Revelation 4:3
And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The intense, precious stones describing God's appearance aren't just about beauty; they highlight the dazzling blend of His holy purity (jasper) and His judgment (carnelian), tempered by the emerald rainbow of His covenant love encircling the throne. This isn't just God on display, but God showing how His mercy fundamentally surrounds and defines His righteous rule.
John's vision shifts from messages to earthly churches to the very throne room of heaven. He sees God seated on a throne, described not by form but by the dazzling brilliance of precious stones—jasper and carnelian—evoking majesty and power. Encircling this glorious presence is a rainbow, appearing like an emerald, symbolizing divine covenant, mercy, and peace amidst the awesome power.
Understand the original words
iaspis · Greek Noun
A precious stone symbolizing the glory, purity, and radiant majesty of God's appearance.
sardion · Greek Noun
A precious stone, often identified as a deep red color, signifying the holiness, intensity, and sometimes the judgment or sacrificial nature of God's glory.
iris · Greek Noun
A sign of God's faithfulness and covenantal promise, particularly associated with His mercy and reliability after judgment.
smaragdos · Greek Noun
A precious stone of bright green color, often associated with life, renewal, and the enduring freshness of God's covenant grace.
This passage also describes a divine appearance with a rainbow, emphasizing the radiant glory and presence of God, directly paralleling Revelation's imagery.
Genesis 9:13This is the foundational reference for the rainbow as a sign of God's covenant and promise, directly linking the emerald rainbow in Revelation to God's faithfulness and mercy.
Exodus 28:17-20The specific precious stones (jasper and carnelian) mentioned in Revelation are also listed as being on the High Priest's breastplate, connecting the imagery of God's presence to His covenant people and His holiness.
Isaiah 6:1While not containing the same jewels, Isaiah's vision of God on His throne uses radiant light and glory to convey holiness and majesty, mirroring the awe-inspiring depiction in Revelation.
The jasper stone is further described as clear as crystal in the depiction of the New Jerusalem, and both jasper and carnelian appear in the foundations of the heavenly city, reinforcing their symbolic connection to divine perfection and God's dwelling place.
ellicottRevelation 4:3: "And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald."
(3) And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone.— In determining the significance of these emblems we must be guided partly by the analogy of Bible imagery elsewhere, and partly by our knowledge of precious stones. The sardian, or sardine, is admitted to be a stone of fiery red colour; the emerald, to which th…
barnesRevelation 4:3: "And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald."
And he that sat was to look upon - Was in appearance; or, as I looked upon him, this seemed to be his appearance. He does not describe his form, but his splendor. Like a jasper - ἰάσπιδι iaspidi The jasper, properly, is "an opaque, impure variety of quartz, of red, yellow, and also of some dull colors, breaking with a smooth surf…
The intense, precious stones describing God's appearance aren't just about beauty; they highlight the dazzling blend of His holy purity (jasper) and His judgment (carnelian), tempered by the emerald rainbow of His covenant love encircling the throne. This isn't just God on display, but God showing how His mercy fundamentally surrounds and defines His righteous rule.
John's vision shifts from messages to earthly churches to the very throne room of heaven. He sees God seated on a throne, described not by form but by the dazzling brilliance of precious stones—jasper and carnelian—evoking majesty and power. Encircling this glorious presence is a rainbow, appearing like an emerald, symbolizing divine covenant, mercy, and peace amidst the awesome power.
John's vision shifts from messages to earthly churches to the very throne room of heaven. He sees God seated on a throne, described not by form but by the dazzling brilliance of precious stones—jasper and carnelian—evoking majesty and power. Encircling this glorious presence is a rainbow, appearing like an emerald, symbolizing divine covenant, mercy, and peace amidst the awesome power.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Revelation 4:3 is available in the Sola app.
"And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald." — The intense, precious stones describing God's appearance aren't just about beauty; they highlight the dazzling blend of His holy purity (jasper) and His judgment (carnelian), tempered by the emerald…
