He had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land.
Parallel translations
- KJV And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
- BSB He held in his hand a small scroll, which lay open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.
- NKJV He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,
- NASB and he had in his hand a little scroll, which was open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land;
- NLT And in his hand was a small scroll that had been opened. He stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.
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
The angel holds a small open scroll and plants his feet on sea and land. His stance claims authority over the whole earth.
Overview
The "little open book" contrasts with the sealed scroll of Revelation 5; its openness signals revelation now being disclosed. By standing on both sea and land, the angel symbolizes God's universal dominion and the worldwide reach of the message. This sets the stage for John's prophetic commission in the verses to follow. It affirms that God's word and rule extend over all creation, leaving no realm outside His authority.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Rev 10:5The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky,
- Ezek 2:9–10When I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me; and, behold, a scroll of a book was therein;
- Rev 10:8–10The voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.”
- Rev 5:1–5I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals.
- Matt 28:18Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
- Ps 65:5By awesome deeds of righteousness, you answer us, God of our salvation. You who are the hope of all the ends of the earth, of those who are far away on the sea;
- Rev 6:3When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!”
- Ps 2:8Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
- Prov 8:15–16By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
- Isa 59:19So shall they fear Yahweh’s name from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come as a rushing stream, which Yahweh’s breath drives.
- Rev 6:1I saw that the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, as with a voice of thunder, “Come and see!”
- Eph 1:20–22which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,
- Phil 2:10–11that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,
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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 10:2 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
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