Font Size
Revelation 1:10-18
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Revelation 1:10-18
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
10 I was caught up in spirit on the Lord’s day[a] and heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet, 11 which said, “Write on a scroll[b] what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” 12 [c]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,[d] 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,[e] and his eyes were like a fiery flame. 15 His feet were like polished brass refined in a furnace,[f] and his voice was like the sound of rushing water. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars.[g] A sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth, and his face shone like the sun at its brightest.(B)
17 When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead.[h] He touched me with his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last,(C) 18 the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld.[i]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1:10 The Lord’s day: Sunday. As loud as a trumpet: the imagery is derived from the theophany at Sinai (Ex 19:16, 19; cf. Hb 12:19 and the trumpet in other eschatological settings in Is 27:13; Jl 2:1; Mt 24:31; 1 Cor 15:52; 1 Thes 4:16).
- 1:11 Scroll: a papyrus roll.
- 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.
- 1:17 It was an Old Testament belief that for sinful human beings to see God was to die; cf. Ex 19:21; 33:20; Jgs 6:22–23; Is 6:5.
- 1:18 Netherworld: Greek Hades, Hebrew Sheol, the abode of the dead; cf. Rev 20:13–14; Nm 16:33.
Revelation 1:10-18
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Revelation 1:10-18
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
10 I was in the spirit[a] on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamum, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
12 Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like the Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash across his chest. 14 His head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and from his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining with full force.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Revelation 1:10 Or in the Spirit
Revelation 1:10-18
Good News Translation
Revelation 1:10-18
Good News Translation
10 On the Lord's day the Spirit took control of me, and I heard a loud voice, that sounded like a trumpet, speaking behind me. 11 It said, “Write down what you see, and send the book to the churches in these seven cities: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
12 I turned around to see who was talking to me, and I saw seven gold lampstands, 13 (A)and among them there was what looked like a human being, wearing a robe that reached to his feet, and a gold band around his chest. 14 (B)His hair was white as wool, or as snow, and his eyes blazed like fire; 15 (C)his feet shone like brass that has been refined and polished, and his voice sounded like a roaring waterfall. 16 He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth. His face was as bright as the midday sun. 17 (D)When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. He placed his right hand on me and said, “Don't be afraid! I am the first and the last. 18 I am the living one! I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I have authority over death and the world of the dead.
Read full chapter
Revelation 1:10-18
New American Standard Bible
Revelation 1:10-18
New American Standard Bible
10 I was (A)in the [a]Spirit on (B)the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice (C)like the sound of a trumpet, 11 saying, “(D)Write [b]on a scroll what you see, and send it to the (E)seven churches: to (F)Ephesus, (G)Smyrna, (H)Pergamum, (I)Thyatira, (J)Sardis, (K)Philadelphia, and (L)Laodicea.”
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw (M)seven golden lampstands; 13 and (N)in the middle of the lampstands I saw one (O)like [c]a son of man, (P)clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and (Q)wrapped around the chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His (R)hair were white like white wool, like snow; and (S)His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His (T)feet were like [d]burnished bronze when it has been heated to a glow in a furnace, and His (U)voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand He held (V)seven stars, and out of His mouth came a (W)sharp two-edged sword; and His (X)face was like (Y)the sun [e]shining in its strength.
17 When I saw Him, I (Z)fell at His feet like a dead man. And He (AA)placed His right hand on me, saying, “(AB)Do not be afraid; (AC)I am the first and the last, 18 and the (AD)living One; and I [f](AE)was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have (AF)the keys of death and of Hades.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Revelation 1:10 Or spirit
- Revelation 1:11 Or in a book
- Revelation 1:13 Or the Son of Man
- Revelation 1:15 Or fine brass
- Revelation 1:16 Lit shines
- Revelation 1:18 Lit became
Revelation 1:10-18
New International Version
Revelation 1:10-18
New International Version
10 On the Lord’s Day(A) I was in the Spirit,(B) and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,(C) 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see(D) and send it to the seven churches:(E) to Ephesus,(F) Smyrna,(G) Pergamum,(H) Thyatira,(I) Sardis,(J) Philadelphia(K) and Laodicea.”(L)
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,(M) 13 and among the lampstands(N) was someone like a son of man,[a](O) dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet(P) and with a golden sash around his chest.(Q) 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.(R) 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace,(S) and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.(T) 16 In his right hand he held seven stars,(U) and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.(V) His face was like the sun(W) shining in all its brilliance.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet(X) as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me(Y) and said: “Do not be afraid.(Z) I am the First and the Last.(AA) 18 I am the Living One; I was dead,(AB) and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!(AC) And I hold the keys of death and Hades.(AD)
Footnotes
- Revelation 1:13 See Daniel 7:13.
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Good News Translation (GNT) 
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.