Revelation 4:6

4:6 and in front of the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal.

In the middle of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

Revelation 5:11-13

5:11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels in a circle around the throne, as well as the living creatures and the elders. Their number was ten thousand times ten thousand – thousands times thousands – 5:12 all of whom were singing in a loud voice:

“Worthy is the lamb who was killed 10 

to receive power and wealth

and wisdom and might

and honor and glory and praise!”

5:13 Then 11  I heard every creature – in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them – singing: 12 

“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb

be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power 13  forever and ever!”

Revelation 19:4-6

19:4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures threw themselves to the ground 14  and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne, saying: “Amen! Hallelujah!”

19:5 Then 15  a voice came from the throne, saying:

“Praise our God

all you his servants,

and all you who fear Him,

both the small and the great!”

The Wedding Celebration of the Lamb

19:6 Then 16  I heard what sounded like the voice of a vast throng, like the roar of many waters and like loud crashes of thunder. They were shouting: 17 

“Hallelujah!

For the Lord our God, 18  the All-Powerful, 19  reigns!

Psalms 103:20-21

103:20 Praise the Lord, you angels of his,

you powerful warriors who carry out his decrees

and obey his orders! 20 

103:21 Praise the Lord, all you warriors of his, 21 

you servants of his who carry out his desires! 22 

Psalms 148:1-2

Psalm 148 23 

148:1 Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the sky!

Praise him in the heavens!

148:2 Praise him, all his angels! 24 

Praise him, all his heavenly assembly! 25 


tn This could refer to rock crystal, but it is possible this refers to ice (an older meaning). See BDAG 571 s.v. κρύσταλλος.

tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

tn Perhaps, “in the middle of the throne area” (see L&N 83.10).

tn On the meaning of ζῴον (zwon) BDAG 431 s.v. 2 states, “Of the four peculiar beings at God’s throne, whose description Rv 4:6-9 reminds one of the ζῷα in Ezk 1:5ff, the cherubim. S. also Rv 5:6, 8, 11, 14; 6:1, 3, 5-7; 7:11; 14:3; 15:7; 19:4.”

tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

tn Grk “elders, and the number of them was.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

tn Or “myriads of myriads.” Although μυριάς (murias) literally means “10,000,” the point of the combination here may simply be to indicate an incalculably huge number. See L&N 60.9.

tn The words “all of whom” are not in the Greek text, but have been supplied to indicate the resumption of the phrase “the voice of many angels” at the beginning of the verse.

tn Grk “saying.”

10 tn Or “slaughtered”; traditionally, “slain.”

11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

12 tn Grk “saying.”

13 tn Or “dominion.”

14 tn Grk “creatures fell down.” BDAG 815 s.v. πίπτω 1.b.α.ב. has “fall down, throw oneself to the ground as a sign of devotion or humility, before high-ranking persons or divine beings.”

15 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.

16 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.

17 tn Grk “like the voice of a large crowd…saying.” Because of the complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the words “They were.”

18 tc Several mss (א2 P 1611 2053 2344 pc ÏK lat ) read “the Lord our God” (κύριος ὁ θεός ἡμῶν, kurio" Jo qeo" Jhmwn). Other important mss (A 1006 1841 pc), however, omit the “our” (ἡμῶν). Further, certain mss (051 ÏA) omit “Lord” (κύριος), while others (including א*) change the order of the statement to “God our Lord” (ὁ θεός ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν). The expression “the Lord God, the All-Powerful” occurs in 6 other places in Revelation (1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7; 21:22) and the pronoun “our” is never used. Scribes familiar with the expression in this book, and especially with the frequent κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ (kurio" Jo qeo" Jo pantokratwr; “the Lord God, the All-Powerful”) in the OT Prophets (LXX; cf. Jer 39:19; Hos 12:6; Amos 3:13; 4:13; 5:8, 14, 15, 16, 27; 9:5, 6, 15; Nah 3:5; Zech 10:3), would naturally omit the pronoun. Its presence may have arisen due to liturgical motivations or to conform to the expression “our God” in 19:1, 5, but this seems much less likely than an aversion to using the pronoun here and only here in the Greek Bible in the fuller title κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ.

19 tn On this word BDAG 755 s.v. παντοκράτωρ states, “the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One) only of God…() κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ π. …Rv 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7; 21:22…κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν ὁ π. Rv 19:6.”

20 tn Heb “[you] mighty ones of strength, doers of his word, by listening to the voice of his word.”

21 tn Heb “all his hosts.”

22 tn Heb “his attendants, doers of his desire.”

23 sn Psalm 148. The psalmist calls upon all creation to praise the Lord, for he is the creator and sovereign king of the world.

24 tn Or “heavenly messengers.”

25 tn Heb “all his host.”