Revelation 1:13

and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash around His chest.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — John turns to locate the voice addressing him and observes a figure standing among seven golden lampstands. This vision occurs at the precise moment of his visual response to the preceding auditory command.

The words — μέσῳ (mesō) denotes the literal position "in the midst" of the lampstands, while ὅμοιον (homoion) specifies that the figure is "like" the Son of Man rather than identical in form.

The thread — The "One like the Son of Man" title echoes Daniel 7:13, where a heavenly figure approaches the Ancient of Days, and Daniel 10:5, where a man in linen with a gold belt appears to a prophet. The golden sash and divine appearance parallel these earlier prophetic visions of heavenly messengers.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition of a human-like figure occupying the center of the churches' symbolic structure. It requires the reader to identify this figure as the authoritative source of the subsequent messages delivered to the seven congregations.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

καὶkaiand ἐνenin μέσῳmesō[the] midst τῶνtōnof the ἑπτὰheptaseven λυχνιῶνluchniōnlampstands ὅμοιονhomoion[One] like υἱὸνhuion[the] Son ἀνθρώπουanthrōpouof Man ἐνδεδυμένονendedumenonhaving clothed himself ποδήρηpodērēto the feet καὶkaiand περιεζωσμένονperiezōsmenonhaving girded himself about πρὸςprosat τοῖςtoisthe μαστοῖςmastoisbreasts ζώνηνzōnēnwith a sash χρυσᾶν.chrusangolden.

King James Version

And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Cross-references

Daniel 7:13 In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence.
Daniel 10:5 I lifted up my eyes, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.
Daniel 10:16 And suddenly one with the likeness of a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and said to the one standing before me, “My lord, because of the vision, I am overcome with anguish, and I have no strength.
Exodus 28:6 They are to make the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn.
Revelation 15:6 And out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues, dressed in clean and bright linen and girded with golden sashes around their chests.
Leviticus 8:7 He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him. He tied the woven band of the ephod around him and fastened it to him.
Revelation 14:14 And I looked and saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was One like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.
Isaiah 11:5 Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist.
Ezekiel 1:26 Above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne with the appearance of sapphire, and on the throne high above was a figure like that of a man.
Daniel 7:9 As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.