Revelation 4:4-7

4:4 In ¹  a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on those thrones were twenty-four elders. They were ²  dressed in white clothing and had golden crowns ³  on their heads. 4:5 From ⁴  the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring ⁵  and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God, ⁶  were burning in front of the throne 4:6 and in front of the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal. ⁷ 

In ⁸  the middle of the throne ⁹  and around the throne were four living creatures ¹⁰  full of eyes in front and in back. 4:7 The ¹¹  first living creature was like a lion, the ¹²  second creature like an ox, the third creature had a face like a man’s, and the fourth creature looked like an eagle flying.

[4:4]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[4:4]  ² tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the words “They were” to indicate the connection to the preceding material.

[4:4]  ³ sn See the note on the word crown in Rev 3:11.

[4:5]  ⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[4:5]  ⁵ tn Or “sounds,” “voices.” It is not entirely clear what this refers to. BDAG 1071 s.v. φωνή 1 states, “In Rv we have ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί (cp. Ex 19:16) 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18 (are certain other sounds in nature thought of here in addition to thunder, as e.g. the roar of the storm?…).”

[4:5]  ⁶ sn Some interpret the seven spirits of God as angelic beings, while others see them as a reference to the sevenfold ministry of the Holy Spirit.

[4:6]  ⁷ tn This could refer to rock crystal, but it is possible this refers to ice (an older meaning). See BDAG 571 s.v. κρύσταλλος.

[4:6]  ⁸ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[4:6]  ⁹ tn Perhaps, “in the middle of the throne area” (see L&N 83.10).

[4:6]  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.”

[4:7]  ¹⁰ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[4:7]  ¹¹ tn Both here and before the phrase “the third,” καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.