Revelation 7:4

Translations

Modern

And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel:

Traditional

And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Literal

And I heard the number of those having been sealed, a hundred forty-four thousand having been sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel:

Latin

Et audivi numerum signatorum, centum quadraginta quatuor millia signati, ex omni tribu filiorum Israël.

Original

Greek

English

And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel:

Notes

Revelation 7:4–8

Who are the 144,000? This list of the tribes of Israel does not match the twelve physical tribes exactly. Instead, it shows that God knows exactly who belongs to him. By the 90s AD, Israel’s twelve tribes no longer existed. Ten tribes were scattered when Assyria conquered the northern kingdom of Israel (2 Kings 17:1–41).

The early Christian church saw itself symbolically as the Israel of God (Matthew 19:28; Romans 2:28–29; 9:6–8; Galatians 3:29; 6:16; Philippians 3:3). The 144,000 likely represent all faithful Christians (compare Revelation 14:1–5; 21:12–17).

The list starts with Judah, the royal tribe of Jesus, but replaces Dan with Manasseh, one of Joseph's two tribes. The tribe of Dan fell into idolatry (Judges 18:14–31; 1 Kings 12:25–30), and early Christians saw it as the symbol of evil.

Revelation 7:1–8

The first vision in the interlude shows how God protects his faithful followers from any ultimate harm.

Revelation 7:1–17

Three interludes occur in Revelation 6–14 (Revelation 7; 10:1–11:14; 12:1–14:20). These interludes explain the place of God’s holy people and help readers understand the scenes that came before them. In this first interlude, which appears before the seventh seal is opened, two visions show how God protects his people and confirms his calling on them.

Revelation 6:1–8:1

The Lamb breaks the seven seals to reveal the significance of history from God’s point of view.

Theme notes and profiles

Symbolic Numbers Visions

Related verses

Revelation 14:1
Then I looked and saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads.
Revelation 14:3
And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. And no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
Luke 22:30
…so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 19:28
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Acts 26:7
…the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. It is because of this hope, O king, that I am accused by the Jews.
Romans 9:27
Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the Israelites is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved.
Romans 11:5–6
In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
James 1:1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.
Revelation 9:16
And the number of mounted troops was two hundred million; I heard their number.
Ezekiel 48:31
…the gates of the city will be named after the tribes of Israel. On the north side there will be three gates: the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah, and the gate of Levi.
Ezekiel 47:13
This is what the Lord GOD says: “These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall receive two portions.
Ezekiel 48:19
The workers of the city who cultivate it will come from all the tribes of Israel.

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Book of Esther Book of Revelation Cherub, Cherubim Mark of God, Mark of the Beast New Jerusalem Numbers and Numerology Tribe of Dan

Topics

Israel: Number of, in John's Apocalyptic Vision Seal of Certainty of Divine Approval Seals: Security Vision of John on the Island of Patmos: The Sealing of the One Hundred and Forty Four Thousand

Revelation 7:4

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