Revelation 15:4

New Testament Apocalyptic ASV (1901)

What does Revelation 15:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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.
Revelation 15:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Revelation 15

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4Who 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.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, etc.] At this time the people of the Jews shall seek after Christ, and fear him and his goodness; the forces of the Gentiles shall be brought into Zion, whose heart shall then fear, and be enlarged; the fear of the Lord will be in all places, and in all men, both Jews and Gentiles, (<280305>Hosea 3:5 <236005>Isaiah 60:5) and glorify thy name? by ascribing all divine perfections to him, giving him divine worship and adoration, and attributing the whole of salvation to him, and the glory of all that is done for his church, and against its enemies: for thou only art holy; not only perfectly holy, as man, but infinitely and essentially holy, as God, and the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Who shall not--Greek, "Who is there but must fear Thee?" Compare Moses' song, Exo 15:14-16, on the fear which God's judgments strike into the foe. thee--so Syriac. But A, B, C, Vulgate, and CYPRIAN reject "thee." all nations shall come--alluding to Psa 22:27-31; compare Isa 66:23; Jer 16:19. The conversion of all nations, therefore, shall be when Christ shall come, and not till then; and the first moving cause will be Christ's manifested judgments preparing all hearts for receiving Christ's mercy. He shall effect by His presence what we have in vain tried to effect in His absence. The present preaching of the Gospel is gathering out the elect remnant; meanwhile "the mystery of iniquity" is…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Who shall not fear thee, O Lord - Reverence and adore thee; for the word “fear,” in the Scriptures, is commonly used in this sense when applied to God. The sense here is, that the judgments about to be inflicted on the beast and his image should and would teach people to reverence and adore God. There is, perhaps, included here also the idea of awe, inasmuch as this would be the effect of punishment. And glorify thy name - Honor thee - the name being put for the person who bare it. The sense is, that, as a consequence of these judgments, men would be brought to honor God, and to acknowledge him as the Ruler of the earth. For thou only art holy - That is, in these judgments he would show…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“15:4 Who will not fear . . . and glorify your name? This rhetorical question (cp. Jer 10:7) assumes that only a fool would fail to do so (cp. Rev 14:7; 16:9; see Pss 14:1; 53:1). • God alone is holy: See Rev 16:5; Lev 11:44; 1 Pet 1:16. God’s holiness is the basis for our worship and salvation. • All nations will . . . worship: Some will be forced to acknowledge God (cp. Phil 2:10-11), but all will recognize that God’s deeds and judgments have been revealed and are righteous and just.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Who: Exo 15:14-16; Psa 89:7; Isa 60:5; Jer 5:22, Jer 10:7; Hos 3:5; Luk 12:4, Luk 12:5 and glorify: Psa 22:23, Psa 86:9; Isa 24:15, Isa 25:3; Rom 15:9; Th2 1:10-12 thou only: Rev 3:7, Rev 4:8, Rev 6:10; Sa1 2:2; Psa 22:3, Psa 99:5, Psa 99:9, Psa 111:9; Isa 6:3, Isa 57:15; Hab 1:12; Pe1 1:16 for all: Rev 11:15; Psa 22:27, Psa 86:9, Psa 117:1-2; Isa 45:23, Isa 66:18-20, Isa 66:22; Jer 16:19; Zac 2:11, Zac 8:20-23, Zac 14:16; Mal 1:11 for thy: Rev 16:7, Rev 19:2; Psa 97:8, Psa 105:7; Isa 26:9 Revelation 15:5”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification