^4:3And the one seated on it was like jasper⁹ and carnelian¹⁰ in appearance, and a rainbow looking like it was made of emerald¹¹ encircled the throne. ^4:4In¹² a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on those thrones were twenty-four elders. They were¹³ dressed in white clothing and had golden crowns¹⁴ on their heads. ^4:5From¹⁵ the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring¹⁶ and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God,¹⁷ were burning in front of the throne ^4:6and in front of the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal.¹⁸

In¹⁹ the middle of the throne²⁰ and around the throne were four living creatures²¹ full of eyes in front and in back.

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Footnotes

9 Grk “jasper stone.” Jasper was a semiprecious gemstone, probably green in color (L&N 2.30).
10 Carnelian was a semiprecious gemstone, usually red in color (L&N 2.36).
11 Or “a rainbow emerald-like in appearance.”
12 Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
13 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.
14 See the note on the word crown in .
15 Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
16 Or “sounds,” “voices.” It is not entirely clear what this refers to. 1071 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?…).”
17 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.
18 This could refer to rock crystal, but it is possible this refers to ice (an older meaning). See 571 κρύσταλλος.
19 Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
20 Perhaps, “in the middle of the throne area” (see L&N 83.10).
21 On the meaning of ζῴον (zōon) 431 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.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.

And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:

NIVNew International Version (2011)

And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The one seated there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald surrounded the throne.

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white clothes, with golden crowns on their heads.

Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne.

Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were around the throne on each side.

NLTNew Living Translation

The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.

In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And the one seated was similar in appearance to jasper and carnelian stone, and a rainbow was around the throne similar in appearance to emerald. And around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders dressed in white clothing, and on their heads were gold crowns. And from the throne came out lightnings and sounds and thunders, and seven torches of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal, and in the midst of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

KJV 1900King James Version

And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

Public Domain