Revelation 1:20
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. | This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. | the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks are seven churches. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedRevelation 1:9-20One like the Son of man
About Revelation 1This is "The Revelation of Jesus Christ," given to show "things which must shortly come to pass," sent by an angel "unto his servant John," with a blessing on "he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy." John greets "the seven churches which are in Asia" from him "that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood," and on Patmos, "in the Spirit on the Lord's day," he hears a voice telling him to write to the seven churches and sees "one like unto the Son of man" among seven golden candlesticks. John falls "at his feet as dead," but he says, "Fear not; I am the first and the last," and explains, "The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." Revelation 1:1Revelation 1:3Revelation 1:4Revelation 1:5Revelation 1:9Revelation 1:10Revelation 1:11Revelation 1:12Revelation 1:13Revelation 1:17Revelation 1:20
Why this verse matters hereThe chapter itself explains two symbols: "The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." Revelation 1:20
Original Greek words
| English | Greek | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mystery | μυστήριον | mustērion | G3466 | mysteryμυστήριον (mustērion) μυστήρισν, -ου, τό (μυέω), [in LXX: Dan LXX TH Dan.2:18 ff. (רָז), Tob.12:7, 11, Jdth.2:2, Wis.2:22 6:22 14:15, 23, Sir.3:18 22:22 27:16-17, 21, 2Ma.13:21 * ;] 1. that which is known to the μύστης (initiated), a mystery or secret doctrine, mostly in pl., τὰ μ. (Æsch., Hdt., al.). 2. In later writers (Menand., Incert., 168), that which may not be revealed (not, however, as in the modern sense, intrinsically difficult to understand), a secret or mystery of any kind (To, Jth, 2Mac, ll, with). … |
| seven | ἑπτὰ | hepta | G2033 | sevenἑπτά (hepta) ἐπτά, οἱ, αἱ, τά indecl., seven: Mat.12:45 18:22 (cf. ἑβδομηκοντάκις), Mrk.8:5, al.; οἱ ἐ, Act.21:8 (AS) |
| stars | ἀστέρων | asterōn | G0792 | starἀστήρ (astēr) ἀστήρ, -έρος, ὁ [in LXX chiefly for כּוֹכָב ;] a star: Mat.2:2, 7-10 :, Mrk.13:25, 1Co.15:41, Rev.6:13 8:10-12 9:1 12:1, 4; metaphorically, ὁ ἀ. ὁ πρωϊνός Rev.2:28 22:16; ἀ. πλαῆται, Ju 13; ἀ. ἑπτά, symbolizing the angels of the seven churches, Rev.1:16, 20 2:1 3:1 (cf. ἄστρον, and see DCG, ii, 674 f.; MM, see word).† (AS) |
| which | οὓς | hous | G3739 | whichὅς (hos, hē) ὅς, ἥ, ὅ, the postpositive article (ἄρθρον ὑποτακτικόν). I. As demonstr. pron. = οὗτος, ὅδε, this, that, also for αὐτός, chiefly in nom.: ὅς δέ, but he (cf. ἦ δὲ ὅς, frequently in Plat.), Mrk.15:23, Jhn.5:11; ὃς μὲν . . . ὃς δέ, the one . . . the other, Mat.21:35, 22:5, 25:15, Luk.23:33, Act.27:14, Rom.14:5, 1Co.11:21, 2Co.2:18, Ju 22; neut., ὃ μὲν . . . ὃ δέ, the one . . . the other, some . . . some, Mat.13:8, 23, Rom.9:21; ὃς (ὃ) μὲν . . . (ἄλλος (ἄλλο)) . . . ἕτερος, Mrk.4:4, Luk.8:5, 1Co.12:8-10; οὓς μέν, absol., 1Co.12:28; ὃς μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, Rom.14:2. … |
| you saw | εἶδες | eides | G1492H | to perceive: understandεἴδω (eidō) οἶδα, (from same root as εἶδον, which see), [in LXX chiefly for ידע ;] pf. with present meaning (plpf. as impf.; on irregular tense-forms, see App.), to have seen or perceived, hence, to know, have knowledge of: with accusative of thing(s), Mat.25:13, Mrk.10:19, Jhn.10:4, Rom.7:7, al.; with accusative of person(s), Mat.26:72, Jhn.1:31, Act.3:16, al.; τ. θεόν, 1Th.4:5, Tit.1:16, al.; with accusative and inf., Luk.4:41, al.; before ὅτι, Mat.9:6, Luk.20:21, Jhn.3:2, Rom.2:2 11:2, al.; before quaest. indir., Mat.26:70, Jhn.9:21, Eph.1:18, al.; with inf., to know how (cl.), Mat.7:11, Luk.11:13, P … |
| on | ἐπὶ | epi | G1909 | upon/to/againstἐπί (epi) ἐπί (before a smooth breathing ἐπ᾽, before a rough breathing ἐφ᾽), prep. with genitive, dative, accusative (accusative most frequently in NT), with primary sense of superposition, on, upon. I. C. genitive, 1. of place, answering the question, where? … |
| right hand | δεξιᾶς | dexias | G1188 | rightδεξιός (dexios) δεξιός, -ά, -όν [in LXX chiefly for יָמִין ;] the right: Mat.5:29, Jhn.18:10, al.; ὅπλα δ., weapons carried in the right hand, i.e. for offence, 2Co.6:7 ; ἡ δ. χείρ, Mat.5:30, Luk.6:6, al.; ἡ δ. (sc. χείρ), Mat.6:3, al.; ἐπὶ τὴν δ., in the right hand (R, txt., on R, mg.), Rev.5:1; διδόναι τὴν δ., in friendship (Deiss., BS, 251), Gal.2:9; metaphorically of power, τῇ δ. αὐτοῦ, Act.2:33 5:31; τὰ δ., the right side, Mrk.16:5; ἐκ δεξιῶν, on the right hand, with genitive, Mat.25:33, 34, Mrk.15:27, Luk.1:11, al.; of a place of honour in the Messianic Kingdom (cf. 3Ki.2:19, Psa.44(45):10), καθίσαι … |
| of Me | μου | mou | G3165 | meμέ (me) 1. apostrophe for με. 2. rarely for μοι, (Homer) (ML) |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| seven | ἑπτὰ | hepta | G2033 | sevenἑπτά (hepta) ἐπτά, οἱ, αἱ, τά indecl., seven: Mat.12:45 18:22 (cf. ἑβδομηκοντάκις), Mrk.8:5, al.; οἱ ἐ, Act.21:8 (AS) |
| lampstands | λυχνίας | luchnias | G3087 | lampstandλυχνία (luchnia) λυχνία, -ας, ἡ (vulgar form of λυχνίον = λυχνοῦχος; see Kennedy, Sources, 40), [in LXX for מְנוֹרָה (Exo.25:31 40:4, al.) ;] a lampstand: Mat.5:15, Mrk.4:21, Luk.8:16 11:33; of that in the Tabernacle, Heb.9:2; metaphorically, of the two witnesses, Rev.11:4; of the seven churches of Asia, Rev.1:12-13, 20 2:1; of the removal of a church from its position, κινεῖν τ. λυχνίαν κ.τ.λ., Rev.2:5.† (AS) |
| golden: | χρυσᾶς· | chrusas | G5552 | goldenχρύσεος (chruseos) Χρύσεος, -εα, -εον (-οῦς, -ῆ, -οῦν; on accusative sing. fem., -ᾶν, Rev.1:13 and genitive pl. uncontr., -εων, Rev.2:1, LTr., see M, Pr., 48 and cf. Thackeray, Gr., x, 172 f.) (χρυσός), [in LXX chiefly for זָהָב ;] golden, i.e. made or overlaid with gold: 2Ti.2:20, Heb.9:4, Rev.1:12-13, 20 2:1 4:4 5:8 8:3 9:13, 20 14:14 15:6-7 17:4 21:15.† (AS) |
| seven | ἑπτὰ | hepta | G2033 | sevenἑπτά (hepta) ἐπτά, οἱ, αἱ, τά indecl., seven: Mat.12:45 18:22 (cf. ἑβδομηκοντάκις), Mrk.8:5, al.; οἱ ἐ, Act.21:8 (AS) |
| stars | ἀστέρες | asteres | G0792 | starἀστήρ (astēr) ἀστήρ, -έρος, ὁ [in LXX chiefly for כּוֹכָב ;] a star: Mat.2:2, 7-10 :, Mrk.13:25, 1Co.15:41, Rev.6:13 8:10-12 9:1 12:1, 4; metaphorically, ὁ ἀ. ὁ πρωϊνός Rev.2:28 22:16; ἀ. πλαῆται, Ju 13; ἀ. ἑπτά, symbolizing the angels of the seven churches, Rev.1:16, 20 2:1 3:1 (cf. ἄστρον, and see DCG, ii, 674 f.; MM, see word).† (AS) |
| [the] angels | ἄγγελοι | angeloi | G0032G | angelἄγγελος (angelos) ἄγγελος, -ου, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for מַלְאָךְ ;] 1. a messenger, one sent: Mat.11:10, Jas.22:25. 2. As in LXX, in the special sense of angel, a spiritual, heavenly being, attendant upon God and employed as his messenger to men, to make known his purposes, as Luk.1:11, or to execute them, as Mat.4:6. The ἄ. in Rev.1:20-2:1, al., is variously understood as (1) a messenger or delegate, (2) a bishop or ruler, (3) a guardian angel, (4) the prevailing spirit of each church, i.e. the Church itself. (Cf. Swete, Ap)., in l.; DB, iv, 991; Thayer, see word; Cremer, 18; MM, VGT, see word) (AS) |
| seven | ἑπτὰ | hepta | G2033 | sevenἑπτά (hepta) ἐπτά, οἱ, αἱ, τά indecl., seven: Mat.12:45 18:22 (cf. ἑβδομηκοντάκις), Mrk.8:5, al.; οἱ ἐ, Act.21:8 (AS) |
| churches | ἐκκλησιῶν | ekklēsiōn | G1577 | assemblyἐκκλησία (ekklēsia) ἐκκλησία, -ας, ἡ (ἐκ-καλέω), [in LXX chiefly for קָהָל, otherwise for one of its cogn. forms ;] 1. prop., an assembly of citizens regularly convened (in Thuc., ii, 22, opposite to σύλλογος, a concourse): Act.19:32, 39 41. 2. In LXX of the assembly, congregation, community of Israel (Deu.4:10 23:2, al.): Act.7:38, Heb.2:12" (LXX) . 3. NT, esp. of an assembly or company of Christians, a (the) church; (a) of gatherings for worship: 1Co.11:18 14:19, 34 35; … |
| are | εἰσιν | eisin | G1510 | you areεἶ (ei) εἰμί, with various uses and significations, like the English verb to be. I. As substantive verb. 1. Of persons and things, to be, exist: Act.17:28, Jhn.1:1, 8:58, 17:5, al; ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν (for past ptcp.), Rev.1:4, 8, 4:8, 11:17, 16:5 (see Swete, Ap., 5; M, Pr., 228); τὰ (μὴ) ὄντα, Rom.4:17, 1Co.1:28. 2. Of times, events, etc., to be, happen, take place: Mat.24:3, Mrk.14:2, 15:42, Luk.21:23, Jhn.4:6, 23, 5:10, al. … |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| lampstands | λυχνίαι | luchniai | G3087 | lampstandλυχνία (luchnia) λυχνία, -ας, ἡ (vulgar form of λυχνίον = λυχνοῦχος; see Kennedy, Sources, 40), [in LXX for מְנוֹרָה (Exo.25:31 40:4, al.) ;] a lampstand: Mat.5:15, Mrk.4:21, Luk.8:16 11:33; of that in the Tabernacle, Heb.9:2; metaphorically, of the two witnesses, Rev.11:4; of the seven churches of Asia, Rev.1:12-13, 20 2:1; of the removal of a church from its position, κινεῖν τ. λυχνίαν κ.τ.λ., Rev.2:5.† (AS) |
| you saw | εἶδες | eides | G1492H | to perceive: understandεἴδω (eidō) οἶδα, (from same root as εἶδον, which see), [in LXX chiefly for ידע ;] pf. with present meaning (plpf. as impf.; on irregular tense-forms, see App.), to have seen or perceived, hence, to know, have knowledge of: with accusative of thing(s), Mat.25:13, Mrk.10:19, Jhn.10:4, Rom.7:7, al.; with accusative of person(s), Mat.26:72, Jhn.1:31, Act.3:16, al.; τ. θεόν, 1Th.4:5, Tit.1:16, al.; with accusative and inf., Luk.4:41, al.; before ὅτι, Mat.9:6, Luk.20:21, Jhn.3:2, Rom.2:2 11:2, al.; before quaest. indir., Mat.26:70, Jhn.9:21, Eph.1:18, al.; with inf., to know how (cl.), Mat.7:11, Luk.11:13, P … |
| seven | ἑπτὰ | hepta | G2033 | sevenἑπτά (hepta) ἐπτά, οἱ, αἱ, τά indecl., seven: Mat.12:45 18:22 (cf. ἑβδομηκοντάκις), Mrk.8:5, al.; οἱ ἐ, Act.21:8 (AS) |
| [the] seven | ἑπτὰ | hepta | G2033 | sevenἑπτά (hepta) ἐπτά, οἱ, αἱ, τά indecl., seven: Mat.12:45 18:22 (cf. ἑβδομηκοντάκις), Mrk.8:5, al.; οἱ ἐ, Act.21:8 (AS) |
| churches | ἐκκλησίαι | ekklēsiai | G1577 | assemblyἐκκλησία (ekklēsia) ἐκκλησία, -ας, ἡ (ἐκ-καλέω), [in LXX chiefly for קָהָל, otherwise for one of its cogn. forms ;] 1. prop., an assembly of citizens regularly convened (in Thuc., ii, 22, opposite to σύλλογος, a concourse): Act.19:32, 39 41. 2. In LXX of the assembly, congregation, community of Israel (Deu.4:10 23:2, al.): Act.7:38, Heb.2:12" (LXX) . 3. NT, esp. of an assembly or company of Christians, a (the) church; (a) of gatherings for worship: 1Co.11:18 14:19, 34 35; … |
| are. | εἰσίν.¶ | eisin | G1510 | you areεἶ (ei) εἰμί, with various uses and significations, like the English verb to be. I. As substantive verb. 1. Of persons and things, to be, exist: Act.17:28, Jhn.1:1, 8:58, 17:5, al; ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν (for past ptcp.), Rev.1:4, 8, 4:8, 11:17, 16:5 (see Swete, Ap., 5; M, Pr., 228); τὰ (μὴ) ὄντα, Rom.4:17, 1Co.1:28. 2. Of times, events, etc., to be, happen, take place: Mat.24:3, Mrk.14:2, 15:42, Luk.21:23, Jhn.4:6, 23, 5:10, al. … |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.