Revelation 1:7
What does Revelation 1:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 1:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 1:7 means
John announces the certainty of Christ’s return: He will come with the clouds, visible to every eye. Even those responsible for His piercing will see Him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. The mourning suggests both grief at judgment and, for some, repentance. The language evokes prophetic promises fulfilled in Jesus. His coming is public, glorious, and inescapable. The closing affirmation—so it shall be—expresses the church’s Amen to God’s plan. Believers are to live with this horizon before them: history is moving toward the appearing of the crucified and risen Lord in undeniable majesty.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they that pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they that pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949See, he comes with the clouds, and every eye will see him, and those by whom he was wounded; and all the tribes of the earth will be sorrowing because of him. Yes, so be it.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Lo, he doth come with the clouds, and see him shall every eye, even those who did pierce him, and wail because of him shall all the tribes of the land. Yes! Amen!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Behold, he cometh with the clouds, and every eye shall see him: and they also that pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth shall bewail themselves because of him. Even so. Amen.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Behold, he comes with the clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they which have pierced him, and all the tribes of the land shall wail because of him. Yea. Amen.
Context
After praising Christ’s saving work and dominion, verse 7 looks forward to His advent, the great hope and warning threaded through Revelation. This sets up the declaration in verse 8 of God’s eternal identity and power, assuring readers that the One who promises to come is sovereign over all time. The movement from identity (vv. 4–6) to destiny (v. 7) to divine self-declaration (v. 8) provides a sturdy frame for the visions and messages that follow.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Judges 5:31
So let all thine enemies perish, O Jehovah: But let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.
- Hebrews 10:29
of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
- Isaiah 19:1
The burden of Egypt. Behold, Jehovah rideth upon a swift cloud, and cometh unto Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall tremble at his presence; and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
- Matthew 26:64
Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.
- Revelation 14:14
And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloudI sawone sitting like unto a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
- Psalms 68:1
Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; Let them also that hate him flee before him.
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