ballō also in Revelation 8:7; Revelation 12:4, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 12:13; Revelation 14:19.Followed Came to pass naturally after the casting of fire on the earth. Same three elements in Revelation 4:5, but in different order (lightnings, voices, thunders), lightning naturally preceding thunder as some MSS. have it here. Perhaps πωναι phōnai the voices of the storm (wind, etc.). [source]
See Revelation 4:6 for this idiom. It is not quite clear where the Lamb was standing in the vision, whether close to the throne or in the space between the throne and the elders (perhaps implied by “came” in Revelation 5:7, but nearness to the throne is implied by Revelation 14:1; Acts 7:56; Hebrews 10:11).A Lamb (αρνιον arnion). Elsewhere in the N.T. ο αμνος ho amnos is used of Christ (John 1:29, John 1:36; Acts 8:32; 1 Peter 1:19 like Isaiah 53:7), but in the Apocalypse το αρνιον to arnion occurs for the Crucified Christ 29 times in twelve chapters.Standing Second perfect active (intransitive of ιστημι histēmi) neuter accusative singular (grammatical gender like αρνιον arnion), though some MSS. read εστηκως hestēkōs (natural gender masculine and nominative in spite of ειδον eidon construction according to sense).As though it had been slain (ως εσπαγμενον hōs esphagmenon). Perfect passive predicate participle of σπαζω sphazō old word, in N.T. only in Revelation 5:6, Revelation 5:9, Revelation 5:12; Revelation 6:4, Revelation 6:9; Revelation 13:3; Revelation 18:24; 1 John 3:12. ως Hōs (as if) is used because the Lamb is now alive, but (in appearance) with the marks of the sacrifice. The Christ as the Lamb is both sacrifice and Priest (Hebrews 9:12.; Hebrews 10:11).Having Construction according to sense again with masculine nominative participle instead of εχοντα echonta (masculine accusative singular) or εχον echon (neuter accusative singular). Seven horns Fulness of power (the All-powerful one) is symbolized by seven.Seven eyes (οπταλμους επτα ophthalmous hepta). Like Zechariah 3:9; Zechariah 4:10 and denotes here, as there, omniscience. Here they are identified with the seven Spirits of Christ, while in Revelation 1:4 the seven Spirits are clearly the Holy Spirit of God (Revelation 3:1), and blaze like torches (Revelation 4:5), like the eyes of Christ (Revelation 1:14). The Holy Spirit is both Spirit of God and of Christ (Romans 8:9).Sent forth Perfect passive predicate participle of αποστελλω apostellō masculine plural (agreeing with οι hoi and οπταλμους ophthalmous in gender), but some MSS. have απεσταλμενα apestalmena agreeing with the nearer πνευματα pneumata f0). [source]
Second perfect active (intransitive of ιστημι histēmi) neuter accusative singular (grammatical gender like αρνιον arnion), though some MSS. read εστηκως hestēkōs (natural gender masculine and nominative in spite of ειδον eidon construction according to sense).As though it had been slain (ως εσπαγμενον hōs esphagmenon). Perfect passive predicate participle of σπαζω sphazō old word, in N.T. only in Revelation 5:6, Revelation 5:9, Revelation 5:12; Revelation 6:4, Revelation 6:9; Revelation 13:3; Revelation 18:24; 1 John 3:12. ως Hōs (as if) is used because the Lamb is now alive, but (in appearance) with the marks of the sacrifice. The Christ as the Lamb is both sacrifice and Priest (Hebrews 9:12.; Hebrews 10:11).Having Construction according to sense again with masculine nominative participle instead of εχοντα echonta (masculine accusative singular) or εχον echon (neuter accusative singular). Seven horns Fulness of power (the All-powerful one) is symbolized by seven.Seven eyes (οπταλμους επτα ophthalmous hepta). Like Zechariah 3:9; Zechariah 4:10 and denotes here, as there, omniscience. Here they are identified with the seven Spirits of Christ, while in Revelation 1:4 the seven Spirits are clearly the Holy Spirit of God (Revelation 3:1), and blaze like torches (Revelation 4:5), like the eyes of Christ (Revelation 1:14). The Holy Spirit is both Spirit of God and of Christ (Romans 8:9).Sent forth Perfect passive predicate participle of αποστελλω apostellō masculine plural (agreeing with οι hoi and οπταλμους ophthalmous in gender), but some MSS. have απεσταλμενα apestalmena agreeing with the nearer πνευματα pneumata f0). [source]
Construction according to sense again with masculine nominative participle instead of εχοντα echonta (masculine accusative singular) or εχον echon (neuter accusative singular). Seven horns Fulness of power (the All-powerful one) is symbolized by seven.Seven eyes (οπταλμους επτα ophthalmous hepta). Like Zechariah 3:9; Zechariah 4:10 and denotes here, as there, omniscience. Here they are identified with the seven Spirits of Christ, while in Revelation 1:4 the seven Spirits are clearly the Holy Spirit of God (Revelation 3:1), and blaze like torches (Revelation 4:5), like the eyes of Christ (Revelation 1:14). The Holy Spirit is both Spirit of God and of Christ (Romans 8:9).Sent forth Perfect passive predicate participle of αποστελλω apostellō masculine plural (agreeing with οι hoi and οπταλμους ophthalmous in gender), but some MSS. have απεσταλμενα apestalmena agreeing with the nearer πνευματα pneumata f0). [source]
Came to pass naturally after the casting of fire on the earth. Same three elements in Revelation 4:5, but in different order (lightnings, voices, thunders), lightning naturally preceding thunder as some MSS. have it here. Perhaps πωναι phōnai the voices of the storm (wind, etc.). [source]
See Revelation 4:5; Matthew 2:2, perhaps a meteor, striking at the fresh-water supply (rivers ποταμων potamōn springs πηγας pēgas) as in the first Egyptian plague also. [source]