The Sealing of the 144,000
Revelation 7:1-8
Rev.7.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Μετα: PREP,acc
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- ειδον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τεσσαρας: NUM,card
- αγγελους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- εστωτας: PART,perf,act,acc,pl,m
- επι: PREP
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- τεσσαρας: NUM,card
- γωνιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- κρατουντας: PART,pres,act,acc,pl,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- τεσσαρας: NUM,card
- ανεμους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ινα: CONJ
- μη: PART
- πνεη: VERB,pres,act,sub,3,sg
- ανεμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- μητε: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- θαλασσης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- μητε: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- παν: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- δενδρον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
Parallels
- Daniel 7:2 (verbal): Mentions 'the four winds of heaven' stirring up the great sea—same four-winds motif and language about winds affecting the earth/sea.
- Zechariah 6:5 (verbal): Speaks of 'the four winds of heaven' that go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth; similar phrase and cosmic/topographical role for the four winds.
- Isaiah 11:12 (thematic): Uses the formula 'from the four corners of the earth'—same cosmological imagery of four cardinal points as in Revelation's 'four corners of the earth.'
- Ezekiel 37:9 (thematic): Calls for breath/wind to come 'from the four winds'—employs the four-winds motif as a source of life/action, paralleling Revelation's control over the winds.
- Mark 4:39 (see Matthew 8:26; Luke 8:24) (thematic): Jesus rebukes the wind and the sea, calming them—parallels Revelation's concern with angels restraining or controlling winds over sea and land.
Alternative generated candidates
- After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree.
- After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, restraining the four winds of the earth, that no wind should blow upon the earth or upon the sea or against any tree.
Rev.7.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ειδον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αλλον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- αγγελον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αναβαινοντα: PART,pres,act,acc,sg,m
- απο: PREP
- ανατολης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ηλιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εχοντα: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,n
- σφραγιδα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ζωντος: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εκραξεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- φωνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- μεγαλη: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- τεσσαρσιν: NUM,dat,pl,m
- αγγελοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- οις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- εδοθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- αδικησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- γην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- θαλασσαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Ezekiel 9:4 (verbal): A divine mark/seal on the foreheads of the righteous so they are spared from coming slaughter—directly parallels the 'seal of the living God' protecting God's servants.
- Exodus 12:7,13 (thematic): The Passover blood on doorframes as a sign that saves households from divine judgment parallels the sealing here as a protective sign before wrath falls.
- Revelation 14:1 (verbal): Believers are described as having the Father's name on their foreheads (the Lamb on Mount Zion), echoing the motif of a divine seal/mark on God's people.
- Revelation 7:1 (structural): The immediately preceding vision names four angels holding back the winds; 7:2 addresses those same angels ('to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea'), linking the scenes and agents of judgment.
- Revelation 9:15 (structural): Later Revelation depicts four angels released at the Euphrates given power to kill (harm the earth/people); this parallels the motif of angels authorized to bring calamity once permitted.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, bearing the seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given authority to harm the earth and the sea,
- And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, holding the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom was given power to harm the earth and the sea,
Rev.7.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- λεγων·Μη: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m+PART
- αδικησητε: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- γην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- μητε: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- θαλασσαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- μητε: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- δενδρα: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- αχρι: PREP
- σφραγισωμεν: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,pl
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- δουλους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- επι: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- μετωπων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Rev.9.4 (verbal): Very close verbal/structural parallel: demons are commanded not to harm vegetation but only to torment those without God's seal on their foreheads—contrasts and complements Rev 7:3's protection until the servants are sealed.
- Ezek.9:4-6 (allusion): Temple judgment scene where a mark is set on the foreheads of the faithful so the destroying executioners spare them—background motif for sealing/marking the elect in Revelation.
- Exod.12:7,13 (thematic): Passover blood on doorposts as a protective sign that spares the marked households from death—an earlier covenantal precedent for marking to avert divine judgment.
- Rev.14:1 (verbal): Explicit imagery of the Lamb and the Father’s name written on the foreheads of the redeemed echoes the sealing on foreheads in 7:3 as identification and protection of God's people.
- Rev.3:12 (thematic): Promise to overcomers that Christ will write his name (and the Father's, and the new Jerusalem) on them—same sealing/inscription motif signifying ownership, identity, and preservation.
Alternative generated candidates
- saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."
- 'Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads.'
Rev.7.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- ηκουσα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αριθμον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- εσφραγισμενων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- εκατον: NUM,acc,sg,n
- τεσσερακοντα: NUM,acc,pl
- τεσσαρες: NUM,card
- χιλιαδες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- εσφραγισμενοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- εκ: PREP
- πασης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- φυλης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- υιων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- Ισραηλ·: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Revelation 14:1-5 (verbal): Repeats the number 144,000 and describes the same group standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion—explicitly links the sealed in 7:4 with the redeemed 144,000 in ch.14.
- Revelation 7:5-8 (structural): Immediate literary parallel within the same chapter that enumerates the twelve tribes and explains the formula “12,000 from each tribe,” amplifying the figure given in 7:4.
- Ezekiel 9:4 (allusion): An earlier prophetic scene of a mark/seal placed on the righteous to spare them from judgment; provides an Old Testament precedent for divine sealing as protection during divine wrath.
- Ephesians 1:13 (thematic): Paul’s language of believers being ‘sealed with the Holy Spirit’ uses the same sealing motif—ownership/protection and divine identification—paralleling the theological significance of the seal in Revelation 7:4.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel.
- Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: one hundred forty-four thousand were sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel.
Rev.7.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εκ: PREP
- φυλης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Ιουδα: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- δωδεκα: NUM,acc,pl,m
- χιλιαδες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- εσφραγισμενοι: VERB,perf,pass,ptc,nom,pl,m
- εκ: PREP
- φυλης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Ρουβην: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- δωδεκα: NUM,acc,pl,m
- χιλιαδες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- εκ: PREP
- φυλης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Γαδ: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- δωδεκα: NUM,acc,pl,m
- χιλιαδες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
Parallels
- Revelation 7:4 (verbal): Directly connected: 7:4 gives the total number sealed (144,000), which 7:5–8 then breaks down by tribe; same sealing motif and number.
- Revelation 7:8 (verbal): Completes the tribal list begun in 7:5–7 (the remaining tribes and the sealed counts), forming a contiguous verbal and structural unit.
- Revelation 14:1–5 (thematic): Rev 14 depicts the Lamb and the 144,000 on Mount Zion—same number and sealed/faithful group, linking identity and destiny of those listed in 7:5.
- Revelation 21:12–14 (thematic): New Jerusalem features twelve gates/foundations named for the twelve tribes/apostles, echoing the symbolic role of the twelve-tribe configuration in Rev 7.
- Numbers 1:2–3 (see also Numbers chs. 1–2) (structural): Census and tribal listings in Numbers provide the background pattern for enumerating Israel by tribes; Revelation's listing echoes and reshapes that tribal-structural tradition.
Alternative generated candidates
- From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed.
- From the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed.
Rev.7.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εκ: PREP
- φυλης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Ασηρ: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- δωδεκα: NUM,acc,pl,m
- χιλιαδες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- εκ: PREP
- φυλης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Νεφθαλιμ: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- δωδεκα: NUM,acc,pl,m
- χιλιαδες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- εκ: PREP
- φυλης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Μανασση: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- δωδεκα: NUM,acc,pl,m
- χιλιαδες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
Parallels
- Revelation 7:4-8 (structural): Immediate parallel: the full catalogue of the twelve tribes sealed with 12,000 from each—Rev 7:6 is part of this larger list and repeats the same tribal enumeration and numeric motif.
- Numbers 1:20-43 (verbal): Early Israelite census that enumerates the tribes (including Manasseh, Asher, Naphtali); the census motif and listing of tribal names parallels Revelation's per‑tribe counting.
- Genesis 49:1,22-26 (allusion): Jacob's blessings to the tribes include Asher and Naphtali (and Joseph/sons such as Manasseh); Revelation's use of tribal names echoes patriarchal tribal identities and destinies.
- Ezekiel 48:1-7 (thematic): Ezekiel's ideal/eschatological allotment of the land lists the tribes (including Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh) in a prophetic renewed Israel—paralleling Revelation's eschatological use of tribal imagery.
- Revelation 21:12-14 (thematic): The New Jerusalem's twelve gates named after the tribes of Israel (and twelve foundations named after the apostles) continues the twelve‑tribe motif in Revelation's eschatological vision, connecting tribal identity to final deliverance.
Alternative generated candidates
- From the tribe of Reuben 12,000; from the tribe of Gad 12,000.
- From the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed.
Rev.7.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εκ: PREP
- φυλης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Συμεων: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- δωδεκα: NUM,acc,pl,m
- χιλιαδες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- εκ: PREP
- φυλης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Λευι: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- δωδεκα: NUM,acc,pl,m
- χιλιαδες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- εκ: PREP
- φυλης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Ισσαχαρ: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- δωδεκα: NUM,acc,pl,m
- χιλιαδες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
Parallels
- Revelation 7:4-8 (structural): The immediate context: the full list of the twelve tribes sealed (including Simeon, Levi, Issachar), showing 7:7 is part of the larger tribal roll of 12,000 from each tribe.
- Genesis 49:5-7 (allusion): Jacob's words about Simeon and Levi (their violence and dispersion) provide the patriarchal background for the tribal names that Revelation enumerates.
- Genesis 49:14-15 (allusion): Jacob's blessing/description of Issachar connects to the tribal identity of Issachar listed in Revelation 7:7.
- Numbers 3:6-13 (thematic): Passage on the Levites being set apart for priestly service; thematically linked to the mention of the tribe of Levi among those sealed.
- Numbers 1:20-46 (thematic): The census listings of Israel's tribes in the wilderness provide an Old Testament model of tribal enumeration—resonant with Revelation's symbolic '12,000 from each tribe' motif.
Alternative generated candidates
- From the tribe of Asher 12,000; from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000; from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000.
- From the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed.
Rev.7.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εκ: PREP
- φυλης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Ζαβουλων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- δωδεκα: NUM,acc,pl,m
- χιλιαδες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- εκ: PREP
- φυλης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Ιωσηφ: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- δωδεκα: NUM,acc,pl,m
- χιλιαδες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- εκ: PREP
- φυλης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Βενιαμιν: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- δωδεκα: NUM,acc,pl,m
- χιλιαδες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- εσφραγισμενοι: VERB,perf,pass,part,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Revelation 14:1-5 (verbal): Mentions the 144,000 standing with the Lamb and describes them as redeemed/uncorrupt — the same group-number and sealing/identity motif as Rev 7:4–8.
- Revelation 21:12 (structural): The new Jerusalem has twelve gates named for the twelve tribes of Israel; echoes the motif of twelve-tribe structuring and the restoration/representing of Israel found in Rev 7:4–8.
- Ezekiel 9:4 (allusion): God marks the righteous with a sign on the forehead to spare them from judgment — parallels the sealing motif in Rev 7 where persons are sealed for protection.
- Numbers 2:3-34 (structural): Lists the tribes of Israel in their encampment/order around the tabernacle; provides the ancient tribal roster and ordering that Revelation adapts in naming the twelve sealed tribes.
- Genesis 49:28 (thematic): Jacob’s blessing names and groups the twelve tribes of Israel, providing the ancestral/tribal framework underlying Revelation’s enumeration of twelve tribes (Rev 7:4–8).
Alternative generated candidates
- From the tribe of Simeon 12,000; from the tribe of Levi 12,000; from the tribe of Issachar 12,000; from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000; from the tribe of Joseph 12,000; from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
- From the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed.
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind should blow on earth or sea or against any tree.
Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, bearing the seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it had been granted to harm the earth and the sea,
saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." And I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel.
From the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand;
from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand; from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand; from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand;
from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand; from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand; from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand;
from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand; from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand; from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand; from the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand.