Revelation 7:3
What does Revelation 7:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 7:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 7:3 means
The angel commands, “Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” The sealing is public and unmistakable, placed where identity is seen. It marks God’s servants as his own, securing them under his care amid coming judgments. This does not deny suffering, but asserts preservation according to God’s promise. The plural “we” suggests a coordinated heavenly mission: the seal is applied by divine commission, not human effort. Creation itself is spared temporarily because God prioritizes marking his people. Judgment will resume in due course, but only after grace has gone forth to safeguard the faithful.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Do no damage to the earth, or the sea, or the trees, till we have put a mark on the servants of our God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Do not injure the land, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we may seal the servants of our God upon their foreheads.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Saying: Hurt not the earth nor the sea nor the trees, till we sign the servants of our God in their foreheads.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890saying, Hurt not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, until we shall have sealed the bondmen of ourGod upon their foreheads.
Context
This directive provides the reason for the restraint and leads directly into the enumeration of those sealed from Israel’s tribes. The flow shifts from a general pause to a specific group who must be identified and secured. Verses 4–8 will list them by number and tribe. Understanding this verse’s emphasis on identity and protection helps readers grasp why the list matters and how it relates to the later vision of an innumerable, glorified multitude.
v.2And I saw another angel ascend from the sunrising, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a great voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
v.3This passage
v.4And I heard the number of them that were sealed, a hundred and forty and four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel:
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 9:4
And it was said unto them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only such men as have not the seal of God on their foreheads.
- Isaiah 27:8
In measure, when thou sendest them away, thou dost contend with them; he hath removed them with his rough blast in the day of the east wind.
- Exodus 12:23
For Jehovah will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side-posts, Jehovah will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
- Daniel 3:17
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king.
- Revelation 6:6
And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A measure of wheat for a shilling, and three measures of barley for a shilling; and the oil and the wine hurt thou not.
- Romans 6:22
But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life.
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