Focused Passage

Revelation 4:1-11

The Throne Room of God and the Worship of the Creator

The chapter moves from John’s heavenly summons, to the vision of the throne and its surroundings, to the ceaseless worship of the living creatures and elders before the Creator.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 After this I looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had previously heard speak to me like a trumpet was saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things.”

2 At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it.

3 The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne.

4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.

5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven spirits of God.

6 And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back.

7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight.

8 And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

9 And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

After Μετὰ G3326 Preposition this ταῦτα G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural I looked εἶδον G3708 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction saw ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular a door θύρα G2374 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular standing open ἠνεῳγμένη G455 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular heaven οὐρανῷ G3772 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular And καὶ G2532 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular voice φωνὴ G5456 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - ἣν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular vvv G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular vvv πρώτη G4413 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular I had previously heard ἤκουσα G191 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular speak λαλούσης G2980 Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Feminine Singular to μετ’ G3326 Preposition me ἐμοῦ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular like ὡς G5613 Adverb a trumpet σάλπιγγος G4536 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular was saying λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Come up Ἀνάβα G305 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular here ὧδε G5602 Adverb and καὶ G2532 Conjunction I will show δείξω G1166 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular what G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural must δεῖ G1163 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular happen γενέσθαι G1096 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle after μετὰ G3326 Preposition these things ταῦτα G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Verse 2

Original words

At once εὐθέως G2112 Adverb I was ἐγενόμην G1096 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 1st Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition [the] Spirit Πνεύματι G4151 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction I saw ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular a throne θρόνος G2362 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular standing ἔκειτο G2749 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular heaven οὐρανῷ G3772 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular [with] καὶ G2532 Conjunction [someone] seated καθήμενος G2521 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular [it] θρόνον G2362 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 3

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction The [One] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular seated there καθήμενος G2521 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular looked ὁράσει G3706 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular like ὅμοιος G3664 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular jasper ἰάσπιδι G2393 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction carnelian σαρδίῳ G4556 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular . . . λίθῳ G3037 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction a rainbow ἶρις G2463 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular that gleamed ὁράσει G3706 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular like ὅμοιος G3664 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular an emerald σμαραγδίνῳ G4664 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular encircled κυκλόθεν G2943 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular throne θρόνου G2362 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 4

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction Surrounding κυκλόθεν G2943 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular throne θρόνου G2362 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [were] twenty-four εἴκοσι G1501 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural - τέσσαρες G5064 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural other thrones θρόνους G2362 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition these τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural thrones θρόνους G2362 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural sat καθημένους G2521 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural twenty-four εἴκοσι G1501 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural - τέσσαρας G5064 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural elders πρεσβυτέρους G4245 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural dressed περιβεβλημένους G4016 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition white λευκοῖς G3022 Adjective - Dative Neuter Plural - ἱματίοις G2440 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural [with] καὶ G2532 Conjunction golden χρυσοῦς G5552 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural crowns στεφάνους G4735 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition their αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural - τὰς G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Plural heads κεφαλὰς G2776 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Verse 5

Original words

- Καὶ G2532 Conjunction From ἐκ G1537 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular throne θρόνου G2362 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular came ἐκπορεύονται G1607 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural flashes of lightning ἀστραπαὶ G796 Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction rumblings φωναὶ G5456 Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction peals of thunder βρονταί G1027 Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction Before ἐνώπιον G1799 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular throne θρόνου G2362 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular burned καιόμεναι G2545 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Plural seven ἑπτὰ G2033 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Plural torches λαμπάδες G2985 Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural of fire πυρὸς G4442 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular These G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Plural are εἰσιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural the τὰ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Plural seven ἑπτὰ G2033 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural spirits Πνεύματα G4151 Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • Or This is the sevenfold Spirit
Verse 6

Original words

And καὶ G2532 Conjunction before ἐνώπιον G1799 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular throne θρόνου G2362 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [was something] like ὡς G5613 Adverb a sea θάλασσα G2281 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular of glass ὑαλίνη G5193 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular [as clear as] ὁμοία G3664 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular crystal κρυστάλλῳ G2930 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction In ἐν G1722 Preposition [the] center μέσῳ G3319 Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular - θρόνου G2362 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction around κύκλῳ G2945 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular throne θρόνου G2362 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [were] four τέσσαρα G5064 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural living creatures ζῷα G2226 Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural covered with γέμοντα G1073 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Neuter Plural eyes ὀφθαλμῶν G3788 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural in front ἔμπροσθεν G1715 Adverb and καὶ G2532 Conjunction back ὄπισθεν G3693 Adverb
Verse 7

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction The τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular first πρῶτον G4413 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular living creature ζῷον G2226 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular [was] like ὅμοιον G3664 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular a lion λέοντι G3023 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular second δεύτερον G1208 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular - ζῷον G2226 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular like ὅμοιον G3664 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular a calf μόσχῳ G3448 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular third τρίτον G5154 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular - ζῷον G2226 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular had ἔχων G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular a face πρόσωπον G4383 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular like ὡς G5613 Adverb a man ἀνθρώπου G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular fourth τέταρτον G5067 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular - ζῷον G2226 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular [was] like ὅμοιον G3664 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular an eagle ἀετῷ G105 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular in flight πετομένῳ G4072 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Singular
Verse 8

Original words

And καὶ G2532 Conjunction each ἓν G1520 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular . . . καθ’ G2596 Preposition . . . ἓν G1520 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular [of] αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Neuter 3rd Person Plural the τὰ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Plural four τέσσαρα G5064 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural living creatures ζῷα G2226 Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural had ἔχων G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular six ἕξ G1803 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural wings πτέρυγας G4420 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural - ἀνὰ G303 Adverb [and was] covered with γέμουσιν G1073 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural eyes ὀφθαλμῶν G3788 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural all around κυκλόθεν G2943 Adverb and καὶ G2532 Conjunction within ἔσωθεν G2081 Adverb - καὶ G2532 Conjunction Day ἡμέρας G2250 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction night νυκτὸς G3571 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb they never ἔχουσιν G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural stop ἀνάπαυσιν G372 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular saying λέγοντες G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Holy Ἅγιος G40 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Holy ἅγιος G40 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Holy ἅγιος G40 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular [is the] Lord Κύριος G2962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular God Θεός G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Almighty Παντοκράτωρ G3841 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular who G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular was ἦν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular is ὢν G1510 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular is to come ἐρχόμενος G2064 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 9

Original words

And Καὶ G2532 Conjunction whenever ὅταν G3752 Conjunction the τὰ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Plural living creatures ζῷα G2226 Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural give δώσουσιν G1325 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural glory δόξαν G1391 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction honor τιμὴν G5092 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction thanks εὐχαριστίαν G2169 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular to the [One] τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular seated καθημένῳ G2521 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Singular on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular throne θρόνῳ G2362 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular who τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular lives ζῶντι G2198 Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular vvv εἰς G1519 Preposition vvv τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural forever αἰῶνας G165 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural [and] τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural ever αἰώνων G165 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 10

Original words

the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural twenty-four εἴκοσι G1501 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural . . . τέσσαρες G5064 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural elders πρεσβύτεροι G4245 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural fall down πεσοῦνται G4098 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural before ἐνώπιον G1799 Preposition the [One] τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular seated καθημένου G2521 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Masculine Singular on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular throne θρόνου G2362 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction they worship προσκυνήσουσιν G4352 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Him who τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular lives ζῶντι G2198 Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular vvv εἰς G1519 Preposition vvv τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural forever αἰῶνας G165 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural [and] τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural ever αἰώνων G165 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction They cast βαλοῦσιν G906 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural their αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural - τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural crowns στεφάνους G4735 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural before ἐνώπιον G1799 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular throne θρόνου G2362 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular saying λέγοντες G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Verse 11

Original words

Worthy Ἄξιος G514 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular are You εἶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural - G3588 Article - Vocative Masculine Singular Lord Κύριος G2962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Vocative Masculine Singular God Θεὸς G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular to receive λαβεῖν G2983 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular glory δόξαν G1391 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular honor τιμὴν G5092 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular power δύναμιν G1411 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular for ὅτι G3754 Conjunction You σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular created ἔκτισας G2936 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural all things πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction by διὰ G1223 Preposition Your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular will θέλημά G2307 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular they exist ἦσαν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction were created ἐκτίσθησαν G2936 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.