Devine Scripture

Revelation 7:5

What does Revelation 7:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 7:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 7:5 means

The list begins: twelve thousand from Judah, then Reuben, then Gad. Judah’s first place is notable; the royal tribe leads the tally, fitting the book’s earlier presentation of the Lamb’s royal identity. Reuben, the firstborn by birth order, follows, indicating that divine purpose, not mere chronology, orders the list. Gad, a frontier tribe, is counted equally, showing that status or geography does not diminish God’s care. The repeated “twelve thousand” underscores a complete, balanced share for each tribe named. The tally’s cadence teaches that God’s preservation is measured, equitable, and rooted in his covenant structure, not in human rank or achievement.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Of the tribe of Judahweresealed twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Of the tribe of Judahweresealed twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Of the tribe of Judah were marked twelve thousand: of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand: of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Of the tribe of Juda, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Ruben, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand signed:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

out of [the] tribe of Juda, twelve thousand sealed; out of [the] tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand; out of [the] tribe of Gad, twelve thousand;

Context

This verse starts the detailed enumeration promised in verse 4. The ordering itself carries theological weight, with Judah’s prominence setting a messianic tone. Verses 6–8 continue the same pattern, naming tribes and repeating the twelve-thousand figure. The completion of the list will close the first vision of the sealed and prepare for the second vision of the innumerable multitude in verse 9.

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:

v.5This passage

v.6Of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand;

Cross references

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

  • Numbers 10:14

    And in the first place the standard of the camp of the children of Judah set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:1

    And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.

  • Numbers 13:4

    And these were their names: Of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.

  • Numbers 1:4

    And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of his fathers’ house.

  • Exodus 1:2

    Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

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