His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
Parallel translations
- WEB His head and his hair were white as white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire.
- KJV His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
- BSB The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire.
- NASB His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.
- NLT His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
His white hair and fiery eyes display purity, eternity, and penetrating judgment. It matters because Christ sees and assesses his churches with holy insight.
Overview
The white head and hair echo the "Ancient of Days" in Daniel 7, attributing divine eternity and holiness to Christ. Eyes like flaming fire convey his searching, all-seeing gaze that nothing escapes. This portrait assures and warns the churches that their Lord knows them fully.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Dan 10:6his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
- Dan 7:9I saw until thrones were placed, and one who was ancient of days sat: his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels burning fire.
- Rev 19:12His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself.
- Rev 2:18“To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write: “The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like burnished brass, says these things:
- Matt 28:3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 1:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.