Throne

A large, fancy chair used by rulers or people in authority.

Relief of Darius sitting on his throne in Persepolis
Relief of Darius sitting on his throne in Persepolis (© درفش کاویانی, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons) Throne

About Throne

An elevated, ceremonial chair. It symbolizes the importance and authority of its occupant. As the word "throne" spread, it became a symbol of kingship. It came to mean the kingdom itself. When Pharaoh made Joseph viceroy, he said, "Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you" (Genesis 41:40). The establishment of David as king of Israel was equivalent to the establishment of the throne of David (2 Samuel 3:10). To occupy the throne indicated succession to the kingship (1 Kings 1:46).

Only one throne is described in detail in the Old Testament, the throne of Solomon (1 Kings 10:18–20; 2 Chronicles 9:17–19). The description and ancient monuments show thrones. They hint at the appearance of the throne of Israel. An elevated seat with six steps leading up to it, the throne was partly made of ivory and overlaid with gold. The throne had a backrest and arms. There were lion statues beside it and six similar statues on either side of the steps. Although not mentioned in the Old Testament’s description, a footstool was an indispensable part of the throne (Isaiah 66:1).

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The object itself Article

Form, use in ancient daily life, and how translators render the term.

Key References

Exodus 17:16

“Indeed,” he said, “a hand was lifted up toward the throne of the LORD. The LORD will war against Amalek from generation to generation.”

1 Kings 10:18

Additionally, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.

Revelation 4:2

At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it.

All Scripture References (86)

Exodus (1)
Exodus 17:16

“Indeed,” he said, “a hand was lifted up toward the throne of the LORD. The LORD will war against Amalek from generation to generation.”

Judges (1)
Judges 3:20

Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in the coolness of his upper room. “I have a word from God for you,” Ehud said, and the king rose from his seat.

1 Samuel (3)
1 Samuel 1:9

So after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.

1 Samuel 4:13

When he arrived, there was Eli, sitting on his chair beside the road and watching, because his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the whole city cried out.

1 Samuel 4:18

As soon as the ark of God was mentioned, Eli fell backward from his chair by the city gate, and being old and heavy, he broke his neck and died. And Eli had judged Israel forty years.

1 Kings (6)
1 Kings 2:19

So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. Then the king had a throne brought for his mother, who sat down at his right hand.

1 Kings 7:7

In addition, he built a hall for the throne, the Hall of Justice, where he was to judge. It was paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling.

1 Kings 10:18

Additionally, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.

1 Kings 10:19

The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, with a lion standing beside each armrest.

1 Kings 22:10

Dressed in royal attire, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them.

1 Kings 22:19

Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.

2 Kings (2)
2 Kings 4:10

Please let us make a small room upstairs and put in it a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp for him. Then when he comes to us, he can stay there.”

2 Kings 11:19

He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace by way of the Gate of the Guards. Then Joash took his seat on the royal throne,

2 Chronicles (5)
2 Chronicles 9:17

Additionally, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.

2 Chronicles 9:18

The throne had six steps, and a footstool of gold was attached to it. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, with a lion standing beside each armrest.

2 Chronicles 18:9

Dressed in royal attire, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them.

2 Chronicles 18:18

Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left.

2 Chronicles 23:20

And he took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace through the Upper Gate. They seated King Joash on the royal throne,

Esther (1)
Esther 5:1

On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace across from the king’s quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing the entrance.

Job (1)
Job 26:9

He covers the face of the full moon, spreading over it His cloud.

Psalms (2)
Psalm 11:4

The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men.

Psalm 47:9

The nobles of the nations have assembled as the people of the God of Abraham; for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.

Proverbs (2)
Proverbs 9:14

She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city,

Proverbs 20:8

A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.

Isaiah (5)
Isaiah 6:1

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple.

Isaiah 14:9

Sheol beneath is eager to meet you upon your arrival. It stirs the spirits of the dead to greet you—all the rulers of the earth. It makes all the kings of the nations rise from their thrones.

Isaiah 14:13

You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north.

Isaiah 47:1

“Go down and sit in the dust, O Virgin Daughter of Babylon. Sit on the ground without a throne, O Daughter of the Chaldeans! For you will no longer be called tender or delicate.

Isaiah 66:1

This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?

Jeremiah (5)
Jeremiah 1:15

For I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north,” declares the LORD. “Their kings will come and set up their thrones at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem. They will attack all her surrounding walls and all the other cities of Judah.

Jeremiah 3:17

At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations will be gathered in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. They will no longer follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.

Jeremiah 14:21

For the sake of Your name do not despise us; do not disgrace Your glorious throne. Remember Your covenant with us; do not break it.

Jeremiah 17:12

A glorious throne, exalted from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary.

Jeremiah 43:10

Then tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will set his throne over these stones that I have embedded, and he will spread his royal pavilion over them.

Ezekiel (4)
Ezekiel 1:26

Above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne with the appearance of sapphire, and on the throne high above was a figure like that of a man.

Ezekiel 10:1

And I looked and saw above the expanse, above the heads of the cherubim, the likeness of a throne of sapphire.

Ezekiel 26:16

All the princes of the sea will descend from their thrones, remove their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments. Clothed with terror, they will sit on the ground, trembling every moment, appalled over you.

Ezekiel 43:7

and He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place for the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the Israelites forever. The house of Israel will never again defile My holy name—neither they nor their kings—by their prostitution and by the funeral offerings for their kings at their deaths.

Daniel (2)
Daniel 5:20

But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit was hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him.

Daniel 7:9

As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

Jonah (1)
Jonah 3:6

When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Matthew (4)
Matthew 5:34

But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

Matthew 19:28

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Matthew 23:22

And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the One who sits on it.

Matthew 25:31

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.

Acts (2)
Acts 2:30

But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne.

Acts 7:49

‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be?

Hebrews (4)
Hebrews 1:8

But about the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.

Hebrews 4:16

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 8:1

The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

Hebrews 12:2

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Revelation (35)
Revelation 1:4

John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven spirits before His throne,

Revelation 3:21

To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Revelation 4:2

At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it.

Revelation 4:3

The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne.

Revelation 4:4

Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.

Revelation 4:5

From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven spirits of God.

Revelation 4:6

And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back.

Revelation 4:9

And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

Revelation 4:10

the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

Revelation 5:1

Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.

Revelation 5:6

Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Revelation 5:7

And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne.

Revelation 5:11

Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels encircling the throne, and the living creatures and the elders. And their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.

Revelation 5:13

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!”

Revelation 6:16

And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.

Revelation 7:9

After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.

Revelation 7:10

And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Revelation 7:11

And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God,

Revelation 7:15

For this reason, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.

Revelation 7:17

For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

Revelation 8:3

Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.

Revelation 11:16

And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God,

Revelation 12:5

And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

Revelation 14:3

And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. And no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

Revelation 16:10

And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness, and men began to gnaw their tongues in anguish

Revelation 16:17

Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came from the throne in the temple, saying, “It is done!”

Revelation 19:4

And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying: “Amen, Hallelujah!”

Revelation 19:5

Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you who serve Him, and those who fear Him, small and great alike!”

Revelation 20:4

Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:11

Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.

Revelation 20:12

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.

Revelation 21:3

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.

Revelation 21:5

And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.”

Revelation 22:1

Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

Revelation 22:3

No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him.