Devine Scripture

Revelation 7:4

What does Revelation 7:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 7:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 7:4 means

John hears the number of the sealed: “a hundred and forty and four thousand” from every tribe of the children of Israel. The figure conveys a full, ordered company; God’s covenant people are known and numbered by him. This is not a random crowd but a deliberately counted assembly, reminding us that the Shepherd knows his flock. Hearing the number prepares for the detailed listing that follows. It affirms that, before judgment progresses, God preserves a representative fullness of Israel. The emphasis is on God’s faithfulness to his promises and his intimate knowledge of those who are his. None are overlooked, and their identity is rooted in Israel’s story.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And 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:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And 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:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And there came to my ears the number of those who had the mark on their brows, a hundred and forty-four thousand, who were marked out of every tribe of the people of Israel.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And I heard the number of those sealed, (one hundred and forty four thousands were sealed out of all the tribes of the sons of Israel):

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And I heard the number of them that were signed. An hundred forty-four thousand were signed, of every tribe of the children of Israel.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred [and] forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of [the] sons of Israel:

Context

This summary statement introduces the list in verses 5–8. The sequence moves from the general sealing to its scope and composition. What John hears here he will see elaborated in the tribal tally. After this enumeration, the vision will shift dramatically in verse 9 to a countless international multitude before the throne. Holding both pictures together—numbered Israelites and innumerable nations—will help readers see the unity of God’s saving plan.

v.3saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.

v.4This passage

v.5Of the tribe of Judahweresealed twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand;

Cross references

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

  • Zechariah 9:1

    The burden of the word of Jehovah upon the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be its resting-place (for the eye of man and of all the tribes of Israel is toward Jehovah);

  • Romans 11:5

    Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

  • Revelation 14:3

    and 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.

  • Genesis 15:5

    And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and number the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

  • Ezekiel 47:13

    Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: This shall be the border, whereby ye shall divide the land for inheritance according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions.

  • Ezekiel 48:31

    and the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel, three gates northward: the gate of Reuben, one; the gate of Judah, one; the gate of Levi, one.

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