Revelation 5:8

He had taken (elaben). Here John drops back to the narrative tense (the second aorist active indicative of lambanw), not the past perfect as the English rendering might indicate, merely "when he took." For like vivid variation (not confusion) of tenses with eilhpen see Romans 3:3 ; Romans 8:5 ; Romans 11:17 and with eirhka in Romans 7:13 ; Romans 19:3 . Fell down (epesan). Second aorist active indicative of piptw with first aorist (-an) ending, just "fell." Having (econte). "Holding." A harp (kiqaran). Old word, the traditional instrument (lyre or zithern) for psalmody ( Psalms 33:2 ; Psalms 98:5 , etc.). Golden bowls (piala crusa). Broad shallow saucers, old word, in N.T. only in Revelation 5:8 ; Revelation 15:7 ; Revelation 16:1-4 Revelation 16:8 Revelation 16:10 Revelation 16:12 Revelation 16:17 ; Revelation 17:1 ; Revelation 21:9 . Of incense (qumiamatwn). Old word from qumiaw, to burn incense ( Luke 1:9 ), as in Luke 1:10 . Which are (ai eisin). "Which (these bowls of incense) symbolize the prayers of the saints as in Psalms 141:2 ; Luke 1:10 .