Revelation 4:4-6

4:4 In¹ a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on those thrones were twenty-four elders. They were² dressed in white clothing and had golden crowns³ on their heads. 4:5 From⁴ the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring⁵ 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

In⁸ the middle of the throne⁹ and around the throne were four living creatures¹⁰ full of eyes in front and in back.

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

²tn 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.

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

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

⁵tn 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?…).”

⁶sn 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.

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

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

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

¹⁰tn 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.”