Discovery BoxRevelation 4:6-7 
Context4:6 and in front of the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal. 1
In 2 the middle of the throne 3 and around the throne were four living creatures 4 full of eyes in front and in back. 4:7 The 5 first living creature was like a lion, the 6 second creature like an ox, the third creature had a face like a man’s, and the fourth creature looked like an eagle flying.
Revelation 5:11
Context5:11 Then 7 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 8 number was ten thousand times ten thousand 9 – thousands times thousands –
Revelation 6:5
Context6:5 Then 10 when the Lamb opened the third seal I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” So 11 I looked, 12 and here came 13 a black horse! The 14 one who rode it 15 had a balance scale 16 in his hand.
Revelation 7:2
Context7:2 Then 17 I saw another angel ascending from the east, 18 who had 19 the seal 20 of the living God. He 21 shouted out with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given permission 22 to damage the earth and the sea: 23
Revelation 7:11
Context7:11 And all the angels stood 24 there in a circle around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground 25 before the throne and worshiped God,
Revelation 7:17
Context7:17 because the Lamb in the middle of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” 26
Revelation 16:3
Context16:3 Next, 27 the second angel 28 poured out his bowl on the sea and it turned into blood, like that of a corpse, and every living creature that was in the sea died.
Revelation 18:17
Context18:17 because in a single hour such great wealth has been destroyed!” 29
And every ship’s captain, 30 and all who sail along the coast 31 – seamen, and all who 32 make their living from the sea, stood a long way off
1 tn This could refer to rock crystal, but it is possible this refers to ice (an older meaning). See BDAG 571 s.v. κρύσταλλος.
2 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
3 tn Perhaps, “in the middle of the throne area” (see L&N 83.10).
4 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.”
5 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
6 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.
7 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
8 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.
9 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.
10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the third creature.
12 tc The reading “and I looked” (καὶ εἶδον, kai eidon) or some slight variation (e.g., ἶδον, idon) has excellent ms support ({א A C P 1611}) and its omission seems to have come through the
13 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
14 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
15 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
16 sn A balance scale would have been a rod held by a rope in the middle with pans attached to both ends for measuring.
17 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
18 tn Grk “from the rising of the sun.” BDAG 74 s.v. ἀνατολή 2.a takes this as a geographical direction: “ἀπὸ ἀ. ἡλίου…from the east Rv 7:2; 16:12…simply ἀπὸ ἀ. …21:13.”
19 tn Grk “having,” but v. 3 makes it clear that the angel’s purpose is to seal others with the seal he carries.
20 tn Or “signet” (L&N 6.54).
21 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
22 tn The word “permission” is implied; Grk “to whom it was given to them to damage the earth.”
23 tn Grk “saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
24 tn The verb is pluperfect, but the force is simple past. See ExSyn 586.
25 tn Grk “they fell down on their faces.” 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.”
26 sn An allusion to Isa 25:8.
27 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “next” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
28 tn Grk “the second”; the referent (the second angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
29 tn On ἠρημώθη (hrhmwqh) L&N 20.41 states, “to suffer destruction, with the implication of being deserted and abandoned – ‘to be destroyed, to suffer destruction, to suffer desolation.’ ἐρημόομαι: μιᾷ ὥρᾳ ἠρημώθη ὁ τοσοῦτος πλοῦτος ‘such great wealth has been destroyed within a single hour’ Re 18:17.”
30 tn On κυβερνήτης (kubernhth") BDAG 574 s.v. 1 states, “one who is responsible for the management of a ship, shipmaster, lit. Rv 18:17.”
31 tn Or perhaps, “everyone who sails as a passenger.” On πλέων (plewn) BDAG 825 s.v. πλέω states, “πᾶς ὁ ἐπὶ τόπον πλέων everyone who sails to a place = seafarer, sea traveler…Rv 18:17. The vv.ll.…have led to various interpretations. Some render: everyone who sails along the coast…See EbNestle, Einführung in das Griech. NT 1909, 182; AFridrichsen, K. Hum. Vetensk.-Samf. i Upps. Årsb. ’43, 31 note ὁ ἐπίτοπον πλέων=one who sails occasionally, a passenger. – S. also IHeikel, StKr 106, ’34/’35, 317).”
32 tn Grk “and as many as.”
