Chapter
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Verse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Revelation 4:4
ESV Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.
NIV Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.
NASB Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.
CSB Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white clothes, with golden crowns on their heads.
NLT Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads.
KJV And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
NKJV Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.

What does Revelation 4:4 mean?

Continuing his vision of heaven, John saw twenty-four elders seated on twenty-four thrones. The identities of these twenty-four elders are unknown; some speculate they may be the twelve patriarchs of Israel and the twelve apostles. The term "elders" is from the Greek presbyteros, which also appears in Matthew 26:57, referring to men that governed Israel. It also appears in Acts 20:17 for the overseers of the church at Ephesus. In 1 Peter 5:1 the apostle Peter referred to himself as an elder. King Solomon divided the Levitical priests into twenty-four orders, with each one taking its turn in performing priestly duties in the temple. John the Baptist's father was a priest who took his turn at the temple (Luke 1:5–11).

Based on this context, the twenty-four elders in heaven may be a select group of believers. Or they may represent all the redeemed of all ages. The apostle John reports that he saw the twenty-four elders in heaven with white garments, representing holiness, and with crowns, depicting victory and approval from Jesus at His judgment seat (1 Corinthians 9:24–27; 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12.)
Expand
Expand
Expand
What is the Gospel?
Download the app:
BibleRef.com is part of Got Questions Ministries

For answers to your Bible questions, please visit