Revelation 1:14 kjv

His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Revelation 1:14 nkjv

His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;

Revelation 1:14 niv

The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.

Revelation 1:14 esv

The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,

Revelation 1:14 nlt

His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire.

Revelation 1 verses

Revelation 1 14 Meaning

Revelation 1:14 presents a vivid and symbolic description of the glorified Son of Man, Jesus Christ. His appearance with a head and hair white as wool and snow signifies His eternal pre-existence, venerable wisdom, absolute purity, and majestic ancientness, linking Him directly to the "Ancient of Days" in Daniel's vision. His eyes, described as a flame of fire, denote His penetrating omniscience, unyielding holiness, refining power, and righteous, discerning judgment, by which He perceives all things, tests truth, and consumes evil.

Revelation 1 14 Context

Revelation chapter 1 introduces the book as "The revelation of Jesus Christ" and sets the stage for the prophetic vision. After an opening salutation, John describes being "in the Spirit" on the Lord's Day and hearing a loud voice. Turning to see the source, he beholds a majestic figure "like a son of man" (Rev 1:13). The verse in question, Rev 1:14, is part of a detailed, composite description (Rev 1:13-16) of this exalted, glorified Christ. This vision serves to reveal Jesus not as the earthly, humble Nazarene, but as the cosmic, sovereign, and all-powerful Lord, now exalted in heaven. This majestic appearance validates His authority to send messages to the seven churches and to unfold future events, assuring the persecuted believers of His supreme power and constant presence. The imagery drawn from Old Testament depictions of God's glory (e.g., Dan 7:9; Eze 1) establishes Jesus' divine nature and authority, serving as a powerful counter-narrative to the prevailing Roman imperial cult, which demanded worship for emperors and pagan deities.

Revelation 1 14 Word analysis

• His head and his hair: (Greek: Κεφαλὴ αὐτοῦ καὶ τρίχες, Kephalē autou kai triches). This phrase refers to the entirety of the figure, focusing on the topmost part, symbolizing wisdom, authority, and identity. The emphasis on the hair rather than merely the head draws a direct parallel to the Ancient of Days.
• were white: (Greek: λευκαὶ, leukai). Denotes not merely the absence of color but a radiant, shining, brilliant white, indicating absolute purity, spiritual splendor, and inherent holiness.
• as white wool: (Greek: ὡς ἔριον λευκόν, hōs erion leukon). Erion is wool. This simile evokes an image of softness, pureness, and most significantly, ties directly to the description of the Ancient of Days in Daniel 7:9, emphasizing the eternal, pre-existent, and venerable nature of Christ. It symbolizes ancientness and wisdom associated with age.
• like snow: (Greek: ὡς χιὼν, hōs chiōn). This second simile for whiteness intensifies the previous image, conveying ultimate purity, brightness, and a pristine quality, echoing divine standards of cleansing and moral perfection.
• and his eyes: (Greek: οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ, hoi ophthalmoi autou). The eyes are traditionally considered windows to the soul, symbolizing perception, knowledge, and inner disposition. Here, they are specifically linked to divine oversight and judgment.
• were like a flame of fire: (Greek: ὡς φλὸξ πυρός, hōs phlox pyros). Phlox (flame) and pyros (fire). This powerful metaphor conveys several aspects:
  • Penetrating Vision: Like fire that illuminates darkness, Christ's eyes see into the deepest parts of the human heart, discerning motives and intentions with omniscient understanding (Heb 4:13).
  • Intense Holiness: Fire is a recurring biblical symbol of God's absolute holiness, which consumes impurity (Deu 4:24; Exo 3:2).
  • Purification and Refining: As fire refines precious metals (Mal 3:2), Christ's gaze evaluates and purifies.
  • Righteous Judgment: This "flame of fire" represents His unyielding justice and the impending judgment against all that is evil and rebellious.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "His head and his hair were white as white wool, like snow": This cluster of images powerfully conveys the eternal existence, ultimate wisdom, and absolute purity of Christ. By mirroring Daniel's vision of the Ancient of Days, it strongly asserts Jesus' divine co-equality and identification with God. It emphasizes His ancient origin and profound knowledge, attributes necessary for Him to hold authority over all things and to be the ultimate revealer of truth.
  • "and his eyes were like a flame of fire": This second powerful image describes Christ's all-seeing discernment and divine judgment. His gaze is not merely observant but intensely discerning, holy, and consuming. This indicates that nothing is hidden from Him; He knows every thought, action, and intent. It also warns of the purifying, or potentially destructive, nature of His divine presence, ensuring justice will be administered perfectly.

Revelation 1 14 Bonus section

The vision presented in Revelation 1, especially the detail in verse 14, is a deliberate blend of divine attributes, applying imagery typically used for Yahweh in the Old Testament to Jesus Christ. This fusion firmly establishes Christ's deity and absolute authority. The "fire" element for the eyes is further echoed in Rev 2:18 (to Thyatira) and Rev 19:12 (the Rider on the white horse), demonstrating its persistent significance as a characteristic of the glorified Christ. The symbolic nature of Revelation ensures that these descriptions are not literal but convey profound spiritual realities about who Jesus is and His posture towards humanity.

Revelation 1 14 Commentary

Revelation 1:14 depicts Jesus Christ in a manner that elicits awe, reverence, and holy fear. His "head and his hair... white as white wool, like snow" immediately brings to mind the description of God the Father as the "Ancient of Days" in Daniel 7:9. This powerful visual connection underscores Jesus' pre-existence, co-equality with the Father, eternal nature, and perfect wisdom derived from timeless existence. It is a striking contrast to His earthly humility, revealing Him now in His glorified, divine state, conveying the profound antiquity of His being and the pristine purity of His character, a holiness that knows no stain or imperfection.

Concurrently, "his eyes were like a flame of fire" portrays His omniscient, all-perceiving nature and His capacity for righteous, searching judgment. Fire imagery in Scripture often signifies divine holiness, purification, and wrath. Christ's fiery gaze means He sees beyond mere appearances, penetrating the deepest thoughts and intentions of hearts, exposing truth and falsehood. This divine perception carries an inescapable judgment for those who are unholy but serves as a source of comfort and purification for believers. It assures the persecuted churches that their suffering is known and seen by their all-knowing Lord, who will justly deal with all adversaries. This composite image asserts Jesus' supreme authority, wisdom, and righteous dominion over all creation and all of human history.