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And the one seated on it was like jasper[a] and carnelian[b] in appearance, and a rainbow looking like it was made of emerald[c] encircled the throne. In[d] a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on those thrones were twenty-four elders. They were[e] dressed in white clothing and had golden crowns[f] on their heads. From[g] the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring[h] and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God,[i] were burning in front of the throne

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 4:3 tn Grk “jasper stone.”sn Jasper was a semiprecious gemstone, probably green in color (L&N 2.30).
  2. Revelation 4:3 sn Carnelian was a semiprecious gemstone, usually red in color (L&N 2.36).
  3. Revelation 4:3 tn Or “a rainbow emerald-like in appearance.”
  4. Revelation 4:4 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  5. Revelation 4:4 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the words “They were” to indicate the connection to the preceding material.
  6. Revelation 4:4 sn See the note on the word crown in Rev 3:11.
  7. Revelation 4:5 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  8. Revelation 4:5 tn Or “sounds,” “voices.” It is not entirely clear what this refers to. BDAG 1071 s.v. φωνή 1 states, “In Rv we have ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί (cp. Ex 19:16) 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18 (are certain other sounds in nature thought of here in addition to thunder, as e.g. the roar of the storm?…).”
  9. Revelation 4:5 sn Some interpret the seven spirits of God as angelic beings, while others see them as a reference to the sevenfold ministry of the Holy Spirit.

And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper(A) and ruby.(B) A rainbow(C) that shone like an emerald(D) encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders.(E) They were dressed in white(F) and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.(G) In front of the throne, seven lamps(H) were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a](I) of God.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 4:5 That is, the sevenfold Spirit