Revelation of John 15:4 · Bible study
Revelation 15:4 Commentary: Learning to Fear God through His Judgments
Greek · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore how God's righteous acts revealed in judgment lead the nations to fear Him and worship.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God's unique holiness and His revealed righteous acts compel all nations to fear and worship Him.
- Key words: hosios (holy/sacred), dikaiōmata (righteous acts), phobēthē (fear/reverence).
- Main debate: Whether the conversion of the nations occurs gradually through the gospel or suddenly at Christ's return.
- Theological theme: The universal scope of God's sovereignty: judgment leads to worship.
- Best use: In studies of Revelation, God's holiness, eschatology, and the relationship between justice and worship.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
Who wouldn’t fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have been revealed.”
KJV King James Version 1769
Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Who shall not fear, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy; for all the nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy righteous acts have been made manifest.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
who may not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? because Thou alone art kind, because all the nations shall come and bow before Thee, because Thy righteous acts were manifested.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Who shall not fear [thee], O Lord, and glorify thy name? for [thou] only [art] holy; for all nations shall come and do homage before thee; for thy righteousnesses have been made manifest.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and magnify thy name? For thou only art holy. For all nations shall come and shall adore in thy sight, because thy judgments are manifest.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
¿ Quién no|strong="G3756, G3361" te temerá, oh Señor, y engrandecerá tu nombre? porque tú sólo eres santo; por lo cual todas las naciones vendrán, y adorarán delante de ti, porque tus juicios son manifestados.
Quem não te temeria, ó Senhor, e não glorificaria o teu nome? Porque só tu és santo; porque todas as nações virão, e adorarão diante de ti, porque teus juízos foram manifestos!
Qui ne craindrait, Seigneur, et ne glorifierait ton nom? Car seul tu es saint. Et toutes les nations viendront, et se prosterneront devant toi, parce que tes jugements ont été manifestés.
Wer sollte dich nicht fürchten, HERR und deinen Namen preisen? Denn du bist allein heilig. Denn alle Heiden werden kommen und anbeten vor dir; denn deine Urteile sind offenbar geworden.
Wie zou U niet vrezen, Heere, en Uw Naam niet verheerlijken? Want Gij zijt alleen heilig; want alle volken zullen komen, en voor U aanbidden; want Uw oordelen zijn openbaar geworden.
Chi non temerà, o Signore, e chi non glorificherà il tuo nome? Poiché tu solo sei santo; e tutte le nazioni verranno e adoreranno nel tuo cospetto, poiché i tuoi giudici sono stati manifestati.
Któż by się ciebie nie bał, Panie! i nie wielbił imienia twego? gdyżeś sam święty, gdyż wszystkie narody przyjdą i kłaniać się będą przed obliczem twojem, że się okazały sprawiedliwe sądy twoje.
Кто не убоится Тебя, Господи, и не прославит имени Твоего? ибо Ты един свят. Все народы придут и поклонятся пред Тобою, ибо открылись суды Твои.
主啊，誰 敢不 敬畏你， 不將榮耀 歸與你的 名呢？因為 獨有 你是聖的。 萬 民 都要來 在你 面前 敬拜，因 你 公義的作為 已經顯出來了。
What man is there who will not have fear before you, O Lord, and give glory to your name? because you only are holy; for all the nations will come and give worship before you; for your righteousness has been made clear.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Revelation of John 15:4
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse, sung by the victors over the beast, declares the inevitable result of God's revealed righteous acts: universal fear and worship. Barnes notes that the word "fear" in Scripture refers to reverent awe, and that the judgments inflicted on the beast "should and would teach people to reverence and adore God." Gill adds that this fear includes the Jews seeking Christ and the Gentiles being brought into the faith. The Greek construction τίς οὐ μή (who will certainly not fear?) expects a positive answer: no one will fail to fear. All commentators highlight the uniqueness of God's holiness, Vincent and the Cambridge Bible point out that the word used (ὅσιος, hosios) is rare for God in the New Testament, denoting moral purity and piety, distinguishing it from the more common ἅγιος (hagios). This holiness is set in contrast to the beast's arrogance. The nations' coming to worship is seen by JFB as a future event at Christ's return, while others, like Barnes, link it to the ongoing spread of the gospel. All agree that the ultimate purpose of God's judgments is not destruction alone, but the redemption and worship of all peoples.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Pre-millennial future conversion: JFB and others point to Psalm 22:27-31 and parallels, seeing the conversion of all nations as an event after Christ's return and the destruction of antichrist.
- Gradual gospel advance: Barnes and Gill see judgments as removing obstacles to the gospel, leading to a gradual conversion of the world throughout the church age.
- Righteous acts as imputed righteousness: Gill interprets 'righteous acts' as the perfect righteousness of Christ, revealed clearly at that future time.
What is clear: God alone is holy, His righteous acts are made manifest, and all nations will worship before Him.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The meaning of the Greek word hosios, translated 'holy' | It denotes moral purity, piety, and sacredness, distinct from the more common hagios used elsewhere in Revelation. | Some traditions see it as emphasizing God's covenantal faithfulness; others as His absolute purity and separation from sin. |
| The identity of the 'nations' in v.4 | The nations are all peoples who were not part of the beast's system and are now turning to God. | Some commentators (e.g., Gill, Barnes) view this as the gradual spread of the gospel to all ethnic groups; others (e.g., JFB) see it as a future conversion after Christ's return. |
| The meaning of 'righteous acts' (dikaiōmata) | They include God's judgments and saving deeds. | Gill links it specifically to Christ's imputed righteousness; most commentators (Vincent, Cambridge) understand it as God's righteous deeds in history, especially His judgments. |
| The timing of 'all nations coming to worship' | It is an eschatological promise that will be fulfilled. | Pre-millennial readings place this after Christ's second coming; amillennial or postmillennial readings see it as the present age's gradual triumph of the gospel. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse sits within the heavenly preparation scene before the seven last plagues (Revelation 15-16). John sees the victorious saints standing on a sea of glass mingled with fire, holding harps of God. They sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. The sea of glass, often associated with God's throne (Revelation 4:6), here mingled with fire, suggests both divine purity and impending judgment. The song echoes the victory song of Moses in Exodus 15, where the Lord's mighty acts in judgment (the drowning of Pharaoh's army) cause the surrounding nations to tremble: "The peoples have heard. They tremble" (Exodus 15:14). John draws directly on prophetic promises from the Old Testament. Psalm 86:9 declares, "All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord." Isaiah 2:2-4 and Micah 4:1-2 envision all nations streaming to the mountain of the Lord. The phrase "righteous acts" (δικαιώματα, dikaiōmata) in the Greek Old Testament refers to God's ordinances and righteous deeds. Here it points to the specific judgments about to be poured out on Babylon and the beast. This judgment clears the way for the nations to come freely to worship. The scene thus connects the Old Testament hope of universal worship with the final vindication of God's people.
Textual Notes
The Greek text of Revelation 15:4 is stable, with one notable variant: the pronoun "thee" (σε) after "fear" in the first clause. The majority of earlier manuscripts, Codex Alexandrinus, Codex Vaticanus, Codex Ephraemi, and the Latin Vulgate, omit it. The Byzantine tradition and later manuscripts include it, and it appears in the King James Version. The meaning of the verse does not change significantly: the call to fear addresses the Lord in either case. The adjective "holy" (ὅσιος) is a rare term used of God in the New Testament, appearing only here and in Revelation 16:5.
Reception History
From the Reformation onward, interpreters saw this verse as the key to understanding the purpose of God's final judgments. Matthew Henry (1710) placed it within the preparation for destroying antichrist's power. Adam Clarke (1826) emphasized that the universal fear and worship are grounded in God's just and holy character. Gill (1748) highlighted the connection between "righteous acts" and justification. In the 19th century, JFB argued that the conversion of all nations awaits Christ's personal return. Across these traditions, the song has been sung as a hope that history will end with every nation bowing to the true God.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- The unique holiness of God, "For you only are holy." God's holiness is not just one attribute among many. It is the foundation for both reverence and worship. The word hosios suggests a sacredness that sets God apart from all creation.
- The universal response: fear and praise, "Who wouldn't fear you, Lord, and glorify your name?" Fear here is not terror but awe-filled respect. It leads directly to glorifying God. Both responses belong together.
- The revelation that changes everything, "For your righteous acts have been revealed." God's judgments make His justice visible. They remove the obstacles to worship and draw the nations to Him.
Five-Point Outline
- The singers, Overcomers of the beast, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.
- The Old Testament foundation, The song of Moses (Exodus 15) and the prophetic promises of all nations worshipping.
- God's unique holiness, Set apart from every false claimant to deity.
- The inevitable response, Fear and glorification that sweeps all nations.
- The means, The revelation of God's righteous acts in judgment and salvation.
Illustration Hooks
- A courtroom drama where a long-delayed verdict finally falls. The sentence is just, and the public sees the judge's integrity. The result is not just fear but respect for the system of justice.
- A parent who must discipline a child whom they clearly love. The discipline, though painful, teaches the child that the parent's rules come from love and holiness. The child's trust may grow, not shrink.
- A natural disaster that humbles a entire region. People who never prayed begin to ask questions about God and justice. Such moments reveal human need.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- How can God's judgment lead people to worship rather than run away?
- Does the fear of God mean believers must be scared of Him?
- When will we see all nations worshipping God? Is it happening now?
Leading a Discussion
This verse comes from the song of those who have overcome the beast. It speaks of a world where God's holiness is finally seen clearly, and every knee bows. In a time when it feels like evil is winning, this song gives us the end of the story. Use these questions in your small group to explore what it means to trust God's justice and to long for His worship.
Discussion Questions
- Read the surrounding passage (Revelation 15:1-4). Who is singing this song? What have they experienced?
- What does the word "holy" mean in this context? How is it different from other uses of holy in Revelation?
- Why does the song connect fear with glorifying God? How are they related?
- "All nations will come and worship before you." How does this promise shape your view of history?
- The verse says God's righteous acts "have been revealed" (in the Greek, a past tense for a future event). Why might John use the past tense here?
- How do you respond to the idea that God's judgments can draw people to worship?
- In your own life, how can you cultivate a healthy fear of God that leads to praise rather than dread?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 15:14 | The peoples have heard. They tremble. Pangs have taken hold of the inhabitants of Philistia. |
| Exodus 15:16 | Terror and dread falls on them. By the greatness of your arm they are as still as a stone, until your people pass over, Yahweh, until the people you have purchased pass over. |
| I Samuel 2:2 | There is no one as holy as Yahweh, for there is no one besides you, nor is there any rock like our God. |
| Psalms 22:3 | But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel. |
| Psalms 22:23 | You who fear Yahweh, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him! Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel! |
| Psalms 22:27 | All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to Yahweh. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you. |
| Psalms 86:9 | All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name. |
| Psalms 89:7 | a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him? |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke distinguishes between the universal response and the believer's response. All people should fear and worship God because He is just, true, and holy. But His saints are called to love and obey Him personally, because He is their King, while everyone must acknowledge His judgments when they are revealed.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that the fear of God here means reverent adoration, though it includes awe stirred by the punishment of the beast. He reads "thou only art holy" as a comparative statement stressing God's surpassing purity. For Barnes, these judgments remove the great obstacle to the gospel, leading all nations to worship God.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator notes that the word "holy" here refers to human piety, not the absolute holiness of God, and is applied to Christ in His human character. He also clarifies that the word translated "judgments" means "righteous acts," emphasizing God's vindication rather than punishment.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
And I sawe as it were a glassie sea, mingled with fire, and them that had gotten victorie of the beast, and of his image, and of his marke, and of the number of his name, stand at the glassie sea, hauing the harpes of God,
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill reads this scene as a prophecy about the end of antichrist's rule. He argues that Christ alone is truly holy, in direct opposition to the Pope's false claim to that title. At that time, the doctrine of justification by Christ's righteousness will be clearly revealed and accepted everywhere, replacing human merit.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry highlights that the seven angels and their vials appear both great and marvellous because of the work they will do and the witnesses who watch. Their task is to finish the destruction of antichrist, and the victorious saints stand as spectators, having overcome the beast. God's full vengeance now descends on Babylon.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent highlights the Greek terms behind key phrases: holy, used of Christ elsewhere, points to God's unique holiness here, while judgments means righteous acts, not merely legal decisions. He traces how each word works in other New Testament passages to clarify this verse's exact meaning.