Revelation 7:9
What does Revelation 7:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 7:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 7:9 means
John then sees a countless multitude from “every nation and of all tribes and peoples and tongues,” standing before the throne and the Lamb. Clothed in white robes and holding palms, they display purity, victory, and festive joy. Their presence before God’s throne shows full acceptance; their diversity shows the universal reach of salvation. Palms evoke celebration and triumph; the white garments signify cleansing. Where the first vision counted a specific group, this vision cannot be numbered, underscoring abundance and fulfillment. The people of God are not few; they are vast, gathered from the ends of the earth by the saving work of the Lamb.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and ofalltribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands;
KJV
King James Version · 1611After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and ofalltribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949After these things I saw a great army of people more than might be numbered, out of every nation and of all tribes and peoples and languages, taking their places before the high seat and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, and with branches in their hands,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862After these things I saw, and lo, a great multitude, which to number no one was able, out of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752After this, I saw a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and in sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890After these things I saw, and lo, a great crowd, which no one could number, out of every nation and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palm branches in their hands.
Context
This verse begins the chapter’s second vision. After the ordered sealing of Israel, the camera shifts to heaven, where an innumerable, international assembly worships. The contrast is deliberate yet harmonious: God preserves a faithful remnant and also gathers a global people. The next verse records their cry of praise attributing salvation to God and the Lamb. The surrounding hosts of heaven will respond, and then an elder will explain who these white-robed worshipers are and how they came to be there.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 4:4
And 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.
- Luke 21:36
But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
- Romans 11:25
For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in;
- Leviticus 23:40
And ye shall take you on the first day the fruit of goodly trees, branches of palm-trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before Jehovah your God seven days.
- Zechariah 2:11
And many nations shall join themselves to Jehovah in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
- Hosea 1:10
Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass that, in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
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