Revelation 4:3

“And the one who sat there was like jasper and carnelian in appearance, and there was a rainbow around the throne like an emerald in appearance.”
Revelation 4:3 · direct translation from the Greek

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With the Greek beneath

Andκαὶthe one who sat thereὁ καθήμενοςwaslikeὅμοιοςjasperλίθῳ ἰάσπιδιandκαὶcarnelianσαρδίῳin appearance,ὁράσειandκαὶthere wasa rainbowἶριςaroundκυκλόθενthe throneτοῦ θρόνουlikeὅμοιοςan emeraldσμαραγδίνῳin appearance.ὁράσει

Allusion · Ezekiel 1:26-28

Go to Ezekiel 1:26-28

Both texts describe the throne with precious stones and a rainbow around it.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

ὅμοιοςhomoiosG3664דְּמוּתdemutH1823“like”
ὁράσειhoraseiG3706מַרְאֵהmareH4758“vision”
λίθῳlithōiG3037אֶבֶןevenH68“stone”
ἶριςirisG2463קֶּשֶׁתkeshetH7198“rainbow”
κυκλόθενkyklothenG2943סָבִיבsavivH5439“around”
θρόνουthronouG2362כִּסֵּאkiseH3678“throne”

Revelation 4:3, word by word

the one who sat thereκαθήμενοςkathēmenos

sit

To be seated somewhere, or riding on an animal.

Where else “kathēmenos” appears

likeὅμοιοςhomoios

Like, similar.

Where else “homoios” appears

jasperλίθῳlithōi

stone

A piece of hard rock, loose or cut.

Where else “lithōi” appears

jasperἰάσπιδιiaspidi

jasper

Jasper: a precious stone.

Where else “iaspidi” appears

carnelianσαρδίῳsardiōi

carnelian

Carnelian, sardius: a reddish precious stone.

Where else “sardiōi” appears

in appearanceὁράσειhorasei

appearance

How something looks.

Where else “horasei” appears

a rainbowἶριςiris

rainbow

Rainbow; also a ring of light around something.

Where else “iris” appears

aroundκυκλόθενkyklothen

all around

All around, on every side.

Where else “kyklothen” appears

the throneθρόνουthronou

throne

Throne: the seat of a king or a judge; hence royal power.

Where else “thronou” appears

an emeraldσμαραγδίνῳsmaragdinōi

of emerald

Of emerald, green like an emerald.

Where else “smaragdinōi” appears

Translation note

It is not known for certain which present-day stones these names correspond to. It recalls Ezekiel 1:26-28.

The context

2At once I was in the Spirit; and look, a throne stood in heaven, and on the throne one seated.

3 · This verse (above)

4And around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones twenty-four elders seated, clothed in white clothes, and on their heads golden crowns.

Read all of Revelation 4

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