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Revelation 4

Rev. 4:3 KJV (With Strong’s)

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3
And
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
he
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
that sat
kathemai (Greek #2521)
and ἧμαι (to sit; akin to the base of 1476); to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside
KJV usage: dwell, sit (by, down).
Pronounce: kath'-ay-mahee
Origin: from 2596
was
en (Greek #2258)
I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were)
KJV usage: + agree, be, X have (+ charge of), hold, use, was(-t), were.
Pronounce: ane
Origin: imperfect of 1510
to look upon
horasis (Greek #3706)
the act of gazing, i.e. (externally) an aspect or (internally) an inspired appearance
KJV usage: sight, vision.
Pronounce: hor'-as-is
Origin: from 3708
like
homoios (Greek #3664)
similar (in appearance or character)
KJV usage: like, + manner.
Pronounce: hom'-oy-os
Origin: from the base of 3674
a jasper
iaspis (Greek #2393)
"jasper", a gem
KJV usage: jasper.
Pronounce: ee'-as-pis
Origin: probably of foreign origin (see 03471)
and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
a sardine
sardinos (Greek #4555)
sardine (3037 being implied), i.e. a gem, so called
KJV usage: sardine.
Pronounce: sar'-dee-nos
Origin: from the same as 4556
stone
lithos (Greek #3037)
a stone (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: (mill-, stumbling-)stone.
Pronounce: lee'-thos
Origin: apparently a primary word
: and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
there was a rainbow
iris (Greek #2463)
a rainbow ("iris")
KJV usage: rainbow.
Pronounce: ee'-ris
Origin: perhaps from 2046 (as a symbol of the female messenger of the pagan deities)
round about
kuklothen (Greek #2943)
from the circle, i.e. all around
KJV usage: (round) about.
Pronounce: koo-kloth'-en
Origin: adverb from the same as 2945
the throne
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
thronos (Greek #2362)
a stately seat ("throne"); by implication, power or (concretely) a potentate
KJV usage: seat, throne.
Pronounce: thron'-os
Origin: from θράω (to sit)
, in sight
horasis (Greek #3706)
the act of gazing, i.e. (externally) an aspect or (internally) an inspired appearance
KJV usage: sight, vision.
Pronounce: hor'-as-is
Origin: from 3708
like unto
homoios (Greek #3664)
similar (in appearance or character)
KJV usage: like, + manner.
Pronounce: hom'-oy-os
Origin: from the base of 3674
an emerald
smaragdinos (Greek #4664)
consisting of emerald
KJV usage: emerald.
Pronounce: smar-ag'-dee-nos
Origin: from 4665
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More on:

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Emerald,
Jasper,
Rainbow,
Sardine; Sardius,
Stones,
Throne

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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like a.
Rev. 21:11,19‑20• 11having the glory of God. Her shining was like a most precious stone, as a crystal-like jasper stone;
 19the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious stone: the first foundation, jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;
 20the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. (Rev. 21:11,19‑20)
;
Ex. 24:10• 10and they saw the God of Israel; and there was under his feet as it were work of transparent sapphire, and as it were the form of heaven for clearness. (Ex. 24:10)
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Ezek. 1:26• 26And above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. (Ezek. 1:26)
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Ezek. 28:13• 13thou wast in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone was thy covering: the sardius, the topaz, and the diamond, the chrysolite, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the carbuncle, and the emerald, and gold. The workmanship of thy tambours and of thy pipes was in thee: in the day that thou wast created were they prepared. (Ezek. 28:13)
a rainbow.
Rev. 10:1• 1And I saw another strong angel coming down out of the heaven, clothed with a cloud, and the rainbow upon his head, and his countenance as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire, (Rev. 10:1)
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Gen. 9:13‑16• 13I set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be for a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
 14And it shall come to pass when I bring clouds over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud,
 15and I will remember my covenant which is between me and you and every living soul of all flesh; and the waters shall not henceforth become a flood to destroy all flesh.
 16And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living soul of all flesh that is upon the earth. (Gen. 9:13‑16)
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Isa. 54:9‑10• 9For this is as the waters of Noah unto me, since I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth: so have I sworn that I will no more be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
 10For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my loving-kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall my covenant of peace be removed, saith Jehovah, that hath mercy on thee. (Isa. 54:9‑10)
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Ezek. 1:28• 28As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah. And when I saw, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke. (Ezek. 1:28)
like unto.
Rev. 21:19• 19the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious stone: the first foundation, jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; (Rev. 21:19)
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Ex. 28:18• 18and the second row, a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a diamond; (Ex. 28:18)
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Ex. 39:11• 11and the second row, a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a diamond; (Ex. 39:11)
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Ezek. 28:13• 13thou wast in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone was thy covering: the sardius, the topaz, and the diamond, the chrysolite, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the carbuncle, and the emerald, and gold. The workmanship of thy tambours and of thy pipes was in thee: in the day that thou wast created were they prepared. (Ezek. 28:13)
• Providential judgments were about to fall upon the earth, and the rainbow was to show, before a judgment was experienced, that even then God would remember mercy. (“Revelation 4: The Things Which Shall Be” by C. Stanley)
• That glory of Him who sat on the throne, as far as it could be viewed by the creature, was presented under the figure of jasper and sardius (verse 3); and when the church comes forth in the glory of God, her light will be jasper-like. That is, the thought of God's glory, not man's, is the thing conveyed to the mind. (“Lectures on Revelation 4” by W. Kelly)
• Here the rainbow is God's remembrance of His covenant with the earth. (“Lectures on Revelation 4” by W. Kelly)
• The rainbow is the sign of mercy. It spans the heavens, and takes in earth and sea, the whole compass of that blessed security of which God had hung out the token on high. And now we have the rainbow not merely over the world, but round about the throne in heaven. This is not its usual place; but it was comforting for John to see, in the midst of all that bright glory, how God wished to fill the heart with confidence. He had not merely the vision of what was coming on earth, but in the circle of the divine manifestation and power the rainbow is seen above. (“Lectures on Revelation 4” by W. Kelly)
• reminding us that God’s covenant with the earth will still be kept—blessed token, as we look down on the judgments coming on the world below. (“Lectures on Revelation 4” by W. Kelly)
• We could scarcely have colours more opposed than those which represented the divine majesty, and the emerald so refreshing for the eye to look upon. The Holy Ghost gives us a vivid impression by these simple symbols. For this book was not written for great scholars; it was intended for suffering saints. (“Lectures on Revelation 4” by W. Kelly)
• The precious stones are symbols setting forth the radiance of divine glory in government. It is seen in heaven though not yet manifest on earth. (“Lectures on Revelation 4” by W. Kelly)
• John is about to show us what the aspect seemed of the One who sits upon the throne, while there is that in God which "no man hath seen or can see. This is a representation, in a symbolical way, of the glory of God. He may assume any appearance that pleases Him; but as far as He permitted it to be displayed here, it was what could be compared to these precious stones. (“Revelation 4: The Throne” by H. Smith)
• The rainbow comes after the storm, even as God's promise of blessing follows when the judgment of the flood is past. The rainbow encircling the throne is the sure sign that beyond the judgment of the nations will be blessing for the earth. (“Revelation 4: The Throne” by H. Smith)
• Jasper and Sardine: Divine glory visible to man (Rev. 21:11). (“Revelation 4 Symbols” by A.H. Burton)
• Rainbow: Sign of God’s unchanging covenant with the earth in mercy. Post-diluvian relationship (Gen. 9:13-14; Ezek. 1:28). (“Revelation 4 Symbols” by A.H. Burton)

J. N. Darby Translation

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3
and he that was sitting like in appearance to a stone of jasper and a sardius, and a rainbow rounde the throne like in appearance to an emerald.

JND Translation Notes

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e
I use "round" for what is connected with anything (not necessarily united to it) as a centre, as the tire of a wheel, but "around" is used for detached objects encircling.

W. Kelly Translation

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3
and he that sat in appearance like a jasper stone and a sardius: and a rainbow rounda about the throne in appearance like an emerald.

WK Translation Notes

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a
There is no effort made in the RV to distinguish kyklothen (4:3,4; 4:8) from kyklō (4:6; 5:11; 7:11) Yet distinction it is hard for anyone to believe not intended, if one compare in the true text and 7:11. Another has suggested "round" for the first, and "around" for the second, which admits more of detached objects surrounding, while the first may apply to connected objects though not exclusively.