And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
Was. So Vulgate Coptic; omitted in 'Aleph (')AB Was. So Vulgate, Coptic; omitted in 'Aleph (') A B.
To look upon - `in sight.'
Jasper. From Revelation 21:11, where it is called most precious, which the jasper was not, Ebrard infers it was a diamond. Ordinarily, the jasper is a stone of various wavy colours, somewhat transparent. In Revelation 21:11 it represents crystalline brightness. The sardine, our cornelian, or else a fiery red. As the brightness represents God's holiness, so the fiery red His just wrath. The same union of white brightness and fiery redness appears in Ezekiel 1:4; Ezekiel 8:2; Daniel 7:9; Revelation 1:14; Revelation 10:1.
Rainbow round about the throne - a complete circle (type of God's perfection and eternity: not a half-circle, as the earthly rainbow) surrounding the throne vertically. Its various colours, which combined form one pure ray, symbolize the various aspects of God's providences uniting in one harmonious whole. Here, however, predominant among the prismatic colours is green, the most refreshing to look upon, symbolizing God's consolatory promises in Christ to His people amidst judgments on His foes. The rainbow was the token of God's covenant with all flesh, and His people in particular. Hereby God renewed the grant originally made to the first man. As the rainbow was reflected on the waters of the world's ruin, and is seen only when a cloud is over the earth, so another deluge, of fire, shall precede the 'new heavens and earth' granted to redeemed man, as the earth after the flood was restored to Noah. The Lord on His throne, whence (Revelation 4:5) proceed "lightnings and thunderings," shall issue the commission to rid the earth of its oppressors; but amidst judgment, when other men's hearts fail for fear, the believer shall be reassured by the rainbow, the covenant token, round the throne (DeBurgh). The heavenly bow speaks of the shipwreck of the world through sin; also of calm sunshine after the storm. The cloud is the token of God's presence-in the tabernacle Holiest Place; on mount Sinai at the giving of the law; at the ascension (Acts 1:9); at His coming again (Revelation 1:7).