Revelation 7:13
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Revelation 7:13 in other translations
| BSB | Then one of the elders addressed me: “These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?” |
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| WEB | One of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are arrayed in the white robes, who are they, and where did they come from?” |
| ASV | And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, These that are arrayed in the white robes, who are they, and whence came they? |
| YLT | And answer did one of the elders, saying to me, ‘These, who have been arrayed with the white robes--who are they, and whence came they?' |
| DARBY | And one of the elders answered, saying to me, These who are clothed with white robes, who are they, and whence came they? |
| BBE | And one of the rulers made answer, saying to me, These who have on white robes, who are they, and where did they come from? |
| Webster | And one of the elders answered, saying to me, Who are these that are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? |
What does Revelation 7:13 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
Answered. The word answer, with us, means to reply to something which has been said. In the Bible, however, the word is not unfrequently used in the beginning of a speech, where nothing has been said--as if it were a reply to something that might be said on the subject; or to something that is passing through the mind of another; or to something in the case under consideration which suggests an inquiry. Compare Isa 65:24, Dan 2:26, Acts 5:8. Thus it is used here. John was looking on the host, and reflecting on the state of things; and to the train of thought passing through his mind the angel answered by an inquiry as to a part of that host. Professor Stuart renders it accosted me.
What are these which are arrayed in white robes? Who are these? The object evidently is to bring the case of these persons more particularly into view. The vast host with branches of palm had attracted the attention of John, but it was the object of the speaker to turn his thoughts to a particular part of the host--the martyrs who stood among them. He would seem, therefore, to have turned to a particular portion of the immense multitude of the redeemed, and by an emphasis on the word these--"Who are these?"--to have fixed the eye upon them. All those who are before the throne are represented as clothed in white robes, (Rev 7:9) but the eye might be directed to a particular part of them as grouped together, and as having something peculiar in their position or appearance. There was a propriety in thus directing the mind of John to the martyrs as triumphing in heaven, in a time when the churches were suffering persecution, and in view of the vision which he had had of times of darkness and calamity coming upon the world at the opening of the sixth seal. Beyond all the scenes of sorrow and grief, he was permitted to see the martyrs triumphing in heaven.
Arrayed in white robes. Rev 7:9.
And whence came they? The object is to fix the attention more distinctly on what is said of them, that they came up out of great tribulation.
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 7:13-17
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Revelation 7:13 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.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Revelation 7:13
- Revelation 7:9
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
- Revelation 4:10
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 5:11
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
- Revelation 5:5
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
- John 7:28
Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
- Judges 13:6
Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:
- Revelation 4:4
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.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Revelation 7:12
Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
- Revelation 7:13
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
- Revelation 7:14
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 7:13 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y respondió uno de los ancianos, diciéndome: Estos que están vestidos de ropas blancas, ¿quiénes son, y de dónde han venido? |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Et l’un des anciens répondit, me disant: Ceux-ci qui sont vêtus de longues robes blanches, qui sont-ils et d’où sont-ils venus? |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Und einer von den Ältesten hob an und sprach zu mir: Diese, die mit weißen Gewändern bekleidet sind, wer sind sie, und woher sind sie gekommen? |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Et respondit unus de senioribus et dixit mihi: Hi, qui amicti sunt stolis albis, qui sunt? et unde venerunt? |