Revelation 4:10
What does Revelation 4:10 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 4:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 4:10 means
The twenty-four elders respond by falling down before the One on the throne and worshiping Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, a powerful sign that any authority or victory they possess is derived and gladly surrendered back to God. Heavenly reward does not inflate pride; it fuels deeper adoration. Their posture—prostration and offering—says that God alone is ultimate. In the presence of uncreated majesty, created honor finds its proper place: at God’s feet. This is the sympathetic echo of the creatures’ praise, joining perception with submission.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000the four and twenty elders shall fall down before him that sitteth on the throne, and shall worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and shall cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
KJV
King James Version · 1611The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901the four and twenty elders shall fall down before him that sitteth on the throne, and shall worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and shall cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The four and twenty rulers go down on their faces before him who is seated on the high seat, and give worship to him who is living for ever and ever, and take off their crowns before the high seat, saying,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862fall down do the twenty and four elders before Him who is sitting upon the throne, and bow before Him who is living to the ages of the ages, and they cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The four and twenty ancients fell down before him that sitteth on the throne and adored him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890the twenty-four elders shall fall before him that sits upon the throne, and do homage to him that lives to the ages of ages; and shall cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Context
Following the creatures’ doxology in verse 9, the elders answer with enacted worship. The movement is from ascribed praise to embodied surrender. We are brought to the brink of the elders’ spoken confession, which comes in the next verse. The sequence matters: heaven not only sings to God but also bows and yields to Him. Verse 10 thus prepares the ear for the climactic declaration in verse 11, explaining why God is supremely worthy of such honor.
v.9And when the living creatures shall give glory and honor and thanks to him that sitteth on the throne, to him that liveth for ever and ever,
v.10This passage
v.11Worthy art thou, our Lord and our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power: for thou didst create all things, and because of thy will they were, and were created.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 4:9
And when the living creatures shall give glory and honor and thanks to him that sitteth on the throne, to him that liveth for ever and ever,
- Revelation 22:8
And I John am he that heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel that showed me these things.
- Revelation 5:8
And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
- Psalms 95:6
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before Jehovah our Maker:
- Revelation 7:11
And all the angels were standing round about the throne, andaboutthe elders and the four living creatures; and they fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
- 1 Chronicles 29:20
And David said to all the assembly, Now bless Jehovah your God. And all the assembly blessed Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped Jehovah, and the king.
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