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Revelation 1:12-16
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Revelation 1:12-16
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
12 [a]Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man,[b] wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.(A) 14 The hair of his head was as white as white wool or as snow,[c] and his eyes were like a fiery flame. 15 His feet were like polished brass refined in a furnace,[d] and his voice was like the sound of rushing water. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars.[e] A sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth, and his face shone like the sun at its brightest.(B)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1:12–16 A symbolic description of Christ in glory. The metaphorical language is not to be understood literally; cf. Introduction.
- 1:13 Son of man: see note on Mk 8:31. Ankle-length robe: Christ is priest; cf. Ex 28:4; 29:5; Wis 18:24; Zec 3:4. Gold sash: Christ is king; cf. Ex 28:4; 1 Mc 10:89; 11:58; Dn 10:5.
- 1:14 Hair…as white as white wool or as snow: Christ is eternal, clothed with the dignity that belonged to the “Ancient of Days”; cf. Rev 1:18; Dn 7:9. His eyes were like a fiery flame: Christ is portrayed as all-knowing; cf. Rev 2:23; Ps 7:10; Jer 17:10; and similar expressions in Rev 2:18; 19:12; cf. Dn 10:6.
- 1:15 His feet…furnace: Christ is depicted as unchangeable; cf. Ez 1:27; Dn 10:6. The Greek word translated “refined” is unconnected grammatically with any other word in the sentence. His voice…water: Christ speaks with divine authority; cf. Ez 1:24.
- 1:16 Seven stars: in the pagan world, Mithras and the Caesars were represented with seven stars in their right hand, symbolizing their universal dominion. A sharp two-edged sword: this refers to the word of God (cf. Eph 6:17; Hb 4:12) that will destroy unrepentant sinners; cf. Rev 2:16; 19:15; Wis 18:15; Is 11:4; 49:2. His face…brightest: this symbolizes the divine majesty of Christ; cf. Rev 10:1; 21:23; Jgs 5:31; Is 60:19; Mt 17:2.
Revelation 1:12-16
New International Version
Revelation 1:12-16
New International Version
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,(A) 13 and among the lampstands(B) was someone like a son of man,[a](C) dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet(D) and with a golden sash around his chest.(E) 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.(F) 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace,(G) and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.(H) 16 In his right hand he held seven stars,(I) and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.(J) His face was like the sun(K) shining in all its brilliance.
Footnotes
- Revelation 1:13 See Daniel 7:13.
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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