“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.”
And the one seated there looks like jasper and carnelian, and around the throne is a rainbow that looks like an emerald — the gemstones (jasper and carnelian) suggest radiant splendor and divine beauty; jasper is associated with walls and foundations (21:11), carnelian with blood and life. The emerald rainbow (echoing Ezekiel 1:28) frames the throne with covenant promise; the rainbow recalls God's covenant with Noah (Genesis 9:16) and symbolizes mercy's presence alongside judgment.
Church Fathers on Revelation 4:3
“And He that sat upon the throne was, to look upon, like a jasper and a sardine stone.” Upon the throne he says that he saw the likeness of a jasper and a sardine stone. The jasper is of the color of water, the sardine of fire. These two are thence manifested to be placed as judgments upon God's tribunal until the consummation of the world, of which judgments one is already completed in the deluge of water, and the other shall be completed by fire. “And there was a rainbow…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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