Revelation 1:10 kjv

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Revelation 1:10 nkjv

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,

Revelation 1:10 niv

On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,

Revelation 1:10 esv

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet

Revelation 1:10 nlt

It was the Lord's Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast.

Revelation 1 verses

Revelation 1 10 Meaning

Revelation 1:10 describes the setting of John's prophetic vision. While exiled on the island of Patmos for his faith, John experienced a profound spiritual transport, being "in the Spirit." This occurred on "the Lord's Day," indicating a specific sacred time. During this spiritual state, he heard a loud, commanding voice behind him, resembling the sound of a trumpet, which served to draw his immediate and absolute attention. This verse establishes the divine authority and origin of the revelation that follows.

Revelation 1 10 Context

Revelation 1:10 occurs early in the Book of Revelation, following John's opening greeting to the seven churches in Asia Minor and his initial declaration of the book's purpose. The verse sets the stage for the first major vision, the majestic appearance of the glorified Christ. John is specifically on the island of Patmos, having been exiled there "because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus" (Rev 1:9). This implies that John, already aged, was suffering for his faith under Roman persecution, likely during the reign of Emperor Domitian (c. AD 95). The precise dating of "the Lord's Day" becomes significant within this context, signifying a special day of worship and spiritual reception amidst tribulation. The subsequent verses immediately describe the content of the trumpet voice – a command to write down what John sees.

Revelation 1 10 Word Analysis

• I (ἐγώ - egō): Refers to John, the apostle and author of this book, exiled on Patmos. It emphasizes his personal, eyewitness account of these extraordinary events, underscoring the authenticity and direct reception of the revelation.

• was (ἐγενόμην - egenomēn): From the verb ginomai, meaning "to come to be," "to become," or "to happen." It suggests a definite, experiential occurrence or state of being. It's not just "I was there," but "I became" or "I came to be" in a particular state.

• in (ἐν - en): A Greek preposition meaning "in," "within," "by means of." Here, it signifies the sphere or condition John found himself in.

• the Spirit (πνεύματι - pneumati): Dative case of pneuma (Spirit), referring to the Holy Spirit. To be "in the Spirit" implies being under divine influence, empowered, or transported by the Holy Spirit. This is a common phrase in prophetic literature (e.g., Ezekiel) and signals that what follows is not merely John's own thoughts or dreams, but a divinely inspired vision. It signifies a state of prophetic ecstasy or heightened spiritual perception, where one's natural faculties yield to supernatural guidance.

• on (ἐν - en): Again, en, here signifying "on" or "at" a particular time.

• the Lord's (κυριακῇ - kyriakē): The adjective kyriakos, derived from Kyrios (Lord). This specific term is rarely found outside Christian writings in the New Testament to refer to a specific day. Its meaning is "belonging to the Lord."

• Day (ἡμέρᾳ - hēmera): Day. "The Lord's Day" (κυριακῇ ἡμέρᾳ) collectively refers to the first day of the week, Sunday. This choice of day by early Christians, distinguished from the Jewish Sabbath, commemorated Christ's resurrection (John 20:1, 19), Pentecost (Acts 2:1), and early church gatherings (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor 16:2) for worship and the breaking of bread. It points to a distinct Christian day of worship. The polemic aspect here is against a Jewish Sabbath-centric understanding of worship and subtly asserts the supremacy of Christ's resurrection over the old covenant.

• and (καί - kai): Connects the two concurrent aspects of John's experience: being in the Spirit and hearing a voice.

• I heard (ἤκουσα - ēkousa): Emphasizes an auditory experience. What follows is a specific, verbal command.

• behind (ὀπίσω - opisō): Spatial reference, indicating the voice came from a direction John was not facing, adding to the mystery and unexpectedness of the divine encounter.

• me (μου - mou): John's direct perception.

• a loud (μεγάλην - megalēn): Meaning "great," "large," "mighty." Implies power, authority, and unmistakability.

• voice (φωνήν - phōnēn): A sound, voice.

• as of (ὡς - hōs): A particle indicating comparison or likeness, "like" or "as if." The voice was not literally a trumpet but sounded like one, conveying its volume and clarity.

• a trumpet (σάλπιγγος - salpiggos): A large, long wind instrument, known for producing piercingly loud sounds. In the Bible, the trumpet often signals divine presence, a call to attention, an alarm for war, the proclamation of a message, or the sound of divine judgment/intervention (Exod 19:16; Isa 58:1; Joel 2:1; Matt 24:31; 1 Thess 4:16; Rev 4:1). The sound immediately grabs attention and conveys urgency, majesty, and a momentous occasion, signaling that a divine, authoritative message is about to be imparted. This echoes the voice from Mount Sinai (Heb 12:19), associating the Revelation with the majesty of God's direct address.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "I was in the Spirit": This phrase describes the divine empowerment and state of revelation, where John's human faculties were heightened or transcended by the Holy Spirit. It assures the reader that the subsequent visions are supernaturally inspired and carry God's authority. This spiritual transport is critical for prophetic reception and marks the entire book as divine revelation.
  • "on the Lord's Day": This establishes a crucial temporal marker for the vision. It suggests that Christ reveals Himself especially on the day dedicated to Him, marking it as a day of divine encounter and spiritual revelation. This choice emphasizes the significance of the Resurrection and the new covenant's celebration over the Sabbath.
  • "a loud voice as of a trumpet": This simile powerfully conveys the impact and character of the divine voice. The trumpet signifies divine communication of supreme importance, carrying an urgent, unmissable, and authoritative message. It harkens back to the voice of God from Sinai and portends momentous events, calling all to listen attentively to the forthcoming message from Christ.

Revelation 1 10 Bonus Section

• The phrase "in the Spirit" is a key technical term used by John throughout Revelation to indicate his receptiveness to visionary experiences (cf. Rev 4:2; 17:3; 21:10). This consistent usage reinforces the authenticity and the inspired nature of all the visions presented in the book.
• The Lord's Day being a reference to Sunday is widely affirmed by early Christian writings outside the Bible, which describe the consistent practice of the church meeting on the first day of the week for worship and the Lord's Supper. This reinforces the internal biblical hints of Sunday as the distinct Christian day.
• The "voice as of a trumpet" is not merely loud; it also suggests clarity and penetrating power. Divine messages often came with sounds that transcended human limitations, demanding undivided attention and signifying a direct address from God Himself (e.g., God's voice to Adam and Eve in Gen 3:8).

Revelation 1 10 Commentary

Revelation 1:10 provides the profound spiritual setting for the extraordinary visions that constitute the Book of Revelation. John, isolated on Patmos for bearing faithful testimony to Jesus, did not receive this revelation out of passive contemplation but by a distinct, divine act. Being "in the Spirit" denotes a state of prophetic inspiration or ecstatic transport, where the human consciousness is supernaturally prepared to receive and perceive divine realities. This state transcends ordinary human experience and underscores the book's direct heavenly origin.

The specification "on the Lord's Day" is highly significant. It points to the first day of the week, the Christian day of worship commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This intentional timing highlights that God's revelatory activity is particularly associated with corporate worship, fellowship, and remembrance of the finished work of Christ. It affirms the sanctity and importance of Sunday for the early Christian community, emphasizing Christ's Lordship over time and human gatherings. This was also a subtle but clear distinction from Jewish Sabbath observance, aligning the vision with the new covenant and its distinct markers.

The immediate audible element—"a loud voice as of a trumpet"—underscores the momentous nature of the communication. A trumpet's sound is inherently attention-grabbing, piercing, and universally recognized as a signal of great import: a call to assembly, a declaration of war, the sound of divine judgment or revelation, as famously heard at Mount Sinai (Exod 19). For John, hearing such a voice "behind me" creates an initial sense of awe and mystery, compelling him to turn and discover the source. This initial command and startling auditory experience perfectly prepares John, and by extension the readers, for the awe-inspiring and world-altering revelation about to unfold directly from the Glorified Christ Himself.