An elevated seat occupied by a person with authority (e.g., a king). It symbolises the dignity, honour, sovereignty and the kingdom of the king whose seat it is. Supremely, these things belong to God himself.
A throne as an elevated seat
1 Kings 10:18–19 parallel 2 Chronicles 9:17–18
Additionally, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. 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.
A throne is occupied by a person with authority (usually a king)
See also Proverbs 20:8; Isaiah 14:9; Luke 1:52
Thrones of the kings of Israel
1 Kings 1:46 See also 1 Kings 2:19, 1 Kings 7:7, 1 Kings 22:10 parallel 2 Chronicles 18:9; 2 Kings 11:19 parallel 2 Chronicles 23:20; Jeremiah 13:18; Acts 12:21
Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne.
Thrones of the kings of the nations
Exodus 11:5, Exodus 12:29; Esther 1:2, Esther 5:1; Jeremiah 1:15; Ezekiel 26:16; Jonah 3:6
A throne symbolises dignity and honour
Genesis 41:40 See also 1 Samuel 2:8; 2 Kings 25:28 parallel Jeremiah 52:32; Isaiah 22:23
You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”
A throne also symbolises sovereignty
The royal power of earthly kings
1 Kings 1:13 “Sit upon a throne” means “to exercise royal power”. See also DEU 17:181KI Deuteronomy 1:17–35, 1 Kings 2:4, 1 Kings 2:12, 1 Kings 2:24, 1 Kings 3:6, 1 Kings 5:5, 1 Kings 8:20 parallel 2 Chronicles 6:10; 1 Kings 8:25 parallel 2 Chronicles 6:16; 1 Kings 9:5, 1 Kings 10:9 parallel 2 Chronicles 9:8; 1 Chronicles 28:5, 1 Chronicles 29:23 1 Kings 16:11; 2 Kings 10:32KI 2 Kings 10:30, 2 Kings 15:12 Psalm 122:5, Psalm 132:11–12; Jeremiah 22:2, Jeremiah 22:30, Jeremiah 29:16, Jeremiah 33:17 This verse is fulfilled ultimately in Jesus Christ (Luke 1:32); Jeremiah 43:10
Go at once to King David and say, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your maidservant, “Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’
Satan's throne on earth
Revelation 2:13 Satan is seen as “ruling” from Pergamum, the official centre of emperor worship in the province of Asia.
I know where you live, where the throne of Satan sits, yet you hold fast to My name. You did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days of My faithful witness Antipas, who was killed among you where Satan dwells.
The beast's throne
Revelation 13:2 See also Revelation 16:10
The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
The twenty-four elders are enthroned
Revelation 4:4 The elders are thought to be representative of either the whole company of believers in heaven or an exalted angelic order. See also Revelation 11:16
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.
Jesus Christ reigns from his eternal throne
Isaiah 9:7 See also Zechariah 6:13; Matthew 25:31; Luke 1:32–33
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.
Almighty God is seated in majesty on his holy throne
Exodus 17:16 See also Psalm 47:8; Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 12:21KI Hebrews 22:19 parallel 2 Chronicles 18:18; Ezekiel 1:26, Ezekiel 10:1; Daniel 7:9; Revelation 4:2–10, Revelation 5:1, Revelation 5:7, Revelation 5:13, Revelation 7:10, Revelation 7:15, Revelation 19:4, Revelation 21:5PSA Revelation 9:4–10, Psalm 11:4; Jeremiah 49:38; Revelation 6:16, Revelation 20:11–12REV Revelation 7:11, Revelation 8:3, Revelation 14:3REV Revelation 1:4, Revelation 4:5, Revelation 7:9, Revelation 12:5, Revelation 16:17, Revelation 21:3, Revelation 22:1, Revelation 22:3
“Indeed,” he said, “a hand was lifted up toward the throne of the LORD. The LORD will war against Amalek from generation to generation.”
A throne symbolises a kingdom
The kingdoms of earthly kings
2 Samuel 3:10 See also 1 Kings 1:37, 1 Kings 1:47; Proverbs 20:28, Proverbs 25:5, Proverbs 29:14; Daniel 4:36, Daniel 5:20; HAG 2:222SA Haggai 7:13–16 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:12–14; 1 Kings 2:33, 1 Kings 2:45, 1 Kings 9:5 parallel 2 Chronicles 7:18; 1 Chronicles 22:10; Psalm 89:4, Psalm 89:29, Psalm 89:36
to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”
The unseen kingdom of God's righteous rule
Psalm 89:14 See also Psalm 93:2, Psalm 97:2, Psalm 103:19; Lamentations 5:19
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving devotion and faithfulness go before You.
The ark of the covenant seen as God's throne
1 Samuel 4:4 God was understood to be enthroned between the cherubim (i.e., upon the lid, or “mercy seat”) of the ark of the covenant. See also 2 Samuel 6:2; 2 Kings 19:15 parallel Isaiah 37:16; Psalm 80:1, Psalm 99:1; Jeremiah 17:12
So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
Jerusalem is also called God's throne
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.
Heaven described as God's throne
Psalm 2:4 See also Psalm 123:1; Isaiah 40:22; Matthew 5:34, Matthew 23:22; Acts 7:49; Isaiah 66:1
The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord taunts them.
God's throne is a throne of grace
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.
Believers share in the heavenly reign of Jesus Christ
Matthew 19:28 See also Luke 22:30; 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 3:21, Revelation 20:4, Revelation 20:6
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.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.