Devine Scripture

Revelation 14:2

What does Revelation 14:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 14:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 14:2 means

John hears a mighty, layered sound from heaven, overwhelming like many waters and thunder, yet musical like harpists. The combination suggests majesty and harmony: God’s presence is awesome yet beautiful. This sound anticipates worship and victory rather than chaos. The heavenly voice is not a mere noise; it is ordered praise that drowns out the beast’s blasphemies. It signals that heaven’s verdict over earth’s turmoil is already set. The mingling of power and melody assures the church that the God they worship reigns in strength and in beauty, and that their future is framed not by the roar of earthly powers but by the music of heaven.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And a voice from heaven came to my ears, like the sound of great waters, and the sound of loud thunder: and the voice which came to me was like the sound of players, playing on instruments of music.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and I heard a voice out of the heaven, as a voice of many waters, and as a voice of great thunder, and a voice I heard of harpers harping with their harps,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And I heard a voice from heaven, as the noise of many waters and as the voice of great thunder. And the voice which I heard was as the voice of harpers, harping on their harps.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And I heard a voice out of the heaven as a voice of many waters, and as a voice of great thunder. And the voice which I heard [was] as of harp-singers harping with their harps;

Context

Verse 2 follows the appearance of the Lamb and the 144,000, shifting from what John sees to what he hears. The sonic imagery prepares for the new song in verse 3, showing that the scene is not static but filled with worship. The voice’s majesty establishes the authority of what follows. As the chapter moves forward, the focus narrows to the singers themselves (verse 3) and then to their moral character (verses 4–5), before the narrative transitions to angelic announcements that address the whole world (verses 6–11).

v.1And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.

v.2This passage

v.3and they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders: and no man could learn the song save the hundred and forty and four thousand, even they that had been purchased out of the earth.

Cross references

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

  • Psalms 92:3

    With an instrument of ten strings, and with the psaltery; With a solemn sound upon the harp.

  • Revelation 15:2

    And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and them that come off victorious from the beast, and from his image, and from the number of his name, standing by the sea of glass, having harps of God.

  • Revelation 11:15

    And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is becomethe kingdomof our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever.

  • 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.

  • Psalms 33:2

    Give thanks unto Jehovah with the harp: Sing praises unto him with the psaltery of ten strings.

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