Revelation 14 14

Revelation 14:14 kjv

And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

Revelation 14:14 nkjv

Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.

Revelation 14:14 niv

I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.

Revelation 14:14 esv

Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand.

Revelation 14:14 nlt

Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was someone like the Son of Man. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.

Revelation 14 verses

Revelation 14 14 Meaning

Revelation 14:14 depicts a profound visionary scene, introducing the figure of Christ initiating a significant "harvest" on Earth. John observes a white cloud upon which one resembling the Son of Man sits, crowned with gold, holding a sharp sickle. This image portrays Jesus Christ, in His divine authority and kingship, ready to gather the righteous and execute judgment upon the Earth, marking the transition from gospel proclamation to divine retribution.

Revelation 14 14 Context

Revelation chapter 14 immediately follows the description of the beast's mark and persecution of the saints (Chapter 13). It contrasts the mark of the beast with the mark of God's 144,000 redeemed on Mount Zion. This chapter serves as a pivotal interlude of encouragement and warning before the severe judgments begin. It features three angels proclaiming the eternal gospel, the fall of Babylon, and a final warning against worshipping the beast. Following these proclamations, which signal the end of human history as we know it, the focus shifts to two symbolic harvests: one of grain (likely referring to the gathering of the righteous) and one of grapes (clearly referring to the outpouring of divine wrath). Verse 14 introduces the first of these harvests, with Christ Himself appearing in the role of the Harvester. Historically, for the original audience under Roman persecution, this vision offered profound comfort that Christ was sovereign and would ultimately intervene, executing justice on His enemies and gathering His people. It served as a polemic against the temporal power of Rome and its imperial cult, asserting Christ's true authority as King and Judge.

Revelation 14 14 Word analysis

• And I looked (καὶ εἶδον - kai eidon): "And I saw." This phrase repeatedly signals John's visionary experience, drawing attention to a new significant sight. It emphasizes direct divine revelation.
• and behold (ἰδοὺ - idou): An exclamation that intensifies the moment, calling for special attention to what is about to be revealed as profoundly important.
• a white cloud (νεφέλη λευκὴ - nephelē leukē):
  • νεφέλη (nephelē - cloud): In the Old Testament, clouds often signify God's presence, glory, and revelation (e.g., the pillar of cloud in Exodus, the cloud on Mount Sinai, the Shekinah glory).
  • λευκὴ (leukē - white): Symbolizes purity, holiness, victory, and divine nature. Christ is depicted in His glorious, pure, and triumphant form. This reinforces His divine origin and majestic return.
  • Together, the "white cloud" indicates a divine, glorious, and authoritative appearance, particularly associated with Christ's return (Acts 1:9, Rev 1:7).
• and upon the cloud one sat (καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν νεφέλην καθήμενος - kai epi tēn nephelēn kathēmenos):
  • ἐπὶ (epi - upon): Signifies authority and sovereign position.
  • καθήμενος (kathēmenos - sitting): To sit signifies a position of authority, kingship, and judgment (e.g., Christ sitting at the right hand of God, Matt 26:64; His enthronement, Heb 1:3).
• like unto the Son of man (ὅμοιον υἱὸν ἀνθρώπου - homoion huion anthrōpou):
  • ὅμοιον (homoion - like, resembling): This term often indicates resemblance to a known divine figure without directly stating their name, enhancing mystery and solemnity.
  • υἱὸν ἀνθρώπου (huion anthrōpou - Son of Man): This is a direct echo of Daniel 7:13 and a self-designation used by Jesus in the Gospels (over 80 times). It refers to His unique identity, simultaneously emphasizing His humanity and His divine authority as a heavenly, kingly, and judging figure. It strongly points to Jesus Christ as the one fulfilling these prophecies. It counters contemporary cults of emperor worship, asserting the true cosmic ruler.
• having on his head a golden crown (ἔχων ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ στέφανον χρυσοῦν - echōn epi tēs kephalēs autou stephanon chrysoun):
  • στέφανον (stephanon - crown): This specific word usually denotes a victor's wreath or crown, symbolizing achievement, victory, and reward. It contrasts with diadema (a royal diadem/regal crown, often associated with a king or ruler, like in Rev 19:12), though here its context strongly implies royalty.
  • χρυσοῦν (chrysoun - golden): Gold signifies divine majesty, royalty, preciousness, and imperishable worth. It underlines His inherent glory and ultimate kingship over all earthly powers.
  • The golden victor's crown here signifies Christ's triumph over sin, death, and all His enemies, asserting His reign and readiness for judgment.
• and in his hand a sharp sickle (καὶ ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ δρέπανον ὀξύ - kai en tē cheiri autou drepanon oxy):
  • δρέπανον (drepanon - sickle): An agricultural tool used for reaping grain. In biblical prophecy, a sickle is a well-known symbol for harvest. This harvest can be interpreted in two ways: either gathering of the righteous (like wheat) or reaping judgment upon the wicked (like tares or ripe grapes).
  • ὀξύ (oxy - sharp): Emphasizes that the sickle is ready and effective for immediate action. It speaks of the decisive and efficient nature of the coming divine intervention.

• Words-Group Analysis:
  • "A white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man": This phrase directly invokes imagery from Daniel 7:13-14, establishing the figure's identity as the Messiah, who will come with clouds and possess everlasting dominion and glory. It also aligns with Jesus' own predictions of His glorious return (Matt 24:30, 26:64). The "white cloud" adds elements of divine purity and glory, often associated with God's visible presence.
  • "Having on his head a golden crown": This accentuates the Son of Man's regal authority and victorious kingship. While 'stephanos' typically denotes a victor's crown, in this context it clearly functions as a royal crown given the 'golden' attribute and the subsequent actions of judgment. It contrasts sharply with the beast's blasphemous crowns, underscoring Christ's legitimate and ultimate authority.
  • "And in his hand a sharp sickle": This signifies the readiness for the appointed time of harvest. In biblical literature (Joel 3:13, Matt 13:30, 39), "harvest" is consistently used as an eschatological metaphor for either the gathering of the righteous (a good harvest) or the execution of judgment upon the wicked (a harvest of wrath). The "sharpness" indicates the decisiveness and finality of this action.

Revelation 14 14 Bonus section

The vision in Rev 14:14 marks the commencement of the final 'harvest' period of the world, differentiating it from the prior angelic proclamations which were warnings and invitations. While Christ, the Son of Man, personally handles the initial "grain" harvest in this verse, symbolizing His personal superintendence over the gathering of His people (implied by His immediate action following the "ready" signal in v.15), the subsequent "grape" harvest of wrath (Rev 14:18-20) is initiated by an angel, possibly symbolizing that though the ultimate command comes from Christ, the actual execution of final judgments might involve angelic agents under His direction. This emphasizes Christ's preeminence in saving and separating His elect, even as He presides over universal judgment. The contrast between stephanos (victor's crown) here and diadema (royal crown/diadem) on Christ's head in Rev 19:12 is notable. While stephanos signifies the victory won and rightful claim to reign, diadema emphasizes His actual, reigning kingship as "King of Kings." Here, in Revelation 14, He is poised for judgment, His victory already established.

Revelation 14 14 Commentary

Revelation 14:14 unveils Christ in His role as the sovereign Harvester. Appearing majestically on a white cloud, a symbol of divine presence and glory, He is clearly identified as the "Son of Man," affirming His unique identity as both human and divine, prophesied in Daniel and confirmed by Jesus Himself. The golden victor's crown on His head proclaims His achieved kingship and triumph over all adversaries. His holding a sharp sickle signifies that the time for decisive action – the ultimate harvest – has arrived. This is not just a metaphor for a general process but an imminent, divinely orchestrated event of separation. The harvest imagery sets the stage for both the ingathering of God's faithful, ripe for glory, and the cutting down of the wicked, ripe for judgment, marking a critical transition in Revelation from proclamation to execution of divine purposes.