Revelation 4:7
What does Revelation 4:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 4:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 4:7 means
The four living creatures present varied faces: one like a lion, one like a calf, one with a human face, and one like a flying eagle. These forms suggest the noblest representatives of created strength, service, intelligence, and swift majesty. In them, creation’s diverse excellencies gather to serve and praise God. The throne is not isolated from creation; it is surrounded by it, and creation’s best is oriented toward its Maker. These are not pets of the throne but powerful beings whose very design proclaims that all capacities in the world find their meaning in worship and obedience to the One who reigns.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face as of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face as of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the first beast was like a lion, and the second like an ox, and the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the first living creature <FI>is<Fi> like a lion, and the second living creature <FI>is<Fi> like a calf, and the third living creature hath the face as a man, and the fourth living creature <FI>is<Fi> like an eagle flying.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the first living creature was like a lion: and the second living creature like a calf: and the third living creature, having the face, as it were, of a man: and the fourth living creature was like an eagle flying.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and the first living creature like a lion, and the second living creature like a calf, and the third living creature having the face as of a man, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle.
Context
Having established the creatures’ perception and placement, John now reveals their forms. The range—from wild strength to domestic service to human reason to soaring speed—prepares the reader for their role as universal heralds of God’s holiness. Next, verse 8 will add their wings, their saturation with eyes, and especially their ceaseless proclamation. The narrative is building toward the heavenly liturgy: first the throne’s attendants are shown, then their worship erupts, signaling how heaven responds to God’s presence.
v.6and before the throne, as it were a sea of glass like unto crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.
v.7This passage
v.8And the four living creatures, having each one of them six wings, are full of eyes round about and within: and they have no rest day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, isthe Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezekiel 1:10
As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and they four had the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four had also the face of an eagle.
- Ezekiel 1:8
And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings thus:
- Ezekiel 10:14
And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
- Ezekiel 10:21
Every one had four faces, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
- Daniel 7:4
The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon two feet as a man; and a man’s heart was given to it.
- Revelation 4:6
and before the throne, as it were a sea of glass like unto crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.
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