Devine Scripture

Revelation 1:15

What does Revelation 1:15 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 1:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 1:15 means

His feet shine like burnished brass refined in a furnace, suggesting strength, purity through testing, and firmness to trample evil. His voice roars like many waters, irresistible and majestic, drowning out lesser noises. Together these images display a Lord whose ways are steady and whose speech carries sovereign authority. The churches need a Christ who cannot be toppled by opposition and whose word silences fear and falsehood. This is no tame figure; He stands immovable and speaks with the power that established the heavens, a voice to which the churches must listen and respond in repentance and enduring faith.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and his feet like unto burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and his feet like unto burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And his feet like polished brass, as if it had been burned in a fire; and his voice was as the sound of great waters.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and his feet like to fine brass, as in a furnace having been fired, and his voice as a sound of many waters,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And his feet like unto fine brass, as in a burning furnace. And his voice as the sound of many waters.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and his feet like fine brass, as burning in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters;

Context

Continuing the portrait, verse 15 adds the impression of strength and overwhelming authority to the purity and wisdom of verse 14. The next verse (v. 16) completes the description with the seven stars in His right hand, the sharp two-edged sword from His mouth, and a face shining like the sun. The sequence crescendos to evoke awe, setting up John’s collapse in verse 17 and the comforting yet commanding words that follow.

v.14And his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

v.15This passage

v.16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

Cross references

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

  • Isaiah 17:13

    The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but he shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like the whirling dust before the storm.

  • Psalms 93:4

    Above the voices of many waters, The mighty breakers of the sea, Jehovah on high is mighty.

  • Ezekiel 1:7

    And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass.

  • Revelation 2:18

    And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like unto burnished brass:

  • Revelation 14:2

    And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and the voice which I heardwasasthe voiceof harpers harping with their harps:

  • Ezekiel 40:3

    And he brought me thither; and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.

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