Revelation 4:9

And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The four living creatures address the One seated on the throne in Revelation 4, responding to their own ceaseless proclamation of divine holiness in the preceding verse. This action occurs within the heavenly throne room vision immediately before the twenty-four elders fall down and cast their crowns.

The words — δώσουσιν (dōsousin) translates literally as "will give," and ζῷα (zōa) identifies the "living creatures" who perform this action. ὅταν (hotan) functions as "whenever," marking the repeated timing of their offering.

The thread — This worship sequence extends to every creature in heaven and earth in Revelation 5:13 and includes angels, elders, and living creatures falling facedown in Revelation 7:11. The title "Him who lives forever and ever" also appears in Revelation 10:6.

Why it lands — The text records the living creatures rendering glory, honor, and thanks to the eternal God, establishing a fixed pattern of heavenly praise. It requires the reader to observe that created beings acknowledge the throne-dweller's unending life before the elders respond with submission and surrender.

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 when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

Cross-references

Revelation 5:13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!”
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 10:6 And he swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it: “There will be no more delay!
Revelation 15:7 Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.
Psalms 47:8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.
Revelation 1:18 the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.
Daniel 4:34 But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever: “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
Exodus 15:18 The LORD will reign forever and ever!”
Psalms 48:14 For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even till death.
Daniel 12:7 And the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by Him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, and times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people has finally been shattered, all these things will be completed.”