His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnaceThis imagery of feet like polished bronze suggests strength, stability, and purity. In biblical times, bronze was a symbol of judgment and endurance, often used in the construction of altars and temple furnishings (
Exodus 27:1-6). The refining process in a furnace indicates purification and perfection, suggesting that Christ's judgment is both pure and righteous. This description connects to
Daniel 10:6, where a similar vision of a heavenly being is described, emphasizing the divine nature and authority of Christ. The polished bronze also reflects the glory and majesty of Jesus, who stands firm and unmovable, symbolizing His eternal and unchanging nature.
and His voice was like the roar of many waters
The comparison of Christ's voice to the roar of many waters conveys power, authority, and majesty. This imagery is reminiscent ofEzekiel 43:2, where the glory of God is described with a voice like the sound of many waters, indicating divine presence and overwhelming authority. The sound of many waters can be both awe-inspiring and fearsome, suggesting that Christ's words carry immense power and command attention. This also reflects the idea that His voice is heard throughout the earth, reaching all nations and peoples, much like the sound of a mighty waterfall or ocean waves. The imagery underscores the authority of Christ's message and His role as the ultimate judge and ruler.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Jesus ChristThe central figure in this passage, depicted in a vision given to John. This description is part of the larger vision of the glorified Christ.
2.
John the ApostleThe author of the Book of Revelation, who received this vision while exiled on the island of Patmos.
3.
PatmosA small, rocky island in the Aegean Sea where John was exiled and received the Revelation.
4.
Vision of the Glorified ChristThis event is part of the opening chapter of Revelation, where John describes the majestic and awe-inspiring appearance of Jesus.
Teaching Points
The Majesty of ChristThe description of Jesus' feet as polished bronze signifies His strength, stability, and purity. Believers are reminded of the majesty and holiness of Christ, encouraging reverence and worship.
The Authority of His VoiceThe comparison of Jesus' voice to the roar of many waters signifies His supreme authority and power. This calls believers to listen and obey His words, recognizing His ultimate authority over all creation.
Refinement and PurityThe imagery of bronze refined in a furnace speaks to the purity and perfection of Christ. Believers are encouraged to pursue holiness and allow God to refine them through trials.
Judgment and RighteousnessBronze is often associated with judgment in the Bible. This imagery reminds believers of Christ's role as the righteous judge, urging them to live in a way that honors Him.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Revelation 1:15?
2.How does "His feet like polished bronze" symbolize Christ's authority and judgment today?
3.What does "voice like the roar of many waters" reveal about Jesus' divine power?
4.How can we apply the imagery of Christ's strength in our daily lives?
5.Connect Revelation 1:15 to Old Testament descriptions of God's majesty and power.
6.How does understanding Christ's majesty in Revelation 1:15 impact your worship practices?
7.What does "His feet were like polished bronze" symbolize in Revelation 1:15?
8.How does Revelation 1:15 relate to the divinity of Jesus?
9.Why is the voice in Revelation 1:15 compared to "the roar of many waters"?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Revelation 1?
11.What are feet like burnished bronze?
12.What are feet like burnished bronze?
13.What does 'voice like rushing waters' mean?
14.What does "voice like rushing waters" mean?What Does Revelation 1:15 Mean
His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnaceJohn’s first glimpse of Christ’s lower garments draws attention to strength, purity, and judgment.
• Bronze in Scripture is the metal of the altar (Exodus 27:1-6), where sin was judged by fire. The Son of Man stands upon that same picture—His footing is anchored in righteous judgment.
• The metal is “polished” and “refined,” meaning every impurity has been driven out. Nothing in Him is tarnished (Hebrews 7:26).
• Daniel saw a similar figure: “His arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze” (Daniel 10:6), linking the glorified Christ with the heavenly messenger who terrified Daniel.
• Ezekiel’s cherubim had “soles… like the gleam of polished bronze” (Ezekiel 1:7), underscoring a heavenly, other-worldly brilliance.
• When Christ addresses Thyatira He repeats the image: “whose feet are like polished bronze” (Revelation 2:18), stressing His authority to search hearts and repay works.
Takeaway: those feet move through the churches and the nations alike, unsoiled, unstoppable, and fully prepared to crush wickedness (Psalm 110:1).
His voice was like the roar of many watersHaving shown His feet, John next hears His voice—a thunderous, cascading power.
• Ezekiel felt the same overwhelming sound: “His voice was like the roar of many waters” (Ezekiel 43:2). The prophet connected that roar with the glory of God filling the new temple.
• The psalmist declares, “The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders” (Psalm 29:3). The image marries majesty with irresistible authority.
• Later John says, “I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder” (Revelation 14:2), affirming the consistent heavenly resonance.
• Waters can neither be silenced nor ignored; their roar drowns competing noise. So the risen Christ’s word drowns every other voice—Rome’s decrees, demonic accusations, even self-doubt (John 5:28-29).
• The phrase also conveys comfort: a waterfall’s steady rush soothes those who stand secure in Christ while terrifying those who oppose Him.
summaryRevelation 1:15 presents a Savior whose polished-bronze feet announce pure, fiery judgment and immovable stability, while His waterfall-roar voice proclaims sovereign power that no creature can mute. Seeing and hearing Him this way assures believers that the Lord walking among His churches is both perfectly holy and infinitely mighty, able to uphold His people and put every enemy under His feet.
(15)
His feet like unto fine brass.--The feet, like the feet of the ministering priests of Israel, were bare, and appeared like
chalcolibanus (fine brass). The exact meaning of this word (used only here) is not certain. The most trustworthy authors incline to take it as a hybrid word, half Greek, half Hebrew--
chalcos,brass, and
laban,white, to whiten--and understand it to signify brass which has attained in the furnace a white heat. "Such technical words were likely enough to be current in a population like that of Ephesus, consisting largely of workers in metal, some of whom--if we may judge from the case of Alexander the coppersmith (
Acts 19:34;
2Timothy 4:14)--were, without doubt, Jews. I believe the word in question to have belonged to this technical vocabulary. It is at any rate used by St. John as familiar and intelligible to those for whom he wrote" (Prof. Plumptre in the
Epistles to Seven Churches, in loco)
.His voice as the sound (better,voice,as the same word--phone--is used twice, and translated first "voice" and then "sound" in our English version) of many waters.--Daniel described the voice of the Ancient of Days as the voice of a multitude (Daniel 10:6); but the voice of the multitude was in earlier Hebrew writings compared to the sound of the waves of the sea, which the voice of the Lord alone could subdue (Psalm 65:7;Psalm 93:4). This image the Evangelist adopts to describe the voice of Christ--strong and majestic, amid the Babel-sounds of earth. That voice, whose word stilled the sea, sounds as the waves of the sea, which St. John heard Him rebuke. . . .
Verse 15. -
Fine brass. This may stand as a translation of
χαλκολίβανος, a word which occurs here and in
Revelation 2:18 only, and the second half of which has never been satisfactorily explained. It may have been a local technical term in use among the metalworkers of Ephesus (
Acts 19:24;
2 Timothy 4:14). The Rhemish Version renders it "latten." In what follows, the Revised Version is to be preferred: "as if
it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the
voice of many waters." It is tempting to think that "the roar of the sea is in the ears of the lonely man in Patmos;" but the image seems rather to be that of the sound of many cataracts (comp.
Ezekiel 1:24;
Ezekiel 43:2;
Daniel 10:6). There is singularly little of the scenery of Patmos in the Apocalypse.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
Hisαὐτοῦ(autou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.feetπόδες(podes)Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4228:The foot. A primary word; a 'foot'.[were] likeὅμοιοι(homoioi)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3664:Like, similar to, resembling, of equal rank. From the base of homou; similar.polished bronzeχαλκολιβάνῳ(chalkolibanō)Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5474:Neuter of a compound of chalkos and libanos; burnished copper, an alloy of copper and silver having a brilliant lustre.refinedπεπυρωμένης(pepyrōmenēs)Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4448:From pur; to kindle, i.e. to be ignited, glow, be refined, or to be inflamed.inἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.a furnace,καμίνῳ(kaminō)Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2575:A furnace, oven, kiln. Probably from kaio; a furnace.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.Hisαὐτοῦ(autou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.voiceφωνὴ(phōnē)Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5456:Probably akin to phaino through the idea of disclosure; a tone; by implication, an address, saying or language.[was] likeὡς(hōs)Adverb
Strong's 5613:Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.[the] roarφωνὴ(phōnē)Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5456:Probably akin to phaino through the idea of disclosure; a tone; by implication, an address, saying or language.of manyπολλῶν(pollōn)Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 4183:Much, many; often.waters.ὑδάτων(hydatōn)Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 5204:Water. And genitive case, hudatos, etc. From the base of huetos; water literally or figuratively.
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NT Prophecy: Revelation 1:15 His feet were like burnished brass as (Rev. Re Apocalypse) 
