Revelation 4:5

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;

Parallel Translations

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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;

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.

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;

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;

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.

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.

New Living Translation
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.

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;

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,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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
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.

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;

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.

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.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Thunder and lightning rolled from the throne down to the seven torches that were blazing bright.

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;

Contextual Overview

¹ After these things, I saw, and lo! a door set open in heaven; and, the first voice which I heard as of a trumpet, speaking with me, saying - Come up hither! and I will point out to thee the things which must needs come to pass. After these things, ² straightway, I came to be in Spirit, and lo! a throne, stood in heaven, and, upon the throne, was one sitting; ³ and, he that was sitting, was like in appearance to a jasper stone and a sardius, and there was a rainbow round about the throne, like in appearance unto an emerald, ⁴ And, round about the throne, were four and twenty thrones; and, upon the thrones, four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and, upon their heads, were crowns of gold. ⁵ 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; ⁶ and, before the throne, is as a glassy sea, like unto crystal. And, in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, are four living creatures full of eyes, before and behind; ⁷ and, the first living creature, is like unto a lion, and, the second living creature, like unto a calf, and, the third living creature, hath the face as of a man, and, the fourth living creature, is like unto an eagle flying;

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
And he said, What hast thou done? With a voice, the shed-blood of thy brother is crying out to me from the ground,

Genesis 4:11
Now therefore, accursed, art thou, - from the ground which hath opened her mouth, to receive the shed-blood of thy brother at thy hand.

Genesis 31:2
And Jacob looked upon the face of Laban, - and lo! it was not with him as afore-time.

Genesis 31:5
and said to them, Beholding, am I the face of your father, that it is not towards me as aforetime, - nevertheless, the God of my father, hath been with me;

Numbers 16:15
Then was Moses very angry, and he said unto Yahweh, Do not thou have respect unto their meal-offering. Not one ass, from them, have I taken, neither have I wronged one of them.

Job 5:2
For, to the foolish man, death is caused by vexation, and, the simple one, is slain by jealousy.

Psalms 20:3
Remember every present of thine, and, thine ascending-sacrifice, esteem. Selah.

Matthew 20:15
Is it not allowed me to do, what I please, with my own? or is, thine eye, evil, because I good?

Acts 13:45
But, the Jews, seeing, the multitudes, were filled with jealousy, - and began speaking against the things which, by Paul, were being spoken, defaming them.

Hebrews 11:4
By faith, a fuller sacrifice, did Abel, offer unto God, than Cain, - through which, he received witness that he was righteous, there being a witnessing upon his gifts, by God; and, through it, though he died, he yet is speaking.

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.