Revelation 5:3-13

3 But there was no one in heaven or on earth or in the world below who could open the scroll and look inside it.

4 I cried bitterly because no one could be found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.

5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Don't cry. Look! The Lion from Judah's tribe, the great descendant of David, has won the victory, and he can break the seven seals and open the scroll." ¹

6 Then I saw a Lamb standing in the center of the throne, surrounded by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb appeared to have been killed. It had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God that have been sent through the whole earth. ²

7 The Lamb went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who sits on the throne.

8 As he did so, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God's people. ³

9 They sang a new song: ⁴ "You are worthy to take the scroll and to break open its seals. For you were killed, and by your sacrificial death you bought for God people from every tribe, language, nation, and race.

10 You have made them a kingdom of priests to serve our God, ⁵ and they shall rule on earth."

11 Again I looked, and I heard angels, thousands and millions of them! They stood around the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders, ⁶

12 and sang in a loud voice: "The Lamb who was killed is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and strength, honor, glory, and praise!"

13 And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, in the world below, and in the sea - all living beings in the universe - and they were singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever!"

Revelation 5:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVEALTION 5

This chapter contains the vision of the sealed book, and the opening of it by Christ, which occasions universal joy among all ranks and sorts of creatures. The book is described by the place where it was, in the right hand of God; by the uncommon manner in which it was written within and without; and by the seven seals it was sealed with, Re 5:1, next follows a proclamation made by a mighty angel, with a loud voice, to find out a person worthy and able to open this book, and loose its seals, Re 5:2, upon which a declaration is made, that none could be found in heaven, earth, or hell, Re 5:3, which had such an effect upon John, that it set him a weeping, Re 5:4, but was comforted by one of the elders suggesting, that there was a person that could, and would do it, when he calls the lion of the tribe of Judah, and the root of David, which are names of Christ, Re 5:5, of which he was assured by what he quickly saw, namely, the same person the elder spoke of, described by his position, standing between the throne, and the living creatures, and elders; and by his similitude and likeness, as a Lamb that had been lately slain, with seven horns and eyes in him; and by what he did, he went and took the book out of the right hand of God, his Father, Re 5:6,7. This occasioned a general joy among all kind of creatures; first among the four living creatures, and four and twenty elders, who are described by what they had, harps and golden vials, the one for praise, the other for prayer; and by what they did, they fell down in a worshipping posture before the Lamb, and sung the new song of redeeming love to him; in which they ascribe worthiness to him, to take the book and open its seals; declare their redemption unto God, by his blood, out of all nations of the earth; take notice of the honour done them by him, in making them kings and priests to God; and express their assurance that they shall reign with him on earth, Re 5:8-10, and next an innumerable company of angels join the living creatures and elders, in a doxology or ascription of glory to him, Re 5:11,12, yea, every creature in heaven and earth, upon it, and under it, and in the sea, are introduced as giving glory both to him that sat upon the throne, and to the Lamb, Re 5:13, and the whole is closed by the living creatures saying "Amen", to all, and by the elders prostrating themselves, and worshipping the living and eternal God, Re 5:14.

Cross References

• 1. 5.5 aGenesis 49.9; bIsaiah 11.1, 10.
• 2. 5.6 aIsaiah 53.7; bZechariah 4.10.
• 3. 5.8Psalms 141.2.
• 4. 5.9Psalms 33.3; 98.1;Isaiah 42.10.
• 5. 5.10Exodus 19.6;Revelation 1.6.
• 6. 5.11Daniel 7.10.

Footnotes

• [a]. world below: [The world of the dead (see 1.18).]