Revelation 11 · Verse 4

Revelation 11:4

These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

Revelation 11:4, King James Version

Revelation 11:4 in other translations

BSB	These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
WEB	These are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands, standing before the Lord of the earth.
ASV	These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks, standing before the Lord of the earth.
YLT	these are the two olive trees, and the two lamp-stands that before the God of the earth do stand;
DARBY	These are the two olive trees and the two lamps which stand before the Lord of the earth;
BBE	These are the two olive-trees and the two lights, which are before the Lord of the earth.
Webster	These are the two olive-trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

What does Revelation 11:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

4. standing before the God of the earth--A, B, C, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, and Andreas read "Lord" for "God": so Zec 4:14. Ministering to (Lu 1:19), and as in the sight of Him, who, though now so widely disowned on "earth," is its rightful King, and shall at last be openly recognized as such (Re 11:15). The phrase alludes to Zec 4:10, 14, "the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." The article "the" marks this allusion. They are "the two candlesticks," not that they are the Church, the one candlestick, but as its representative light-bearers (Greek, "phosteres," Php 2:15), and ministering for its encouragement in a time of apostasy. Wordsworth's view is worth consideration, whether it may not constitute a secondary sense: the two witnesses, the olive trees, are THE TWO Testaments ministering their testimony to the Church of the old dispensation, as well as to that of the new, which explains the two witnesses being called also the two candlesticks (the Old and New Testament churches; the candlestick in Zec 4:2 is but one as there was then but one Testament, and one Church, the Jewish). The Church in both dispensations has no light in herself, but derives it from the Spirit through the witness of the twofold word, the two olive trees: compare Note, see on Re 11:1, which is connected with this, the reed, the Scripture canon, being the measure of the Church: so Primasius [X, p. 314]: the two witnesses preach in sackcloth, marking the ignominious treatment which the word, like Christ Himself, receives from the world. So the twenty-four elders represent the ministers of the two dispensations by the double twelve. But Re 11:7 proves that primarily the two Testaments cannot be meant; for these shall never be "killed," and never "shall have finished their testimony" till the world is finished.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 4. These are the two olive-trees. These are represented by the two olive-trees, or these are what are symbolized by the two olive-trees. There can be little doubt that there is an allusion here to Zech 4:3,11,14, though the imagery is in some respects changed. The prophet (Zech 4:2-3) saw in vision "a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which were upon the top thereof; and two olive- trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof." These two "olive branches" were subsequently declared (Zech 4:14) to be "the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." The olive-trees, or olive branches, (Zech 4:12,) appear in the vision of the prophet to have been connected With the ever-burning lamp, by golden pipes; and as the olive-tree produced the oil used by the ancients in their lamps, these trees are represented as furnishing a constant supply of oil through the golden pipes to the candlestick, and thus they become emblematic of the supply of grace to the church. John uses this emblem, not in the sense exactly in which it was employed by the prophet, but to denote that these two "witnesses," which might be compared with the two olive-trees, would be the means of supplying grace to the church. As the olive- tree furnished oil for the lamps, the two trees here would seem properly to denote ministers of religion; and as there can be no doubt that the candlesticks, or lamp-bearers, denote churches, the sense would appear to be that it was through the pastors of the churches that the oil of grace which maintained the brightness of those mystic candlesticks, or the churches, was conveyed. The image is a beautiful one, and expresses a truth of great importance to the world; for God has designed that the lamp of piety shall be kept burning in the churches by truth supplied through ministers and pastors.

And the two candlesticks. The prophet Zechariah saw but one such candlestick or lamp-bearer; John here saw two--as there are two "witnesses" referred to. In the vision described in Rev 1:12, he saw seven--representing the seven churches of Asia. For an explanation of the meaning of the symbol, Rev 1:12.

Standing before the God of the earth. So Zech 4:14, "These be the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." The meaning is, that they stood, as it were, in the very presence of God--as in the tabernacle and temple, the golden candlestick stood "before" the ark on which was the symbol of the Divine presence, though separated from it by a veil. Compare Rev 9:13. This representation that the ministers of religion "stand before the Lord" is one that is not uncommon in the Bible. Thus it is said of the priests and Levites,(De 10:8) "The Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to stand before the Lord, to minister unto him, and to bless his name," Compare De 18:7. The same thing is said of the prophets, as in the cases of Elijah and Elisha: "As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand," 1Kgs 17:1, 18:15, 2Kgs 3:14, 5:16; compare Jer 15:19. The representation is, that they ministered, as it were, constantly in his presence, and under his eye.

(a) "two olive trees" Jer 11:16, Zech 4:3,11,14 (b) "candlesticks" Rev 1:20

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 4 These are the two olive trees - Mentioned Zac 4:14, which there represent Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest. The whole account seems taken from Zac 4:1-14. Whether the prophet and the apostle mean the same things by these emblems, we know not.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 11:3-13

In the time of treading down, God kept his faithful witnesses to attest the truth of his word and worship, and the excellence of his ways, The number of these witnesses is small, yet enough. They prophesy in sackcloth. It shows their afflicted, persecuted state, and deep sorrow for the abominations against which they protested. They are supported during their great and hard work, till it is done. When they had…

Read the full comment on Revelation 11:3-13 →

Revelation 11:4 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οὗτοίhoutoiTheseG3778

εἰσινeisinareG1510

αἱhaitheG3588

δύοduotwoG1417

ἐλαῖαιelaiaiolive treesG1636

καὶkaiandG2532

αἱhaitheG3588

δύοduotwoG1417

λυχνίαιluchniailampstandsG3087

αἱhai<the>G3588

ἐνώπιονenōpionbeforeG1799

τοῦtoutheG3588

κυρίουkuriouLordG2962

τῆςtēsof theG3588

γῆςgēsearthG1093

ἑστῶτες.hestōtesstanding.G2476

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Revelation 11:4

Zechariah 4:11-14
Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
Zechariah 4:2-3
And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
Jeremiah 11:16
The Lord called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.
Psalms 52:8
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
Isaiah 54:5
For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
Revelation 1:20
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.
Romans 11:17
And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Matthew 5:14-16
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Luke 11:33
No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
Exodus 8:22
And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

two olive.
Ps 52:8; Jer 11:16; Zec 4:2,3,11-14; Ro 11:17
two candlesticks.
1:20; Mt 5:14-16; Lu 11:33
standing.
De 10:8; 1Ki 17:1
the God.
Ex 8:22; Isa 54:5; Mic 4:13; Zec 4:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Revelation 11:3
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Revelation 11:4
These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
Revelation 11:5
And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

Read all of Revelation 11

Revelation 11:4 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Estas son las dos olivas, y los dos candeleros que están delante del Dios de la tierra.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Ceux-ci sont les deux oliviers et les deux lampes qui se tiennent devant le Seigneur de la terre.
German Elberfelder 1871	Diese sind die zwei Ölbäume und die zwei Leuchter, die vor dem Herrn der Erde stehen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Hi sunt duæ olivæ et duo candelabra in conspectu Domini terræ stantes.