Revelation 7:13

¶ And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

And {G2532} one {G1520} of {G1537} the elders {G4245} answered {G611}, saying {G3004} unto me {G3427}, What {G5101} are {G1526} these {G3778} which {G3588} are arrayed in {G4016} white {G3022} robes {G4749}? and {G2532} whence {G4159} came they {G2064}?

One of the elders asked me, “These people dressed in white robes — who are they, and where are they from?”

Then one of the elders addressed me: “These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?”

And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, These that are arrayed in the white robes, who are they, and whence came they?

Commentary

Context

Revelation 7:13 immediately follows John's vision of a vast, unnumbered multitude standing before the throne and the Lamb, clad in white robes and holding palm branches, worshipping God. This scene comes after the sealing of the 144,000 from the tribes of Israel, creating a broader picture of God's redeemed people. The question posed by one of the elders serves as a transitional moment, inviting John (and the reader) to ponder the identity and origin of this grand assembly, leading into the elder's detailed explanation in the subsequent verses.

Key Themes

  • Divine Inquiry and Revelation: The elder's question is not born of ignorance but is a pedagogical device. It serves to draw John into deeper understanding of the vision, preparing him for a crucial revelation about the identity of the multitude. This highlights God's orderly unveiling of prophetic truth.
  • Symbolism of White Robes: The "white robes" consistently symbolize purity, righteousness, and victory throughout the book of Revelation. They signify those who have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and have triumphed over spiritual or earthly trials.
  • Identity of the Redeemed: The question "whence came they?" points directly to the source of their salvation and the path they traveled to reach their glorified state. It foreshadows the answer given in Revelation 7:14, identifying them as those who have come out of great tribulation.

Linguistic Insight

The KJV phrase "arrayed in white robes" translates the Greek peribeblēmenoi stolās leukas, meaning "clothed in white robes." The term stolē refers to a long, flowing garment, often associated with dignity or official status. The color leukas (white) is universally understood in biblical contexts to represent purity, holiness, and divine approval, distinct from mere brightness. This emphasis underscores the spiritual transformation and exalted status of this redeemed company in the heavenly realm.

Significance and Application

Revelation 7:13 serves as a pivotal moment in John's vision, building anticipation for the identification of the great multitude. For believers today, this verse reinforces the importance of spiritual discernment and the ultimate destiny of those who remain faithful through trials. It also highlights the intercession and guidance offered by heavenly beings, as one of the twenty-four elders around God's throne takes the initiative to explain the vision to John. The scene offers immense comfort and hope, assuring that a vast, uncounted multitude from every nation, kindred, people, and tongue will stand redeemed before God's throne, having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. It encourages perseverance in faith, knowing that ultimate victory and eternal worship await the faithful who overcome.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
The Message of the Book of Revelation What the Bible Says About the End Times The Meaning of 666 in Revelation The Nature of Angels The Tower of Babel: The Origin of Nations and Languages

Cross-References

  • Revelation 7:9

    After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

  • Revelation 4:10

    The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

  • Revelation 5:5

    And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

  • Revelation 5:11

    And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

  • John 7:28

    Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.

  • Revelation 4:4

    And round about the throne [were] four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

  • Judges 13:6

    Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance [was] like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he [was], neither told he me his name:
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