Revelation 7:7

7 from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand,

Revelation 7:7 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 7:7

Of the tribe of Simeon [were] sealed twelve thousand
The name of this tribe signifies "hearing", ( Genesis 29:33 ) ; and such an hearing as is attended with obedience; and denotes the spiritual and practical hearing of the Gospel by those who hear, and understand, and believe, and practise what they hear, and yield the obedience of faith unto it.

Of the tribe of Levi [were] sealed twelve thousand;
this name signifies "joined", ( Genesis 29:34 ) ; and denotes, that these sealed ones were not only joined one to another in love and holy fellowship, but to Christ, and were one spirit with him, and were members of his body, flesh, and bones, and cleaved to him with full purpose of heart.

Of the tribe of Issachar [were] sealed twelve thousand;
the interpretation of this name is "hire" or "reward", ( Genesis 30:18 ) ; and may design those rewards of grace which God bestows upon his faithful servants, in times of tribulation.

Revelation 7:7 In-Context

5 from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand sealed, from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand,

6 from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand,

7 from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand,

8 from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.

9 After these [things] I looked, and behold, a great crowd that no one was able to number, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed [in] white robes and [with] palm branches in their hands.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "Symeon," an alternate spelling of the Greek form of the name