Revelation 4:10 kjv
The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Revelation 4:10 nkjv
the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
Revelation 4:10 niv
the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
Revelation 4:10 esv
the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Revelation 4:10 nlt
the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,
Revelation 4 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 5:8 | ...the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb... | Elders' prostration, continuing worship |
| Rev 5:14 | And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the elders fell down and worshiped. | Elders' prostration, act of worship |
| Rev 7:11 | And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, | Universal worship, prostration |
| Rev 11:16 | And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, | Elders' prostration, worship |
| Rev 19:4 | And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne... | Elders' prostration, worship of God on throne |
| Psa 95:6 | Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! | Prostration as an act of worship |
| Isa 45:23 | ...every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance to me. | Universal submission and reverence |
| Phil 2:10 | ...so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, | Universal submission to Christ's authority |
| Rev 1:18 | ...and the living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore... | God's eternality |
| Rev 5:14 | ...and the elders fell down and worshiped. | Emphasis on divine worship |
| Rev 10:6 | ...and swore by him who lives forever and ever... | Affirmation of God's eternality |
| Rev 15:7 | ...filled with the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. | Attribute of God's eternality |
| Rom 1:25 | ...and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. | Contrast: Creator worthy of eternal worship |
| Rev 4:4 | Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. | Source of elders' crowns and status |
| Rev 5:12 | ...Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! | Lamb's worthiness to receive glory and honor |
| 1 Cor 9:25 | ...but we do it to receive a perishable crown, but they an imperishable. | Imperishable crowns; Christian reward |
| 2 Tim 4:8 | Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness... | Crown as reward for righteous living |
| Jas 1:12 | Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life... | Crown of life as reward |
| 1 Pet 5:4 | And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. | Crown of glory for faithful service |
| Rev 4:2 | At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. | God's throne and sovereignty established |
| Rev 4:9 | And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever... | Continuous worship of God on the throne |
| Dan 7:9 | As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. | Vision of God's majestic throne |
| Zech 6:11 | Take from them silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them on the head of Joshua... | Crowns as symbols of authority/status |
| Isa 28:5 | In that day the Lord of hosts will be a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people, | God as source of true glory |
Revelation 4 verses
Revelation 4 10 Meaning
Revelation 4:10 portrays the profound worship of the twenty-four elders before God's throne. It describes them prostrating themselves, rendering adoration to the eternal God, and symbolizing their complete submission by casting down their crowns before Him. This act signifies that all honor, authority, and glory they possess are derived from God and are rightly returned to Him in worship. It emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty and infinite worthiness of all adoration.
Revelation 4 10 Context
Revelation chapter 4 initiates a grand vision of heaven after the earthly messages to the seven churches in chapters 2-3. John is transported in the Spirit to behold the throne room of God. This chapter establishes God as the sovereign Creator, ruling over all things. The focus is on God's inherent majesty and His worthiness of all worship. Revelation 4:10 describes the response of the twenty-four elders—prominent figures in this heavenly court—to God's overwhelming presence and glory as seen in Revelation 4:2-9. Their action sets the tone for the complete and unceasing worship of the Divine throughout the unfolding visions of Revelation. Historically, bowing and casting crowns before a king was a powerful sign of fealty and complete submission, particularly in contrast to the imperial cult worship where emperors demanded divine honors, the elders' act here emphasizes worship directed solely to the true, eternal God.
Revelation 4 10 Word analysis
"The twenty-four elders": Greek: οἱ εἴκοσι τέσσαρες πρεσβύτεροι (hoi eikosi tessares presbyteroi). These figures, introduced in Rev 4:4 with thrones, white garments, and golden crowns, are often understood as representatives of the entire redeemed people of God—likely symbolizing both Old Testament saints (12 tribes of Israel) and New Testament saints (12 apostles), brought together as God’s complete spiritual nation. Their presence on thrones and with crowns suggests co-regency with Christ, yet their action here profoundly emphasizes their subservience and worship of the One true King.
"fall down": Greek: πίπτουσιν (piptousin). A strong verb indicating prostration or falling prostrate. This is a recurring posture of worship throughout Scripture, signifying ultimate humility, reverence, and submission before divine authority. It implies a total surrender of one's will and an acknowledgment of the superiority of the object of worship. This is a present tense verb, suggesting a continuous or repeated act of worship.
"before Him who sits on the throne": Identifies the direct recipient of worship as God the Father, the supreme ruler and authority in the universe. This reiterates the scene established in Rev 4:2-3, emphasizing God's omnipotence and kingship.
"and worship Him": Greek: καὶ προσκυνοῦσιν (kai proskyneousin). The core act of adoration. Proskyneo means to kiss towards, to prostrate oneself, to do obeisance, to bow down and pay homage, to adore, to worship. It describes spiritual reverence and devotion. This is also a present tense verb, emphasizing ongoing worship.
"who lives forever and ever": Greek: τῷ ζῶντι εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων (tō zōnti eis tous aiōnas tōn aiōnon). A paramount divine epithet signifying God's eternal, self-existent, and unending life. This attribute underpins His absolute sovereignty and unchanging nature, distinguishing Him from all mortal beings and transient powers. It emphasizes the ultimate permanence and reliability of the One they worship. This phrase is used exclusively for God in Revelation, further establishing His unique nature.
"and cast their crowns": Greek: καὶ βαλοῦσιν τοὺς στεφάνους αὐτῶν (kai balousin tous stephanous autōn). "Baluo" (from where "balousin" is derived) means to throw or cast down. Their crowns (στέφανος - stephanos), symbols of victory, honor, and reward (which they received as "victors" in Rev 4:4), are surrendered. This is a symbolic, decisive act of self-abasement and acknowledgement.
"before the throne": The specific location for casting the crowns, emphasizing that the honor and authority represented by the crowns are given directly back to God. It highlights that all their accolades, status, and achievements ultimately originate from God and are to be offered back to Him in an act of complete devotion. It is an expression that any worthiness or victory is solely by God’s grace and power, not their own merit.
"saying:": Introduces the subsequent declaration (Rev 4:11) of God’s supreme worthiness, which elaborates on the reasons for their profound acts of worship and humility.
Words-group Analysis:
- "fall down... and worship Him": These conjoined actions signify not just an outward act of reverence but also an inward posture of spiritual adoration. It's complete devotion expressed both physically and spiritually.
- "before Him who sits on the throne... who lives forever and ever": This phrase succinctly defines the supreme object of worship: the eternally existing, sovereign God. It underpins why such extreme reverence is appropriate and demanded.
- "cast their crowns before the throne": This climactic act embodies the relinquishing of all personal achievement, authority, and glory. It teaches that even the highest rewards and honors granted by God are meant to be humbly returned to Him, acknowledging that all truly belongs to Him.
Revelation 4 10 Bonus section
The continuous nature of the worship depicted in Revelation 4, implied by the present tense verbs ("fall down," "worship"), portrays an unending, joyous surrender to God's sovereignty. This challenges earthly perspectives that often cling to temporary accolades and positions of power. The elders' willingness to relinquish their crowns does not imply a loss of their reward but a sanctification of it, returning the glory to its divine source. This cycle of God bestowing grace and His people responding with returned glory forms the blueprint for eternal worship. It illustrates that ultimate freedom and fulfillment are found in complete, humble surrender to God, acknowledging Him as the Originator and Perfecter of all things.
Revelation 4 10 Commentary
Revelation 4:10 captures the essence of heavenly worship—an unbroken expression of awe, humility, and complete devotion before the eternal God. The twenty-four elders, adorned with crowns of victory and seated on thrones, symbolize the high honor given to the redeemed. Yet, in the presence of the Almighty, all their glory pales. Their act of falling down underscores profound reverence and submission, acknowledging God's absolute dominion. By casting their crowns before the throne, they declare that any reward, authority, or triumph they possess is not their own but flows entirely from God’s grace and power. It is an ultimate act of humility, a recognition that God is the source and ultimate recipient of all praise and honor. This serves as a powerful model for all creation: true worship involves surrender of all personal accolades and aspirations, yielding them back to the Giver of all good things. It's a reminder that no human achievement or honor, however significant, compares to God's inherent glory and worth.