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Translation
King James Version
And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
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KJV (with Strong's)
And G2532 he that sat G2521 was G2258 to look upon G3706 like G3664 a jasper G2393 and G2532 a sardine G4555 stone G3037: and G2532 there was a rainbow G2463 round about G2943 the throne G2362, in sight G3706 like G3664 unto an emerald G4664.
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Complete Jewish Bible
The One sitting there gleamed like diamonds and rubies, and a rainbow shining like emerald encircled the throne.
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Berean Standard Bible
The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne.
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American Standard Version
and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardius: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, like an emerald to look upon.
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World English Bible Messianic
that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
And he that sate, was to looke vpon, like vnto a iasper stone, and a sardine, and there was a rainbowe rounde about the throne, in sight like to an emeraude.
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Young's Literal Translation
and He who is sitting was in sight like a stone, jasper and sardine: and a rainbow was round the throne in sight like an emerald.
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Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Revelation 4:3 offers a profound glimpse into the divine majesty and awe-inspiring presence of God, as witnessed by the Apostle John in his heavenly vision. This verse vividly describes the appearance of the One seated on the throne, likened to precious, radiant gemstones—jasper and sardine—and encircling the throne, a brilliant emerald-like rainbow. It serves to emphasize God's unparalleled glory, purity, holiness, and unwavering covenant faithfulness, setting the stage for the unfolding of His sovereign plan throughout the book of Revelation.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Revelation 4:3 is an integral part of John's grand vision of God's throne room, which commences in Revelation 4:1. Following the messages to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2-3 that address the earthly church's state, John is called "up hither" to witness "what must take place after these things." This transition marks a pivotal shift from the earthly realm to the celestial, establishing God's ultimate sovereignty and control over all history and future events. The description of God's appearance and His immediate surroundings in Revelation 4:2-11 provides the theological foundation for all subsequent judgments, redemptive acts, and worship scenes in the book, affirming that all events unfold under the watchful eye and supreme authority of the Almighty God.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: John's vision was received while he was exiled on the island of Patmos, likely during the reign of Emperor Domitian, a period of intense persecution for Christians. In this context, the imagery of a supreme throne and an unassailable King would have offered immense comfort and reassurance to believers facing imperial power and suffering. Ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Roman and Jewish traditions, deeply understood the symbolism of thrones as centers of power, authority, and justice. Gemstones were highly valued and often associated with royalty, divinity, and sacred spaces (e.g., the high priest's breastplate in Exodus 28:15-21). The rainbow, in particular, carried a profound covenantal significance from the account of Noah in Genesis 9, symbolizing God's faithfulness and promise amidst judgment.
  • Key Themes: This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Revelation and the broader biblical narrative. The primary theme is Divine Majesty and Glory, conveyed through the dazzling, fiery appearance of God, which evokes awe and reverence. Linked to this is God's Sovereignty and Authority, as His presence on the throne unequivocally declares His ultimate kingship and dominion over all creation and history. The description also highlights God's Holiness and Purity, with the jasper representing blinding light and perfection. Crucially, the "rainbow round about the throne" introduces the theme of Covenant Faithfulness and Mercy. While God's presence is awe-inspiring and even fearsome, the rainbow, reminiscent of the covenant with Noah in Genesis 9:13, assures believers that His promises endure and His mercy surrounds His throne of judgment, even as He is described as a "consuming fire" in Hebrews 12:29.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • throne (Greek, thrónos', G2362): From the base meaning "to sit," this word denotes a stately seat, specifically a royal chair. By implication, it signifies power, dominion, and the authority of a potentate. In Revelation 4:3, it underscores God's supreme kingship and ultimate rule over all creation and events.
  • jasper (Greek, íaspis', G2393): A gem, probably of foreign origin. In ancient understanding, this stone was often described as clear, crystalline, and brilliant, possibly like a diamond or rock crystal. Its association with God's appearance here suggests dazzling light, purity, and the unapproachable holiness of His presence.
  • rainbow (Greek, îris', G2463): This term refers to a rainbow, a natural phenomenon. In biblical context, particularly drawing from Genesis 9, the rainbow is a powerful symbol of God's covenant faithfulness and His promise of mercy. Its appearance around the throne in Revelation 4:3 signifies that even amidst the awesome power and impending judgment emanating from God's throne, His enduring grace and covenant promises remain steadfast.

Verse Breakdown

  • "And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone:" This clause describes the visual appearance of God Himself, though not as a literal form, but through the analogy of precious stones. The "jasper" (likely a brilliant, clear stone) conveys blinding purity, light, and holiness, suggesting God's absolute moral perfection and dazzling glory. The "sardine stone" (a fiery red or orange gem, also known as carnelian) evokes images of consuming fire, righteous judgment, and divine passion, aligning with biblical descriptions of God's holiness as a "consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29). Together, these stones present a picture of God's glorious, pure, and awe-inspiring, yet potentially terrifying, presence.
  • "and there was a rainbow round about the throne," This phrase introduces a striking contrast and a profound symbol. The rainbow, encircling the throne, immediately recalls God's covenant with Noah (Genesis 9:13), a promise of preservation and faithfulness despite human sin. Its presence around the throne signifies that God's power and judgment are always tempered by His unwavering covenant love and mercy. It is a visible assurance of His enduring promises, even in the context of His supreme authority.
  • "in sight like unto an emerald." This specifies the color and nature of the rainbow. The emerald, a vibrant green stone, symbolizes life, freshness, hope, and renewal. This color provides a calming, reassuring visual element amidst the fiery brilliance of God's immediate presence. It reinforces the message of God's enduring grace and the life-giving nature of His covenant, indicating that His faithfulness brings forth life and hope even in the face of impending judgment.

Literary Devices

Revelation 4:3 is rich in Symbolism and Simile, which are crucial for conveying the ineffable nature of God. The entire description of God's appearance is not literal but symbolic, using familiar earthly elements—gemstones and a rainbow—to represent divine attributes. The Simile "like a jasper and a sardine stone" and "like unto an emerald" helps the reader grasp the ungraspable, comparing God's glory and the rainbow's appearance to known precious objects. This use of Imagery creates a vivid, multisensory experience for the reader, evoking awe, reverence, and comfort. The Contrast between the fiery brilliance of the sardine stone (judgment, holiness) and the calming green of the emerald rainbow (mercy, covenant) is also a significant literary technique, highlighting the dual nature of God's character—both just and merciful—that surrounds His throne.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Revelation 4:3 profoundly anchors our understanding of God's character and His ultimate authority. The description of God's appearance as dazzling and fiery speaks to His unapproachable holiness and purity, a theme consistent throughout Scripture where God is often depicted with overwhelming light and fire. Yet, the presence of the emerald rainbow around His throne serves as a powerful theological statement: God's sovereign power and impending judgment are always enveloped by His covenant faithfulness and mercy. This balance reassures believers that even in the midst of terrifying visions of divine judgment, God's promises of grace and His commitment to His people remain unwavering. It underscores that His rule is not arbitrary but founded on His righteous character and His steadfast love.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Revelation 4:3 calls us to a posture of profound awe and worship before the God of the universe. In a world often characterized by chaos, uncertainty, and the apparent triumph of evil, this vision reminds us that there is a supreme, sovereign ruler on the throne. The dazzling, fiery appearance of God should inspire reverence for His holiness and a healthy fear of His righteous judgment, prompting us to live lives that honor Him. Simultaneously, the comforting presence of the emerald rainbow assures us of His unwavering covenant faithfulness and mercy. This dual revelation encourages us to trust in God's control, even when circumstances seem overwhelming, knowing that His promises endure and His grace surrounds His throne. It invites us to find peace in His sovereignty and to worship Him with both trembling and joy, confident in His ultimate plan for redemption and justice.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does the imagery of God's appearance in Revelation 4:3 challenge or deepen your understanding of His character?
  • In what ways does the "rainbow round about the throne" offer comfort and hope in your personal life or in the broader context of global events?
  • What practical implications does recognizing God's ultimate sovereignty have for how you live, pray, and respond to trials?

FAQ

What do the jasper and sardine stones symbolize in Revelation 4:3?

Answer: The jasper and sardine stones are symbolic representations of God's ineffable glory and character, not a literal description of His physical form. The jasper, often understood as a clear, brilliant, or diamond-like stone in ancient times, symbolizes God's dazzling purity, holiness, and unapproachable light. It speaks to His absolute moral perfection. The sardine stone, or carnelian, is typically a fiery red or orange gem. This color often symbolizes divine judgment, consuming fire, and God's righteous wrath against sin, as seen in passages like Hebrews 12:29. Together, they convey a God who is both perfectly pure and fiercely just, inspiring both reverence and awe.

Why is there a rainbow around the throne, and what does its emerald color signify?

Answer: The rainbow around the throne is a profound symbol of God's covenant faithfulness and mercy, directly recalling the covenant God made with Noah after the flood, as recorded in Genesis 9:13-16. Its presence around God's throne signifies that even as He is the supreme judge and sovereign ruler, His power and justice are always enveloped by His enduring promises and steadfast love for humanity. The emerald color, a vibrant green, further enhances this symbolism. Green is often associated with life, freshness, growth, and hope. This suggests that God's covenant promises are not dead letters but are living, active, and bring forth life and renewal, providing a calming and reassuring contrast to the fiery brilliance of God's immediate presence.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

While Revelation 4:3 describes the glory of God the Father on His throne, this vision inherently points towards the Christ-centered fulfillment of God's ultimate plan. The glory, majesty, and authority described here are not exclusive to the Father but are shared with the Son, Jesus Christ, who is the "radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being" as stated in Hebrews 1:3. The One who sits on the throne is the source of all authority, and it is this authority that is later seen being entrusted to the Lamb, Jesus Christ, in Revelation 5:7, as He alone is worthy to open the scroll and execute God's plan. The rainbow of covenant faithfulness, though initially given to Noah, finds its ultimate and eternal guarantee in Christ, who is the mediator of a "new covenant" (Hebrews 8:6) and through whom God's promises are "Yes" and "Amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20). Thus, the awe-inspiring throne room, with its display of divine holiness and steadfast mercy, anticipates the Lamb's central role in bringing God's redemptive and judgmental purposes to fruition, ultimately leading to the establishment of His eternal kingdom where Christ reigns supreme (Revelation 11:15).

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Commentary on Revelation 4 verses 1–7

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points

We have here an account of a second vision with which the apostle John was favoured: After this, that is, not only "after I had seen the vision of Christ walking in the midst of the golden candlesticks," but "after I had taken his messages from his mouth, and written and sent them to the several churches, according to his command, after this I had another vision." Those who well improve the discoveries they have had of God already are prepared thereby for more, and may expect them. Observe,

I. The preparation made for the apostle's having this vision.

1.A door was opened in heaven. Hence we learn, (1.) Whatever is transacted on earth is first designed and settled in heaven; there is the model of all the works of God; all of them are therefore before his eye, and he lets the inhabitants of heaven see as much of them as is fit for them. (2.) We can know nothing of future events but what God is pleased to discover to us; they are within the veil, till God opens the door. But, (3.) So far as God reveals his designs to us we may and ought to receive them, and not pretend to be wise above what is revealed.

2.To prepare John for the vision, a trumpet was sounded, and he was called up into heaven, to have a sight there of the things which were to be hereafter. He was called into the third heavens. (1.) There is a way opened into the holiest of all, into which the sons of God may enter by faith and holy affections now, in their spirits when they die, and in their whole persons at the last day. (2.) We must not intrude into the secret of God's presence, but stay till we are called up to it.

3.To prepare for this vision, the apostle was in the Spirit. He was in a rapture, as before (Rev 1:10), whether in the body or out of the body we cannot tell; perhaps he himself could not; however all bodily actions and sensations were for a time suspended, and his spirit was possessed with the spirit of prophecy, and wholly under a divine influence. The more we abstract ourselves from all corporeal things the more fit we are for communion with God; the body is a veil, a cloud, and clog to the mind in its transactions with God. We should as it were forget it when we go in before the Lord in duty, and be willing to drop it, that we may go up to him in heaven. This was the apparatus to the vision. Now observe,

II. The vision itself. It begins with the strange sights that the apostle saw, and they were such as these: - 1. He saw a throne set in heaven, the seat of honour, and authority, and judgment. Heaven is the throne of God; there he resides in glory, and thence he gives laws to the church and to the whole world, and all earthly thrones are under the jurisdiction of this throne that is set in heaven. 2. He saw a glorious one upon the throne. This throne was not empty; there was one in it who filled it, and that was God, who is here described by those things that are most pleasant and precious in our world: His countenance was like a jasper and a sardine-stone; he is not described by any human features, so as to be represented by an image, but only by his transcendent brightness. This jasper is a transparent stone, which yet offers to the eye a variety of the most vivid colours, signifying the glorious perfections of God; the sardine-stone is red, signifying the justice of God, that essential attribute of which he never divests himself in favour of any, but gloriously exerts it in the government of the world, and especially of the church, through our Lord Jesus Christ. This attribute is displayed in pardoning as well as in punishing, in saving as well as in destroying sinners. 3. He saw a rainbow about the throne, like unto an emerald, Rev 4:3. The rainbow was the seal and token of the covenant of the providence that God made with Noah and his posterity with him, and is a fit emblem of that covenant of promise that God has made with Christ as the head of the church, and all his people in him, which covenant is as the waters of Noah unto God, an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure. This rainbow looked like the emerald; the most prevailing colour was a pleasant green, to show the reviving and refreshing nature of the new covenant. 4. He saw four-and-twenty seats round about the throne, not empty, but filled with four-and-twenty elders, presbyters, representing, very probably, the whole church of God, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament state; not the ministers of the church, but rather the representatives of the people. Their sitting denotes their honour, rest, and satisfaction; their sitting about the throne signifies their relation to God, their nearness to him, the sight and enjoyment they have of him. They are clothed in white raiment, the righteousness of the saints, both imputed and inherent; they had on their heads crowns of gold, signifying the honour and authority given them of God, and the glory they have with him. All these may in a lower sense be applied to the gospel church on earth, in its worshipping assemblies; and, in the higher sense, to the church triumphant in heaven. 5. He perceived lightnings and voices proceeding out of the throne; that is, the awful declarations that God makes to his church of his sovereign will and pleasure. Thus he gave forth the law on mount Sinai; and the gospel has not less glory and authority than the law, though it be of a more spiritual nature. 6. He saw seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are explained to be the seven Spirits of God (Rev 4:5), the various gifts, graces, and operations of the Spirit of God in the churches of Christ; these are all dispensed according to the will and pleasure of him who sits upon the throne. 7. He saw before the throne a sea of glass, like unto crystal. As in the temple there was a great vessel of brass filled with water, in which the priests were to wash when they went to minister before the Lord (and this was called a sea), so in the gospel church the sea or laver for purification is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, who cleanses from all sin, even from sanctuary-sins. In this all those must be washed that are admitted into the gracious presence of God on earth or his glorious presence in heaven. 8. He saw four animals, living creatures, between the throne and the circle of elders (as seems most probable), standing between God and the people; these seem to signify the ministers of the gospel, not only because of this their situation nearer to God, and between him and the elders or representatives of the Christian people, and because fewer in number than the people, but as they are here described, (1.) By their many eyes, denoting sagacity, vigilance, and circumspection. (2.) By their lion-like courage, their great labour and diligence (in which they resemble the ox), their prudence and discretion becoming men, and their sublime affections and speculations, by which they mount up with wings like eagles towards heaven (Rev 4:7), and these wings full of eyes within, to show that in all their meditations and ministrations they are to act with knowledge, and especially should be well acquainted with themselves and the state of their own souls, and see their own concern in the great doctrines and duties of religion, watching over their own souls as well as the souls of the people. (3.) By their continual employment, and that is, praising God, and not ceasing to do so night and day. The elders sit and are ministered unto; these stand and minister: they rest not night nor day. This now leads to the other part of the representation.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–7. Public domain.
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TertullianAD 220
On the Apparel of Women Book I
At last there has really been found a way to prevent even gold from being loved! We have also seen at Rome the nobility of gems blushing in the presence of our matrons at the contemptuous usage of the Parthians and Medes, and the rest of their own fellow-countrymen, only that (their gems) are not generally worn with a view to ostentation. Emeralds lurk in their belts; and the sword (that hangs) below their bosom alone is witness to the cylindrical stones that decorate its hilt; and the massive single pearls on their boots are fain to get lifted out of the mud! In short, they carry nothing so richly gemmed as that which ought not to be gemmed if it is (either) not conspicuous, or else is conspicuous only that it may be shown to be also neglected.
Victorinus of PettauAD 304
Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John
"And He that sate upon the throne was, to look upon, like a jasper and a sardine stone." Upon the throne he says that he saw the likeness of a jasper and a sardine stone. The jasper is of the colour of water, the sardine of fire. These two are thence manifested to be placed as judgments upon God's tribunal until the consummation of the world, of which judgments one is already completed in the deluge of water, and the other shall be completed by fire.

"And there was a rainbow about the throne." Moreover, the rainbow round about the throne has the same colours. The rainbow is called a bow from what the Lord spake to Noah and to his sons, that they should not fear any further deluge in the generation of God, but fire. For thus He says: I will place my bow in the clouds, that ye may now no longer fear water, but fire.
JeromeAD 420
St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER SEVEN
[Daniel 7:9] "I beheld until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of days took His seat. His garment was as white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was composed of fiery flames and its wheels were set on fire. From before His presence there issued forth a rushing, fiery stream." We read something similar in John's Apocalypse: "After these things I was immediately in the Spirit, and lo, a throne was set up in heaven, and one was seated upon the throne; and He who sat upon it had the likeness of jasper and sardine stone, and there was a rainbow round about the throne like the appearance of emerald. Around the throne there were twenty-four other thrones, and upon the twenty-four thrones there sat twenty-four elders, clothed in shining garments; upon their heads was a golden crown, and lightning flashes issued from the throne, and voices and thunder. And in front of the throne there were seven torches of burning fire, which were the seven spirits of God. And in front of the throne lay a glassy sea like unto crystal." (Revelation 4:2-6) And so the many thrones which Daniel saw seem to me to be what John called the twenty-four thrones. And the Ancient of days is the One who, according to John sits alone upon His throne. Likewise the Son of man, who came unto the Ancient of days, is the same as He who, according to John, is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, and the titles of that sort (Revelation 5:5). I imagine that these thrones are the ones of which the Apostle Paul says, "Whether thrones or dominions..." (Colossians 1:16). And in the Gospel we read, "Ye yourselves shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28). And God is called the One who sits and who is the Ancient of days, in order that His character as eternal Judge might be indicated. His garment is shining white like the snow, and the hair of His head is like pure wool. The Savior also, when He was transfigured on the mount and assumed the glory of His divine majesty, appeared in shining white garments (Matthew 17:2). And as for the fact that His hair is compared to perfectly pure wool, the even-handedness and uprightness of His judgment is shown forth, a judgment which shows no partiality in its exercise. Moreover He is described as an elderly man, in order that the ripeness of His judgment may be established. His throne consists of fiery flames, in order that sinners may tremble before the severity of the torments, and also that the just may be saved, but so as by fire. The wheels of the throne are set aflame, or else it is the wheels of His chariot which are aflame. In Ezekiel also God is ushered on the scene seated in a four-horse chariot (Ezekiel 1:4-28), and everything pertaining to God is of a fiery consistency. In another place also a statement is made on this subject: "God is a consuming fire" (Deuteronomy 4:24), that we might know that wood, hay and stubble are going to burn up in the day of judgment. And in the Psalms we read: "Fire goeth before Him, and He shall set aflame all His enemies round about Him" (Psalm 97:3). A rushing, fiery stream proceeded from before Him in order that it might carry sinners to hell (Gehenna).
Primasius of HadrumetumAD 560
COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 4:2-3
Since the rainbow was given as a sign of safety after the flood, it is now suitably used as a sign of the church’s reconciliation to God. For when the storm clouds are irradiated by the splendor of the sun, they produce the form of a rainbow. In comparison to this, when the souls of the saints are illumined by the Sun of righteousness, which is Christ, his deity deigns to be reconciled by their intercession.
Apringius of BejaAD 600
TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 4:2
Who would think that he speaks anything fleshly who reports that he had entered in the spirit? A man so thoroughly tested by his God receives nothing fleshly, nothing earthly. But he was in the spirit so that he might see the Lord of majesty, whom he perceives in the spirit, but does not behold in the flesh. He thereby fulfilled what the apostle said: “Even though we knew Christ according to the flesh, we know him thus no longer.”
Apringius of BejaAD 600
TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 4:3
The jasper stone shines with a green and radiant brightness, so that he might know that the flesh of the assumed man, taken up without a hint of sin, shines with the vigor of everlasting sincerity and glows through the indwelling of the divine power. However, the carnelian stone is red and glimmers with a certain darkness, so that you might recognize the integrity of the undefiled flesh assumed from the modest and humble Virgin.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Revelation
And a rainbow was around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. The rainbow, which is made by the sun shining on clouds, and after the flood was first made a sign of propitiation, by the intercession of the saints whom the Lord illuminates, signifies the Church being fortified. They are well compared to the emerald stone of great greenness; for as they expect an imperishable inheritance with perfect faith, they also powerfully protect others by praying.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Revelation
And he who was sitting was like the appearance of a jasper and a sardius stone. Jasper's color signifies water, sardius fire. With these two, we know the judgment is celebrated. For as it was in the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man (Matt. 24).
Alcuin of YorkAD 804
COMMENTARY ON REVELATION
And he that sat, was to the sight like the jasper and the sardine stone. By the jasper, which is green, are represented the green pastures of the paradise; and what are those pastures but Christ's divinity, in which all things live? As the same John said, He that hath the Son, hath life. [1 John 5:12] By the sardine stone, which has a resemblance to red earth, is represented our Redeemer's humanity, because truth is sprung out of the earth. [Ps. 84:12] The species of these stones may also represent the Church. And there was a rainbow round about the throne, like to the sight of an emerald. By the rainbow is represented the reconciliation of the world achieved through the plan of the Word incarnate. Indeed the sun illuminated a cloud and a rainbow appeared, because when the Father's Word, which is the Sun of justice, [Mal. 4:2] shed rays of light on human nature by adopting it, this very adoption of his humanity, which is called a cloud by the prophet, became the reconciliation of the world. The very interpretation of the noun agrees with this, for if you add one letter and say irini, it means “peace” in Greek. When he illuminates the solid hearts of the saints, which are called clouds, they give the appearance of a bow, because they are bent towards piety by the fact of praying to God. There is here a fitting connection of symbols, because below, lightnings and thunders are said to proceed from the throne, as though from a cloud. Then, since a rainbow shines principally with two colors, namely that of water and that of fire, what is represented is either baptism by water and by the Holy Spirit, or the preceding judgment through the flood and the following one through fire. It is in order that it may be shown more openly in this passage that the divinity was propitiated to the world again by him, that it is compared to the sight of an emerald; for this stone is of a very green color, which it is not unfitting to apply to the nature of the divinity.
OecumeniusAD 990
Commentary on Revelation
And a spirit above Him resembling jasper and carnelian. God is not like these things; away with that thought [ἄπαγε]. He is unlike any of the things perceived by the senses, neither having a body at all, invisible, spiritual, and without form. The invisible God is like that of the Seraphim, revealing their unseen nature, cover their faces with their wings (Is. 6:2). And to Moses, God spoke, saying: "No one shall see my face and live." (Ex. 33:20) But even the evangelist states decisively: "No one has ever seen God." (Jn. 1:18) Therefore, God was not seen resembling anything; rather, the vision of Him was depicted through the works of God by the Revelation.

For the jasper is a precious stone, this one is emerald-like and green, resembling the venom of an asp [ἰῷ ἀσπίδος], from which it also derived its name. The carnelian is another precious stone, fiery and blood-red. The jasper is said to symbolize for us the nourishment of God, and provision, since all nourishment for humans, four-footed animals, birds, and crawling beasts has its origin, and as it were its cause, beginning from green grass. For the prophet says: "He causes grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service of mankind, to bring forth bread from the earth. And wine gladdens the heart of man, to make his face cheerful with oil." (Ps. 103:14-15) And again, in the creation, God says: "Let the earth bring forth grass, herb yielding seed, and fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind." (Gen. 1:11-12) Now, jasper illustrates these things. But indeed, the carnelian is described as the fearfulness of God; for our God is said by the advocator [ἱεροφάντης] Moses to be "a consuming fire", (Deut. 4:24) and the prophet also cries out to Him: "You are fearful, and who can stand before Your face?" (Ps. 75:8) Accordingly, the wise Apostle writes: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb. 10:31) Since the goodness of God is incompatible with those who love sin and are scornful, and is pure, not leading to repentance but to the freedom to commit wrongdoing, it is reasonable that God, along with goodness, also possesses the generous and the awe-inspiring; therefore Paul, knowing the character of those learning and the need for incentives rather than gentleness, addressed the Corinthians, saying: "What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?" (1 Cor. 4:21) Yet one of the saints (Basil) said, "Gehenna does not frighten you; the kingdom does not urge you on? We speak to you with a heart of stone."

Therefore, it was known as a fearful and astonishing necessity for those being disciplined. But the carnelian is not the first for God, rather, the first indeed is the jasper. For His nature is that of good and humane and gentle, and He wishes to be a Father rather than a Master to us. But, if it is lawful to say, we 'force' Him, and He leaves behind His natural gentleness, and is led by unnatural sternness.

And it is said that a rainbow encircling the throne appeared like an emerald in appearance. The perceptible rainbow [ἶρις] which the divine Scripture calls the bow [τόξον] of God, consisting of the reflection of the solar light, when it is diverted in the thickness of a cloud, has become multicolored and numerous in color. But that one, the spiritual rainbow, which encompasses the divine throne, was of one kind; for it was emerald in appearance. And it itself also prefigures all the holy and ministering spirits of God, wherefore it has also been called rainbow, although it happens to be of one kind, so that from the various colors of the rainbow we may conceive the many orders and distinctions of the divine angels. Everything indeed is bound to one single color; for all things are equally beneficial and bear the likeness of their own Master, of the emerald color that itself attests to its productive power, just as the jasper does to God. And let no one stumble over those who encounter it; Why indeed are the sacred orders of the spiritual beings concerning God are overshadowed by the more precious stone of the emerald, while God Himself is associated with the less precious jasper and carnelian? For the discussion is not now about the value of what is visible, but about the meanings signified by the colors.

For if someone were to seek honor in a petty way, there would be nothing for which God could be accused, nor would anyone find fault with it; that is, that the Lord is rejected with a stone. For Isaiah says, "Behold, I am placing a cornerstone in Zion concerning the Lord." (Isa. 28:16) And the prophet speaks of the stone that the builders rejected concerning him. The evil spirits are allegorized as mountains; for David himself said that mountains can be moved—"in the hearts of the seas," and "the mountains were shaken in his mighty power," (Ps. 117:22) whose magnitude is so great that it is impossible to find anything greater than it.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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