Revelation 11:16

And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God,

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The twenty-four elders seated on thrones before God fall facedown and worship Him immediately after the seventh angel sounds his trumpet and announces the transfer of the world's kingdom to the Lord and His Christ.

The words — The Greek εἰκοσι καὶ τεσσαρες (eikosi kai tessares) literally renders "twenty and four," fixing the precise number of the heavenly representatives present in the scene.

The thread — This group and their posture recur in Revelation 4:4 and 4:10, where they occupy surrounding thrones and prostrate themselves in worship, and in Revelation 7:11, where they stand with angels and living creatures before the throne.

Why it lands — The text records the elders' physical prostration and worship following the seventh trumpet's declaration, establishing that the recognition of God's seized authority demands immediate, unreserved reverence from those who serve in His court.

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

King James Version

And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

Cross-references

Revelation 4:4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.
Revelation 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
Revelation 7:11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God,
Revelation 5:14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 19:4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying: “Amen, Hallelujah!”
Revelation 5:5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”