Revelation 4:6

“and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the middle of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.”
Revelation 4:6 · direct translation from the Greek

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With the Greek beneath

andκαὶbeforeἐνώπιονthe throneτοῦ θρόνουthere wassomething likeὡςa seaθάλασσαof glass,ὑαλίνηlikeὁμοίαcrystal.κρυστάλλῳAndΚαὶinἐνthe middleμέσῳof the throneτοῦ θρόνουandκαὶaroundκύκλῳthe throneτοῦ θρόνουwerefourτέσσαραliving creaturesζῷαfullγέμονταof eyesὀφθαλμῶνin frontἔμπροσθενandκαὶbehind.ὄπισθεν

Allusion · Ezekiel 1:5-18

Go to Ezekiel 1:5-18

Both texts describe four living creatures around the throne, full of eyes.

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

ὁμοίαhomoiaG3664דְּמוּתdemutH1823“like”
μέσῳmesōiG3319תּוֹכָtojaH8432“middle, in the middle”
κύκλῳkyklōiG2945סָבִיבsavivH5439“around”
τέσσαραtessaraG5064אַרְבַּעarbaH702“four”
ζῷαzōiaG2226חַיּוֹתjayotH2416“animal”
γέμονταgemontaG1073חֹבְרֹתjovrotH2266“be full”
ὀφθαλμῶνophthalmōnG3788עֵיןenH5869“eye”

Revelation 4:6, word by word

beforeἐνώπιονenōpion

before, in front of

In front of, in the presence of.

Where else “enōpion” appears

the throneθρόνουthronou

throne

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

Where else “thronou” appears

a seaθάλασσαthalassa

sea

Sea; also a large lake, such as the Sea of Galilee.

Where else “thalassa” appears

of glassὑαλίνηhyalinē

of glass, glassy

Of glass, like glass: clear and shining.

Where else “hyalinē” appears

likeὁμοίαhomoia

Like, similar.

Where else “homoia” appears

crystalκρυστάλλῳkrystallōi

crystal

Crystal: clear rock crystal; also ice.

Where else “krystallōi” appears

the middleμέσῳmesōi

middle

Middle, in the midst.

Where else “mesōi” appears

aroundκύκλῳkyklōi

around

Around, in a circle.

Where else “kyklōi” appears

fourτέσσαραtessara

four

Four.

Where else “tessara” appears

living creaturesζῷαzōia

living creature

The beings beside God's throne.

Where else “zōia” appears

fullγέμονταgemonta

be full

Be full.

Where else “gemonta” appears

of eyesὀφθαλμῶνophthalmōn

eye

The organ of sight, in the face.

Where else “ophthalmōn” appears

in frontἔμπροσθενemprosthen

before, in front of

In front of, before.

Where else “emprosthen” appears

behindὄπισθενopisthen

behind

Behind, from behind.

Where else “opisthen” appears

Translation note

It recalls Ezekiel 1:5-18.

The context

5And from the throne come out lightnings and voices and thunders, and seven lamps of fire are burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God;

6 · This verse (above)

7And the first living creature was like a lion, and the second living creature like a calf, and the third living creature had the face as of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.

Read all of Revelation 4

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