Revelation 4:8 NIV

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 4:1-11

4:1-5:14 A VISION OF HEAVENVision of the throne (4:1-11)Jesus has shown John the present state of the churches as he sees them. He now shows him, again from the divine viewpoint, certain things that are going to happen as God works out his purposes in the world. By means of a vision of heaven, John begins to have some understanding of how God sees the world’s affairs. He is given a glimpse of the place where God, the possessor of absolute authority, reigns majestically in indescribable glory... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 4:8

and they were = are. Holy, &c. The first of the seventeen ( App-10 ) heavenly utterances in Rev. Here, Revelation 4:8 ; Revelation 4:11 ; Revelation 5:9 , Revelation 5:10 ; Revelation 5:12 ; Revelation 5:13 ; Revelation 5:5 . -14- (Amen); Revelation 7:10 ; Revelation 7:12 ; Revelation 11:15 ; Revelation 11:17 ; Revelation 12:10-12 ; Revelation 14:13 ; Revelation 15:3 ; Revelation 19:1-3 ; Revelation 19:4 ; Revelation 19:5 ; Revelation 19:6 , Revelation 19:7 . Holy . . . holy. God's... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Revelation 4:8

And the four living creatures, having each one of them six wings, are full of eyes round about and within: and they have no rest day and night, saying: Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.Six wings ... The use of these, as indicated in Isaiah 6, was: two covered the face (reverence), two covered the feet (humility), and "with twain did he fly." No such employment of the wings is mentioned here.It would appear that the big point of this was... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Revelation 4:8

Revelation 4:8. They were full of eyes within:— To signify their quick discernment of every object around them; as their wings were to express their readiness to execute the divine commands; quick to discern, and prompt to perform. The anthem which they sung is that which Isaiah tells us he heard the seraphim sing, ch. Rev 6:3 and it is observable, that many other hymns recorded in this book are borrowed from the old Testament. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 4:8

8. about him—Greek, "round about him." ALFORD connects this with the following sentence: "All round and within (their wings) they are (so two oldest manuscripts, A, B, and Vulgate read) full of eyes." John's object is to show that the six wings in each did not interfere with that which he had before declared, namely, that they were "full of eyes before and behind." The eyes were round the outside of each wing, and up the inside of each when half expanded, and of the part of body in that inward... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 4:2-8

The glory of God 4:2-8 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 4:8

These creatures seem similar to the seraphim (lit. burning ones) of Isaiah 6:2-3 in that they each have six wings. Their many eyes suggest alertness, comprehensive knowledge, and constant vigilance (cf. Ezekiel 10:12). "Around and within" probably means that they had eyes even on the undersides of their wings so they could move their wings without interrupting their vision. Their movements did not detract from their constant vigilance. They ascribe holiness to God day and night, namely,... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Revelation 4:8

4:8 creatures, (a-5) See Isaiah 6:2 ,Isaiah 6:3 . round (b-14) I judge that Ezekiel 10:12 shows that 'round' belongs to the eyes. not (c-25) I prefer 'cease not' to 'have no rest,' because in English 'having no rest' means constant fatigue. The Greek here means 'no intermission of action.' God (d-34) See Note l, ch. 1.8. was, (e-37) On the throne, 'who was' comes first. It is in time. see Note, ch. 1.4. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 4:1-11

The Glory of GodThe Church has been encouraged in the midst of her tribulation and temptation by the vision of the presence and support of Christ. Now (Revelation 4, 5) a further series of visions begins, in which are shown, under figures, the forces by which the life of the Church is affected, or, in other words, those who are for her and those who are against her. She is shown God and the Lamb, and she is shown the devil, the beast, the false prophet, and the apostate city. Then she is shown... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Revelation 4:8

(8) And the four beasts (or, living beings) had each of them (literally, one by one of them) six wings about him; and they were full of (or, teeming with) eyes.—The last verse spoke of the living beings teeming with eyes; this tells us that neither the dropping nor the raising of their wings hindered their view.And they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almightly, which was, and is, and is to come.—The resemblance to Isaiah’s vision (Revelation 6:1-4) may remind us that... read more