When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
Parallel translations
- KJV And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
- BSB When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
- NKJV WhenHe opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
- NASB When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
- NLT When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll, there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour.
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
When the Lamb opens the seventh seal, heaven falls silent for about half an hour. The silence marks a solemn pause before the next series of judgments.
Overview
The hush in heaven heightens awe and anticipation, perhaps signaling reverent stillness before God's judgments or the answering of the saints' prayers. The seventh seal opens into the seven trumpets, linking the sequences of judgment. The dramatic silence underscores the gravity of what God is about to do.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Zech 2:13Be silent, all flesh, before Yahweh; for he has roused himself from his holy habitation!”
- Hab 2:20But Yahweh is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him!”
- 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!”
- Ps 62:1For the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him.
- Job 4:16It stood still, but I couldn’t discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,
- Rev 5:1I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals.
- Ps 37:7Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.
- Rev 6:9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had.
- Rev 6:12I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became as blood.
- Rev 6:5When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come and see!” And behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a balance in his hand.
- Rev 6:7When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see!”
- Rev 6:3When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!”
- Rev 5:9They sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals: for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood, out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,
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 8:1 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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