Bible Strands
Revelation 4:7
The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — John records a vision of the heavenly throne room, describing the four beings positioned around it as part of a revelation given to him.
The words — ζῷον (zōon) denotes a living creature, and ὅμοιον (homoion) specifies a likeness or resemblance rather than identical form.
The thread — The description parallels Ezekiel 1:10 and 10:14, which list four-faced celestial beings, and sits between Revelation 4:6 and 4:8, which place them within the throne room worship scene.
Why it lands — The text states the creatures' forms and continuous worship to establish God's sovereign presence, requiring the reader to focus on reverence and divine majesty rather than symbolic speculation.
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 first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 10:14 Each of the cherubim had four faces: the first face was that of a cherub, the second that of a man, the third that of a lion, and the fourth that of an eagle.
- Ezekiel 1:10 The form of their faces was that of a man, and each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and also the face of an eagle.
- Ezekiel 10:21 Each had four faces and four wings, with what looked like human hands under their wings.
- Ezekiel 1:8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four living creatures had faces and wings,
- Daniel 7:4 The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man and given the mind of a man.
- Revelation 4:6 And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back.
- Deuteronomy 28:49 The LORD will bring a nation from afar, from the ends of the earth, to swoop down upon you like an eagle—a nation whose language you will not understand,
- Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
- Genesis 49:9 Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?
- Numbers 2:2 “The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting at a distance from it, each man under his standard, with the banners of his family.