Revelation 7:14

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

And I at once said to him - My lord! thou, knowest! And he said unto me - These, are they who come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb;

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
I answered, "You know who they are, sir." And the elder said, "These are the ones who have come out of the great suffering. They have washed their robes with the blood of the Lamb, and they are clean and white.

Revised Standard Version
I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And I sayde vnto him: lorde thou wottest. And he sayde vnto me: these are they which cam oute of gret tribulacion and made their garmetes large and made them whyte in the bloud of the lambe:

Hebrew Names Version
I told him, "My lord, you know." He said to me, "These are those who came out of the great oppression. They washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb's blood.

New American Standard Bible
I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

New Century Version
I answered, "You know, sir." And the elder said to me, "These are the people who have come out of the great distress. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Update Bible Version
And I say to him, My lord, you know. And he said to me, These are those that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I said to him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

World English Bible
I told him, "My lord, you know." He said to me, "These are those who came out of the great oppression. They washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb's blood.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And he said to me, These are they who come out of great affliction, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Weymouth's New Testament
"My lord, you know," I replied. "They are those," he said, "who have just passed through the great distress, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y seide to hym, My lord, thou woost. And he seide to me, These ben thei, that camen fro greet tribulacioun, and waischiden her stoolis, and maden hem white in the blood of the lomb.

English Revised Version
And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Berean Standard Bible
"Sir," I answered, "you know." So he replied, "These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Contemporary English Version
"Sir," I answered, "you must know." Then he told me: "These are the ones who have gone through the great suffering. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and have made them white.

Amplified Bible
I said to him, "My lord, you know [the answer]." And he said to me, "These are the people who come out of the great tribulation (persecution), and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb [because of His atoning sacrifice].

American Standard Version
And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Bible in Basic English
And I said to him, My lord, you have knowledge. And he said to me, These are they who came through the great testing, and their robes have been washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb.

Complete Jewish Bible
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Darby Translation
And I said to him, My lord, *thou* knowest. And he said to me, These are they who come out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and have made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

International Standard Version
I said to him, "Sir, you know."Then he told me, "These are the people who are coming out of the terrible suffering.great tribulation">[fn] They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.Isaiah 1:18; Zechariah 3:3-5; Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; 6:9; 17:6;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And I said to him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they who have come from great affliction, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Murdock Translation
And I said to him: My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me: These are they who came from great affliction; and they have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

King James Version (1611)
And I said vnto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and haue washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lambe.

New Living Translation
And I said to him, "Sir, you are the one who knows." Then he said to me, "These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white.

New Life Bible
I answered him, "Sir, you know." Then he said to me, "These are the ones who came out of the time of much trouble. They have washed their clothes and have made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

New Revised Standard
I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

English Standard Version
I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And I saide vnto him, Lorde, thou knowest. And he saide to me, These are they, which came out of great tribulation, and haue washed their long robes, and haue made their long robes white in the blood of the Lambe.

George Lamsa Translation
And I said to him, My LORD, you know. And he said to me, These are those who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I said to him: My Lord, thou knowest. And he said to me: These are they who are come out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and have made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he sayde vnto hym, Lorde thou wotest. And he sayde to me: These are they which came out of great tribulation, and haue wasshed their long robes, and made them whyte by the blood of the lambe.

Good News Translation
"I don't know, sir. You do," I answered. He said to me, "These are the people who have come safely through the terrible persecution. They have washed their robes and made them white with the blood of the Lamb.

Christian Standard Bible®
I said to him, “Sir, you know.”

King James Version
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Lexham English Bible
And I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Literal Translation
And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are those coming out of the great tribulation; and they washed their robes and whitened them in the blood of the Lamb.

Young's Literal Translation
and I have said to him, `Sir, thou hast known;' and he said to me, `These are those who are coming out of the great tribulation, and they did wash their robes, and they made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And I sayde vnto him: LORDE thou wotest. And he sayde vnto me: these are they which cam out of gret tribulacion, and made their garmentes large, and made the whyte in the bloude of the lambe:

Mace New Testament (1729)
my Lord, answer'd I, you can tell. and he said to me, these are they who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the lamb.

New English Translation
So I said to him, "My lord, you know the answer." Then he said to me, "These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb!

New King James Version
And I said to him, "Sir, [fn] you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Simplified Cowboy Version
"I ain't quite sure, sir, but I bet you have a notion," I answered. He said, "These are the ones who've come through the terrible ride. They were washed in the blood of the Lamb and were made white.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Contextual Overview

¹³ And one of the elders began, saying unto me - These who are arrayed in white robes, who are they? and whence came they? ¹⁴ And I at once said to him - My lord! thou, knowest! And he said unto me - These, are they who come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; ¹⁵ For this cause, are they before the throne of God, and are rendering divine service unto him, day and night, in his sanctuary; and he that sitteth upon the throne shall spread his tent over them; ¹⁶ They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither in any wise shall the sun fall upon them, nor any burning heat; ¹⁷ Because, the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne, shall shepherd them, and shall lead them unto life's fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away every tear out of their eyes.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

thou: Exodus 37:3

came: Revelation 2:9, Revelation 6:9-11, Revelation 15:2, Revelation 17:6, John 16:33, Acts 14:22, Romans 5:3, 2 Thessalonians 1:4

and have: Revelation 1:5, Isaiah 1:18, Zechariah 3:3-5, Zechariah 13:1, John 13:8-14, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Ephesians 5:26, Ephesians 5:27, Hebrews 9:14, 1 John 1:7

the blood: Revelation 5:9, Revelation 12:11, Hebrews 13:12, 1 Peter 1:19

Reciprocal: Genesis 22:8 - General Genesis 49:11 - he washed Exodus 19:10 - wash Leviticus 8:6 - washed Leviticus 8:30 - the anointing Leviticus 11:25 - and be unclean Leviticus 14:8 - wash his Leviticus 15:5 - General Leviticus 15:21 - General Leviticus 17:15 - both wash Numbers 8:7 - wash their Numbers 19:12 - He shall purify 1 Samuel 26:24 - let him deliver 1 Kings 7:38 - ten lavers 2 Kings 5:13 - Wash 2 Chronicles 4:2 - a molten sea 2 Chronicles 4:6 - but the sea Job 11:16 - Because Psalms 15:1 - Lord Psalms 30:11 - turned Psalms 34:6 - saved Psalms 34:19 - Many Psalms 51:2 - Wash Psalms 51:7 - whiter Psalms 57:1 - until Psalms 66:12 - but thou Psalms 71:20 - which Psalms 72:16 - of the city Psalms 84:6 - Who Psalms 90:15 - Make Psalms 140:13 - the upright Psalms 143:11 - bring Psalms 149:4 - beautify Proverbs 13:19 - The desire Ecclesiastes 9:8 - thy garments Isaiah 1:16 - Wash Ezekiel 36:25 - filthiness Daniel 7:16 - one Daniel 11:33 - yet Daniel 12:10 - shall be Zechariah 1:9 - what Zechariah 1:19 - What Zechariah 3:4 - Take Zechariah 4:4 - What Malachi 3:2 - like fullers' Matthew 1:21 - for Matthew 5:4 - General Matthew 6:13 - deliver Matthew 24:9 - shall they Matthew 26:28 - shed Mark 8:35 - will save Mark 9:3 - exceeding Luke 9:31 - spake Luke 15:22 - the best Luke 16:25 - likewise John 1:29 - Behold John 13:5 - to wash John 16:20 - your John 17:24 - I will John 19:34 - came John 20:12 - in Acts 1:10 - two Acts 7:10 - delivered Romans 3:24 - through Romans 4:25 - Who was Romans 5:15 - hath Romans 8:10 - but Romans 8:35 - shall tribulation 2 Corinthians 5:8 - present Galatians 2:16 - we have Galatians 3:11 - that Philippians 1:23 - far 1 Thessalonians 4:17 - and so 2 Thessalonians 1:7 - who 2 Timothy 3:12 - shall Hebrews 4:9 - remaineth Hebrews 12:23 - the spirits Hebrews 13:23 - is set 1 Peter 5:9 - the same 1 John 5:6 - blood Revelation 1:9 - companion Revelation 3:4 - which Revelation 4:4 - clothed Revelation 6:11 - white Revelation 7:9 - clothed Revelation 14:13 - Yea Revelation 19:8 - the fine

Cross-References

Genesis 7:2
Of all the clean beasts, shalt thou take to thee by sevens, a male and his female, - and, of the beasts that are not clean,, shall be two a male and his female.

Genesis 7:3
Also of the bird of the heavens, by sevens, male and female, - to keep alive a seed on the face of all the earth.

Genesis 7:8
Of the beasts that were clean, and of the beasts that were not clean, - and of the birds, and everything that creepeth on the ground,

Genesis 7:9
two and two, went they in unto Noah, into the ark male and female,, - as God commanded Noah.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And I said unto him, sir, thou knowest,.... John replies in a very humble, modest, and respectful manner, to the elder, calling him "sir", according to the usage of the eastern people; and it is observable, that this word is much used in his Gospel, and more than in any other book; see John 4:11. Some copies, and the Complutensian edition, read, "my Lord"; and so do the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions. John confesses his ignorance, and ascribes knowledge to the elder, and desires information of him; for the sense is, that the elder knew who they were, and from whence they came, but he did not, and therefore desires that he would inform him; and so the Arabic version renders it, "and my Lord, thou art more learned"; that is, than I am, and therefore instruct me, as he accordingly did;

and he said to me, these are they which came out of great tribulation: seeing this company designs all the elect of God, that ever were, are, or shall be in the world; "the great tribulation", out of which they came, is not to be restrained to any particular time of trouble, but includes all that has been, is, or shall be; as all the afflictions of the saints under the Old Testament; from righteous Abel to Zechariah; and all the troubles of the people of God in the times of the Maccabees, Hebrews 11:35; all the persecutions of the Christians by the Jews, at the first publication of the Gospel; and the persecutions under the Roman emperors, both Pagan and Arian; and the cruelties and barbarities of the Romish antichrist, during the whole time of the apostasy; and particularly the last struggle of the beast, which will be the hour of temptation, that will come upon all the world; and in general all the afflictions, reproaches, persecutions, and many tribulations of all the saints, and every member of Christ in this world, who in the new Jerusalem church state will be come out of them; which supposes them to have been in them, and yet were not overwhelmed by them, and lost in them; but, by divine support and assistance, waded through them, and were now quite clear of them, and never more to be annoyed with them; see Revelation 21:4.

And have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; not in the blood of bulls and goats, which could not take away sin; nor in their own blood, their sufferings for Christ, on which they did not depend, knowing there is no comparison between them, and the glory revealed in them; nor in any works of righteousness done by them, which are imperfect and filthy, and need washing; but in the blood of Christ, which cleanseth from all sin. The "robes" which they washed in his blood may either design themselves, their consciences, which this blood purges from dead works; or their outward conversation garments, which have their spots, and need continual washing; or else the robe of righteousness, and garments of salvation, or their justification, which is by the blood of Christ, Romans 5:9. The act of washing from sin, by the blood of Christ, is sometimes ascribed to Christ himself, as in Revelation 1:5; but here to the saints, and designs the concern which faith has in the blood of Christ, which deals with it for justification, peace, and pardon, for the removing of sin from the conscience, and for cleansing from all impurity, both of flesh and Spirit: and the effect of this is, that their robes were "made white"; that is, that they were freed from all sin, were without fault before the throne, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. This shows that these persons had no trust in themselves, or dependence on their own merits, and works of righteousness, but wholly trusted to, and depended on the blood and righteousness of Christ; which is the only way to come out of tribulation, and enter the kingdom.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest - The word “sir” in this place - κύριέ kurie, “lord” - is a form of respectful address, such as would be used when speaking to a superior, Genesis 43:20; Matthew 13:27; Matthew 21:30; Matthew 27:63; John 4:11, John 4:15, John 4:19, John 4:49; John 5:7; John 12:21; John 20:15. The simple meaning of the phrase “thou knowest” is, that he who had asked the question must be better informed than he to whom he had proposed it. It is, on the part of John, a modest confession that he did not know, or could not be presumed to know, and at the same time the respectful utterance of an opinion that he who addressed this question to him must be in possession of this knowledge.

And he said unto me - Not offended with the reply, and ready, as he had evidently intended to do, to give him the information which he needed.

These are they which came out of great tribulation - The word rendered “tribulation” - θλίψις thlipsis - is a word of general character, meaning “affliction,” though perhaps there is here an allusion to persecution. The sense, however, would be better expressed by the phrase great trials. The object seems to have been to set before the mind of the apostle a view of those who had suffered much, and who by their sufferings had been sanctified and prepared for heaven, in order to encourage those who might be yet called to suffer.

And have washed their robes - To wit, in the blood of the Lamb.

And made them white in the blood of the Lamb - There is some incongruity in saying that they had made them white in the blood of the Lamb; and the meaning therefore must be, that they had cleansed or purified them in that blood. Under the ancient ritual, various things about the sanctuary were cleansed from ceremonial defilement by the sprinkling of blood on them - the blood of sacrifice. In accordance with that usage, the blood of the Lamb - of the Lord Jesus - is said to cleanse and purify. John sees a great company with white robes. The means by which it is said they became white or pure is the blood of the Lamb. It is not said that they were made white as the result of their sufferings or their afflictions but by the blood of the Lamb. The course of thought here is such that it would be natural to suppose that, if at any time the great deeds or the sufferings of the saints could contribute to the fact that they will wear white robes in heaven, this is an occasion on which there might be such a reference.

But there is no allusion to that. It is not by their own sufferings and trials, their persecutions and sorrows, that they are made holy, but by the blood of the Lamb that had been shed for sinners. This reference to the blood of the Lamb is one of the incidental proofs that occur so frequently in the Scriptures of the reality of the atonement. It could be only in allusion to that, and with an implied belief in that, that the blood of the Lamb could be referred to as cleansing the robes of the saints in heaven. If he sheds his blood merely as other people have done; if he died only as a martyr, what propriety would there have been in referring to his blood more than to the blood of any other martyr? And what influence could the blood of any martyr have in cleansing the robes of the saints in heaven? The fact is, that if that were all, such language would be unmeaning. It is never used except in connection with the blood of Christ; and the language of the Bible everywhere is such as would be employed on the supposition that he shed his blood to make expiation for sin, and on no other supposition. On the general meaning of the language used here, and the sentiment expressed, see the Hebrews 9:14 note and 1 John 1:7 note.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Revelation 7:14. Sir, thou knowest — That is, I do not know, but thou canst inform me.

Came out of great tribulation — Persecutions of every kind.

And have washed their robes — Have obtained their pardon and purity, through the blood of the Lamb.

Their white robes cannot mean the righteousness of Christ, for this cannot be washed and made white in his own blood. This white linen is said to be the righteousness of the saints, Revelation 19:8, and this is the righteousness in which they stand before the throne; therefore it is not Christ's righteousness, but it is a righteousness wrought in them by the merit of his blood, and the power of his Spirit.