Revelation 4:3
What does Revelation 4:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 4:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 4:3 means
The One on the throne is not described by human features but by radiant, jewel-like splendor. Jasper and sardius evoke purity, brilliance, and burning majesty—a beauty at once attractive and awesome. Encircling the throne is a rainbow with an emerald hue, suggesting a halo of covenant mercy and serene faithfulness around divine power. God’s glory is not harsh light alone; it is encircled by grace. Judgment and mercy meet in the same throne room. John thus communicates the incommunicable: God’s holiness and goodness are beyond ordinary speech, yet they shine with ordered, precious beauty, inviting reverent wonder rather than casual familiarity.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardius: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, like an emerald to look upon.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardius: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, like an emerald to look upon.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And to my eyes he was like a jasper and a sardius stone: and there was an arch of light round the high seat, like an emerald.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and He who is sitting was in sight like a stone, jasper and sardine: and a rainbow was round the throne in sight like an emerald.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And he that sat was to the sight like the jasper and the sardine stone. And there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and he [that was] sitting like in appearance to a stone [of] jasper and a sardius, and a rainbow round the throne like in appearance to an emerald.
Context
Having introduced the throne, John now portrays the character of the One seated there through symbolic imagery. This verse prepares us to understand that what surrounds the throne—the elders, the thunder, the sea of glass—should be read as reflections of God’s holy beauty and faithfulness. Next, the scene widens to those seated around the throne, the attendants of this Majesty. Seeing the rainbow first helps readers hold together God’s awesome might with His steadfast mercy as the following displays intensify.
v.2Straightway I was in the Spirit: and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting upon the throne;
v.3This passage
v.4And round about the throne were four and twenty thrones: and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting, arrayed in white garments; and on their heads crowns of gold.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 39:11
and the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond;
- Ezekiel 28:13
Thou wast in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, the topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was in thee; in the day that thou wast created they were prepared.
- Revelation 21:11
having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal:
- Exodus 28:18
and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond;
- Ezekiel 1:28
As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
- Exodus 24:10
and they saw the God of Israel; and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and as it were the very heaven for clearness.
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