Revelation 22:4 kjv
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Revelation 22:4 nkjv
They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
Revelation 22:4 niv
They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Revelation 22:4 esv
They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Revelation 22:4 nlt
And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.
Revelation 22 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 32:30 | So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered." | Seeing God's face was rare and dangerous in the OT. |
| Exo 24:10 | They saw the God of Israel. | Select leaders saw God's manifestation, not His full face. |
| Exo 33:20 | But He said, "You cannot see My face, for no man shall see Me and live." | God explicitly stated His face could not be seen directly by man. |
| Num 12:8 | With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. | Moses had unique direct communion, though still veiled. |
| Judg 13:22 | Then Manoah said to his wife, "We will surely die, for we have seen God." | Fear and expectation of death upon seeing God. |
| Psa 17:15 | As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with Your likeness. | Prophetic longing for future communion with God. |
| Psa 42:2 | My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God? | Expresses a deep longing to be in God's presence. |
| Matt 5:8 | "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." | Christ's teaching linking purity to seeing God. |
| 1 Cor 13:12 | For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. | Future full knowledge and direct vision of God. |
| Heb 12:14 | Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. | Holiness as a prerequisite for seeing the Lord. |
| 1 Jn 3:2 | Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet appeared what we will be. But we know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. | Seeing God perfectly results in perfect likeness. |
| Exo 28:36 | You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, "Holy to the Lord." | The high priest bore a sign of dedication to God. |
| Ezek 9:4 | And the Lord said to him, "Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations..." | A mark for those preserved and belonging to God. |
| Rev 3:12 | Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God... and I will write on him My new name. | God bestows His name on His faithful ones. |
| Rev 7:3 | Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. | A seal of protection for God's servants. |
| Rev 14:1 | Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and His Father's name written on their foreheads. | The parallel passage showing God's people identified. |
| Rev 13:16-17 | Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor... to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. | Contrast: the mark of the beast signifies satanic allegiance. |
| Rev 15:2 | And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire, and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God. | Those who resist the mark of the beast belong to God. |
| Isa 62:2 | The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; and you will be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will designate. | God's people receive a new name, signifying a new status. |
| 2 Tim 2:19 | Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to depart from unrighteousness." | God's intimate knowledge and ownership of His own. |
| Zech 14:20 | On that day "Holy to the Lord" will be inscribed on the bells of the horses... | Future pervasive holiness and dedication to God. |
| Jer 31:33 | I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. | Internalized covenant relationship and ownership. |
| Rev 21:3 | Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be among them. | The ultimate indwelling and intimate relationship. |
Revelation 22 verses
Revelation 22 4 Meaning
Revelation 22:4 describes the blessed state of the redeemed in the new heavens and new earth. It conveys ultimate intimacy, knowledge, and secure belonging with God. "They will see His face" signifies unhindered, direct, and unveiled communion with God, a privilege previously impossible for sinful humanity. "His name will be on their foreheads" denotes full identification, ownership, and protection by God, marking them as His consecrated and faithful servants.
Revelation 22 4 Context
Revelation 22:4 stands within the final vision of John, describing the glorious state of the New Jerusalem and the eternal dwelling of God with humanity. Chapters 21 and 22 present a vivid contrast to the preceding chapters of judgment and conflict. Revelation 21 details the descent of the New Jerusalem, a perfected dwelling place where sorrow, tears, pain, and death are no more. Verse 22:3 introduces a reversal of the curse (Gen 3:17-19) – "no longer will there be any curse" – signifying perfect fellowship restored. Thus, Revelation 22:4 reveals the specific blessings of this renewed communion: unmediated access to God's presence and undisputed, permanent belonging to Him. Historically, John’s audience faced persecution and pressure to conform to the Roman imperial cult, which involved public displays of allegiance. This verse offers a profound counter-narrative, assuring believers of God's future glory, their secure identity in Him, and an eternal intimacy that surpasses any earthly threat or system.
Revelation 22 4 Word analysis
- They will see: (Greek: opsontai) From horao, to see with the eyes, perceive, or experience. This is a future active indicative, implying a direct, active, and certain future action of seeing. It is not a veiled or partial sight, but full apprehension.
- His face: (Greek: to prosopon autou) Prosopon means face, presence, or countenance. In the Septuagint, "face of God" (πρόσωπον θεοῦ) often signifies God's direct presence, which in the Old Testament could be dangerous for sinful humans (Exo 33:20). Here, the possibility of seeing His face signifies a radical transformation and perfection of the redeemed, removing the barriers of sin and enabling full communion. It speaks of full, unmediated access.
- and His name: (Greek: kai to onoma autou) "Name" in biblical thought embodies the character, nature, authority, and essence of a person. Bearing God's name signifies identity, power, and belonging to Him. It's an internal transformation made externally visible.
- will be on their foreheads: (Greek: epi ton metopon auton)
- On: (epi) denotes physical placement, implying visibility and overt declaration.
- Foreheads: (metopon) The forehead is a prominent, visible part of the body, symbolizing public declaration, allegiance, and possession. It starkly contrasts with the "mark of the beast" on the forehead, asserting divine ownership over satanic allegiance (Rev 13:16). This mark represents ultimate consecration, echoing the high priest’s "Holy to the Lord" (Exo 28:36) or the faithful marked for protection (Ezek 9:4).
- Words-group analysis:
- "They will see His face": This phrase speaks of intimacy, perfect knowledge, and unveiled fellowship. It resolves the ancient tension between humanity's longing to see God and His transcendent holiness (Exo 33:20). It signifies the climax of the redeemed's eternal communion with God.
- "His name will be on their foreheads": This phrase communicates secure belonging, full ownership, and public declaration of identity. It marks the complete fulfillment of being God's people, belonging to Him eternally, in perfect distinction from any other allegiance or claim. This is a spiritual mark of full consecration, representing allegiance, authority, and ultimate security under His divine Lordship.
Revelation 22 4 Bonus section
- The theme of "seeing God's face" is the ultimate beatific vision, a central theological concept in Christian thought. It implies perfect satisfaction and joy, as all previous hindrances to full knowledge of God are removed.
- The "name on the forehead" not only signifies identification but also authority. Those who bear God's name participate in His divine rule and glory in the new creation (Rev 22:5). It is a symbol of their permanent dedication as priests and kings serving Him forever.
- This verse stands as the climactic fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant's promise of a restored relationship: "I will be their God, and they will be my people" (Jer 31:33, Rev 21:3). It visualizes the total reconciliation between the holy God and His redeemed people.
- The placement of the name "on their foreheads" suggests that this identity is clear, unashamed, and public. It represents full consecration of their mind and will to God, signifying ultimate worship and service from every part of their being.
Revelation 22 4 Commentary
Revelation 22:4 is a pivotal verse, concluding the grand narrative of God's redemptive plan by unveiling the ultimate privilege of the redeemed: direct, unhindered communion with God. The act of "seeing His face" speaks to a level of intimacy and immediate perception that transcends current human experience (1 Cor 13:12). This implies not merely a visual encounter, but a full, personal, and satisfying knowledge of God's essence and presence, removing all sin's barriers that once separated humanity from Him. The promise confirms total purification and righteousness, enabling proximity previously deemed fatal.
Coupled with this, "His name will be on their foreheads" signifies an unbreakable bond of belonging and divine ownership. In biblical cultures, a name denoted character and authority, while a mark on the forehead identified ownership, allegiance, or even spiritual devotion. This mark is not external or forced, but rather a reflection of an inner, deep spiritual transformation and voluntary submission to God’s eternal reign. It permanently seals the believer as consecrated to God, a member of His divine household, distinguished completely from those marked by any other power. This dual promise of unveiled presence and explicit ownership guarantees eternal security, complete peace, and perpetual service in the very presence of the Creator.