Devine Scripture

Revelation 10:1

What does Revelation 10:1 mean?

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

What Revelation 10:1 means

John beholds “another strong angel” descending from heaven, marked by cloud, rainbow, blazing face, and fiery feet. The imagery signals a messenger carrying God’s authority and glory. The cloud recalls God’s presence; the rainbow hints at covenant mercy even amid judgment; the sun-bright face and fire-like feet convey purity and irresistible strength. This is not a vague spirit but a weighty envoy whose appearance assures believers that heaven rules earth’s storms. The angel’s grandeur frames the message to follow: what he bears and declares is not trivial. It comes clothed with the majesty of the Creator’s purposes and therefore must be heeded with reverence and hope.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, arrayed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, arrayed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and an arch of coloured light was round his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And I saw another strong messenger coming down out of the heaven, arrayed with a cloud, and a rainbow upon the head, and his face as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head: and his face, as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And I saw another strong angel coming down out of the heaven, clothed with a cloud, and the rainbow upon his head, and his countenance as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire,

Context

After the terrifying trumpet judgments, the narrative pauses for an interlude. Revelation 10 opens this pause with the vision of a mighty angel, shifting the reader’s focus from turmoil below to authority from above. This verse introduces the heavenly messenger whose presence dominates the scene and prepares us to receive the little book and the solemn oath. What follows will explain the global scope of his mission and the gravity of his announcement, before turning attention to John’s personal commission.

v.1This passage

v.2and he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left upon the earth;

Cross references

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

  • 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.

  • Daniel 7:13

    I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

  • Revelation 8:2

    And I saw the seven angels that stand before God; and there were given unto them seven trumpets.

  • Revelation 10:5

    And the angel that I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his right hand to heaven,

  • 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.

  • Exodus 16:10

    And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of Jehovah appeared in the cloud.

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