Devine Scripture

Revelation 1:10

What does Revelation 1:10 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 1:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 1:10 means

John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day when he heard a loud, trumpet-like voice behind him. Being in the Spirit indicates a God-given prophetic state, receptive to divine disclosure. The Lord’s day likely refers to the first day of the week, when believers gathered for worship. The trumpet imagery suggests authority, clarity, and summons—God is about to speak in a way that commands attention. The voice behind him heightens the drama and leads John to turn and see. Revelation begins as an interruption of ordinary exile with a worship-day encounter that becomes a vision for the whole church.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet

KJV

King James Version · 1611

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and a great voice at my back, as of a horn, came to my ears,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's-day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

I was in the spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

I became in [the] Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet,

Context

After establishing his situation, John describes the moment of encounter. Verse 10 sets the auditory cue that leads to the visual revelation. The next verse will give the content of the voice’s command—to write and send what he sees to seven churches—followed by John turning to see and receiving the vision of the candlesticks and the majestic Son of Man (vv. 12–16). The movement from hearing to seeing is a common prophetic pattern in Revelation.

v.9I John, your brother and partaker with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patiencewhich arein Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

v.10This passage

v.11saying, What thou seest, write in a book and send it to the seven churches: unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 10:3

    and he cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.

  • Revelation 17:3

    And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

  • Revelation 4:1

    After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, a voiceas of a trumpet speaking with me, one saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must come to pass hereafter.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:2

    I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the third heaven.

  • Revelation 21:10

    And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

  • Acts 20:7

    And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight.

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