Revelation 4:3
New International Version
And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.

New 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.

English 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.

Berean Standard Bible
The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne.

Berean Literal Bible
and the One sitting, in appearance was like jasper and carnelian stone. And a rainbow was around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

New American Standard Bible
And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.

NASB 1995
And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.

NASB 1977
And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.

Legacy Standard Bible
And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.

Amplified Bible
And He who sat there appeared like [the crystalline sparkle of] a jasper stone and [the fiery redness of] a sardius stone, and encircling the throne there was a rainbow that looked like [the color of an] emerald.

Christian 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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and the One seated looked like jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne.

American Standard Version
and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardius: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, like an emerald to look upon.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he who sat was as the likeness of the appearance of Jasper red quartz stone and of red and white Sardius, and a rainbow of the clouds which encircled the throne was like the appearance of an emerald;

Contemporary English Version
The one who was sitting there sparkled like precious stones of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he that sat, was to the sight like the jasper and the sardine stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

English Revised Version
and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardius: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, like an emerald to look upon.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The one sitting there looked like gray quartz and red quartz. There was a rainbow around the throne which looked like an emerald.

Good News Translation
His face gleamed like such precious stones as jasper and carnelian, and all around the throne there was a rainbow the color of an emerald.

International Standard Version
The person sitting there looked like jasper and carnelian, and there was a rainbow around the throne that looked like an emerald.

Literal Standard Version
and He who is sitting was in appearance like a stone, jasper and sardine: and a rainbow was around the throne in appearance like an emerald.

Majority Standard Bible
The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne.

New American Bible
one whose appearance sparkled like jasper and carnelian. Around the throne was a halo as brilliant as an emerald.

NET Bible
And the one seated on it was like jasper and carnelian in appearance, and a rainbow looking like it was made of emerald encircled the throne.

New Revised Standard Version
And the one seated there looks like jasper and carnelian, and around the throne is a rainbow that looks like an emerald.

New Heart English Bible
And the one who sat there looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he that sat was in appearance like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow around the throne in sight like an emerald.

Weymouth New Testament
The appearance of Him who sat there was like jasper or sard; and encircling the throne was a rainbow, in appearance like an emerald.

World English Bible
that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at.

Young's Literal Translation
and He who is sitting was in sight like a stone, jasper and sardine: and a rainbow was round the throne in sight like an emerald.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Throne in Heaven
2At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it. 3 The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne. 4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.…

Cross References
Exodus 24:10
and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.

Isaiah 6:1
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple.

Ezekiel 1:28
The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.

Ezekiel 10:1
And I looked and saw above the expanse, above the heads of the cherubim, the likeness of a throne of sapphire.

Revelation 10:1
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire.

Revelation 21:11
shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper, as clear as crystal.

Revelation 21:19
The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,


Treasury of Scripture

And he that sat was to look on like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like to an emerald.

like a.

Revelation 21:11,19,20
Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; …

Exodus 24:10
And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

Ezekiel 1:26
And above the firmament 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 the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.

a rainbow.

Revelation 10:1
And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

Genesis 9:13-16
I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth…

Isaiah 54:9,10
For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee…

like unto.

Revelation 21:19
And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

Exodus 28:18
And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.

Exodus 39:11
And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.

Jump to Previous
Appearance Appeared Arch Carnelian Emerald Encircled Encircling Eyes High Jasper Light Rainbow Resembling Round Sardius Sat Seat Sight Sitting Stone Throne
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Appearance Appeared Arch Carnelian Emerald Encircled Encircling Eyes High Jasper Light Rainbow Resembling Round Sardius Sat Seat Sight Sitting Stone Throne
Revelation 4
1. John sees the throne of God in heaven.
4. The twenty-four elders.
6. The four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
10. The elders lay down their crowns, and worship him who sat on the throne.














(3) And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone.--In determining the significance of these emblems we must be guided partly by the analogy of Bible imagery elsewhere, and partly by our knowledge of precious stones. The sardian, or sardine, is admitted to be a stone of fiery red colour; the emerald, to which the bow round the throne is compared, is almost certainly a bright green; the hue of the jasper is the difficulty. The jasper--the last stone in the high-priest's breastplate, and first of the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem (Exodus 28:20, and Revelation 21:19)--is described by the best authorities as a dark, opaque green. Such a colour is quite in harmony with the colours of the other stones in the breastplate, and particularly with the foundation stones, which seem to be arranged in shades of colour (see Notes on Revelation 21:19 et seq.); but the dark opaque green would be an ill combination with the red sardius and the green emerald in the vision of the present chapter. Is there no further light? We have a jasper stone spoken of in Revelation 21:11; Revelation 21:18, with the descriptive phrase, "clear as crystal!" Does not this point to a stone somewhat different in appearance from that spoken of simply as jasper? Such a clear crystal stone would be the most natural companion to the sardine, and the combination of the sparkling brightness and fiery red suits the union of brightness and flame which appears elsewhere in the Bible (comp, Revelation 1:14; Revelation 11:1; Ezekiel 1:4; Ezekiel 8:2; Daniel 7:9), and is best understood of the holiness and righteousness of God. The latter half of this verse shows us these surrounded by the emerald-coloured bow, the evident symbol of the divine mercy. The allusion to the bow in the cloud (Genesis 9:12-16) is obvious; the bow completely encircled the throne, as mercy encompassing judgment. It was a covenant token, bearing witness to God's faithfulness in dark times, God's care for the ark of His Church, and His mercy shining forth after storm. . . . Verse 3. - And he that sat was to look upon like, etc.; or, he that sat like in appearance (δράσει). The word ὅρασις is found in this verse and in two other places only in the New Testament, viz. in Acts 2:17 (where it is part of a quotation from Joel) and in Revelation 9:17. In the latter place the expression is ἐν τῇ ὁράσει, and the presence of the preposition, together with the article, seems to justify the rendering "in the vision." In the Septuagint ὅρασις is frequently used to signify either "vision" or "appearance" (see 1 Samuel 3:1; Isaiah 1:1; Lamentations 2:9; Ezekiel 7:13; Daniel 1:17 and Daniel 8:1; Obadiah 1:1; Nahum 1:1; Habakkuk 2:2; and many others, where it is "vision." Also Judges 13:6; Ezekiel 1:5, 13, 26-28; Daniel 8:15; Nahum 2:4; 1 Samuel 16:12; and many others, where it is "appearance"). In the classics, ὅραμα signifies a "vision;" ὅρασις, "sight," the power of seeing. A jasper and a sardine stone. The jasper was the last, and the sardius the first stone of the high priest's breastplate (Exodus 28:17). The jasper was the first, and the sardius the sixth of the foundations of the heavenly Jerusalem (Revelation 21:19, 20). Much doubt is attached to the whole subject of the precious stones of the Bible. The modern jasper is opaque, while it is evident that the jasper of the Revelation is remarkable for its translucent character (see Revelation 21:11, "jasper stone. clear as crystal;" 21:18, "The building of the wall of it was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass"). It is evident that the stone was characterized by purity and brilliancy - features which seem to point it out as the modern diamond. The varying colour, which, according to some authorities, the jasper possessed, is not inconsistent with this view. It is curious, too, that in Exodus 28:18, the Hebrew יַהְלַם, which in the Authorized Version is rendered "diamond," is represented in the LXX. by ἴασπις; while in ver. 20, יָשְׂפֶה the English "jasper," is ὀνύχιον. The sardius was the carnelian, always red, though somewhat varying in shade. The name has been variously derived from

(1) the Persian sered, yellowish red;

(2) Sardis, as the first place of its discovery;

(3) while carnelian is connected with carneus, as being of the colour of raw flesh. But . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
The [One]
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

seated there
καθήμενος (kathēmenos)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2521: To sit, be seated, enthroned; I dwell, reside. From kata; and hemai; to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside.

looked
ὁράσει (horasei)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3706: A sight, vision, appearance. From horao; the act of gazing, i.e. an aspect or an inspired appearance.

like
ὅμοιος (homoios)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3664: Like, similar to, resembling, of equal rank. From the base of homou; similar.

jasper
ἰάσπιδι (iaspidi)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2393: Jasper; a precious stone. Probably of foreign origin; 'jasper', a gem.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

ruby,
σαρδίῳ (sardiō)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4556: Carnelian, a precious stone. Properly, an adjective from an uncertain base; sardian, i.e. the gem so called.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

a rainbow
ἶρις (iris)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2463: A rainbow or halo. Perhaps from ereo; a rainbow.

that gleamed
ὁράσει (horasei)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3706: A sight, vision, appearance. From horao; the act of gazing, i.e. an aspect or an inspired appearance.

like
ὅμοιος (homoios)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3664: Like, similar to, resembling, of equal rank. From the base of homou; similar.

an emerald
σμαραγδίνῳ (smaragdinō)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4664: Made of emerald, emerald-green. From smaragdos; consisting of emerald.

encircled
κυκλόθεν (kyklothen)
Preposition
Strong's 2943: In a circle round, round about. Adverb from the same as kukloi; from the circle, i.e. All around.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

throne.
θρόνου (thronou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2362: From thrao; a stately seat; by implication, power or a potentate.


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NT Prophecy: Revelation 4:3 That looked like a jasper stone (Rev. Re Apocalypse)
Revelation 4:2
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