Revelation 5
New American Standard Bible
The Scroll with Seven Seals
5 I saw [a]in the right hand of Him who (A)sat on the throne a [b](B)scroll written inside and on the back, (C)sealed up with seven seals. 2 And I saw a (D)strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” 3 And no one (E)in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. 4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the (F)Lion that is (G)from the tribe of Judah, the (H)Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 And I saw [c]between the throne (with the four living creatures) and (I)the elders a (J)Lamb standing, as if (K)slaughtered, having seven (L)horns and (M)seven eyes, which are [d](N)the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And He came and took (O)the scroll out of the right hand of Him who (P)sat on the throne. 8 When He had taken the scroll, the (Q)four living creatures and the (R)twenty-four elders (S)fell down before the (T)Lamb, each one holding a (U)harp and (V)golden bowls full of incense, which are the (W)prayers of the [e]saints. 9 And they *sang a (X)new song, saying,
“(Y)Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were (Z)slaughtered, and You (AA)purchased people for God with Your blood from (AB)every tribe, language, people, and nation.
10 You have made them into a (AC)kingdom and (AD)priests to our God, and they will (AE)reign upon the earth.”
Angels Exalt the Lamb
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels (AF)around the throne and the (AG)living creatures and the (AH)elders; and the number of them was [f](AI)myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“(AJ)Worthy is the (AK)Lamb that was (AL)slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.”
13 And I heard (AM)every created thing which is in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, or on the sea, and all the things in them, saying,
“To Him who (AN)sits on the throne and to the (AO)Lamb (AP)be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever.”
14 And the (AQ)four living creatures were saying, “(AR)Amen.” And the (AS)elders (AT)fell down and worshiped.
Footnotes
- Revelation 5:1 Lit upon
- Revelation 5:1 Or book, and so throughout the ch
- Revelation 5:6 Lit in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders
- Revelation 5:6 Possibly a symbolic reference to the Holy Spirit in His fullness, or to seven key angels
- Revelation 5:8 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Revelation 5:11 Gr for 10,000s of 10,000s
Revelation 5
The Voice
Throughout this book of letters and visions, numbers play an important role. Numbers and their multiples are signs of great mysterious realities. The Son of Man moves among seven lampstands and holds seven stars in His right hand because the number “seven” represents perfection and completeness. Another important number is “twelve” because it represents the people of God. The children of Israel consisted of twelve tribes, and Jesus called “the twelve” to follow Him and embody the new covenant. The number “twelve” and multiples of “twelve” recur throughout the book to signify the people of God, so here the twenty-four elders (12 + 12) signify the people of God, both the old and new covenants.
5 And then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated upon the throne, a scroll written both on the inside and on the outside. It had been sealed with seven seals. 2 Then a mighty heavenly messenger proclaimed with a loud voice,
Mighty Messenger: Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?
3 No creature of creation in all heaven, on all the earth, or even under the earth could open the scroll or look into its mysteries. 4 Then I began to mourn and weep bitterly because no creature of creation was found who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into its mysteries. 5 Then one of the elders consoled me.
One of the 24 Elders: Stop weeping. Look there—the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David. He has conquered and is able to break its seven seals and open the scroll.
6 I looked, and between the throne and the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders stood a Lamb who appeared to have been slaughtered. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes (the eyes are the seven Spirits of God sent out over all the earth).
John hears that the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has arrived and will open the seals to reveal the scroll’s mysteries. But when he turns to see the Lion, he sees a Lamb instead. Not everything is as it appears. The Lamb stands, even though He has been slaughtered as a sacrifice, because He has been resurrected from the dead. And now in his vision, John sees things as they truly are: the Lamb-King has seven horns and seven eyes, signifying the perfect power and perfect sight He possesses to rule the world.
7 The Lamb came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated upon the throne. 8 And when He took it, the four living creatures and twenty-four elders fell prostrate before the Lamb. They worshiped Him, and each one held a harp and golden bowls filled with incense (the prayers of God’s holy people). 9 Then they sang a new song.
Four Living Creatures and 24 Elders: You are worthy to receive the scroll,
to break its seals,
Because You were slain. With Your blood, You redeemed for God
people from every tribe and language, people from every race and nation.
10 You have made them a kingdom; You have appointed them priests to serve our God,
and they[a] will rule upon the earth.
11 When I looked again, I heard the voices of heavenly messengers (numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands). They surrounded the throne, the living creatures, and the elders.
12 Thousands of Messengers (with a great voice): Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.
Worthy is the Lamb to receive authority and wealth and wisdom and greatness
And honor and glory and praise.
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and beneath the earth and in the sea and all things in them echoing the messengers.
Every Creature: To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
Be blessing and honor and glory and power
Throughout the ages.
14 And the four living creatures kept on repeating:
Four Living Creatures: Amen. Amen.
And the elders fell down and worshiped [Him who lives forever].[b]
Revelation 5
Contemporary English Version
The Scroll and the Lamb
5 (A) In the right hand of the one sitting on the throne I saw a scroll[a] that had writing on the inside and on the outside. And it was sealed in seven places. 2 I saw a mighty angel ask with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look inside it.
4 I cried hard because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it. 5 (B) Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying and look! The one who is called both the ‘Lion from the Tribe of Judah’[b] and ‘King David's Great Descendant’[c] has won the victory. He will open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 (C) Then I looked and saw a Lamb standing in the center of the throne surrounded by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb looked as if it had once been killed. It had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits[d] of God, sent out to all the earth.
7 The Lamb went over and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. 8 (D) After he had taken it, the four living creatures and the 24 elders knelt down before him. Each of them had a harp and a gold bowl full of incense,[e] which are the prayers of God's people. 9 (E) Then they sang a new song,
“You are worthy
to receive the scroll
and open its seals,
because you were killed.
And with your own blood
you bought for God
people from every tribe,
language, nation, and race.
10 (F) You let them become kings
and serve God as priests,
and they will rule on earth.”
11 (G) As I looked, I heard the voices of a large number of angels around the throne and the voices of the living creatures and of the elders. There were millions and millions of them, 12 and they were saying in a loud voice,
“The Lamb who was killed
is worthy to receive power,
riches, wisdom, strength,
honor, glory, and praise.”
13 Then I heard all beings in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and in the sea offer praise. Together, all of them were saying,
“Praise, honor, glory,
and strength
forever and ever
to the one who sits
on the throne
and to the Lamb!”
14 The four living creatures said “Amen,” while the elders knelt down and worshiped.
Footnotes
- 5.1 scroll: A roll of paper or special leather used for writing on. Sometimes a scroll would be sealed on the outside with one or more pieces of wax.
- 5.5 ‘Lion from the Tribe of Judah’: In Genesis 49.9 the tribe of Judah is called a young lion, and King David was from Judah.
- 5.5 ‘King David's Great Descendant’: The Greek text has “the root of David” which is a title for the Messiah based on Isaiah 11.1,10.
- 5.6 the seven spirits: Some manuscripts have “the spirits.”
- 5.8 incense: A material that produces a sweet smell when burned. Sometimes it is a symbol for the prayers of God's people.
Apocalipsis 5
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
El Cordero y el libro de los siete sellos
5 En la mano derecha de Aquel que estaba sentado en el trono(A) vi un libro[a] escrito por dentro y por fuera[b](B), sellado con siete sellos(C). 2 Vi también a un ángel poderoso[c](D) que anunciaba a gran voz: «¿Quién es digno de abrir el libro y de desatar sus sellos?». 3 Y nadie, ni en el cielo ni en la tierra ni debajo de la tierra(E), podía abrir el libro ni mirar su contenido[d]. 4 Yo lloraba mucho, porque nadie había sido hallado digno de abrir el libro ni de mirar su contenido[e].
5 Entonces uno de los ancianos me dijo*: «No llores; mira, el León(F) de la tribu de Judá(G), la Raíz de David(H), ha vencido para abrir el libro y sus siete sellos». 6 Miré, y vi entre el trono (con los cuatro seres vivientes) y los ancianos(I), a un Cordero(J), de pie, como inmolado(K), que tenía siete cuernos(L) y siete ojos(M), que son los siete Espíritus de Dios(N) enviados por toda la tierra. 7 El vino y tomó el libro de la mano derecha(O) de Aquel que estaba sentado en el trono(P). 8 Cuando tomó el libro, los cuatro seres vivientes(Q) y los veinticuatro ancianos(R) se postraron(S) delante del Cordero(T). Cada uno tenía un arpa(U) y copas[f] de oro(V) llenas de incienso, que son las oraciones de los santos(W). 9 Y cantaban* un cántico nuevo(X), diciendo:
«Digno eres de tomar el libro(Y) y de abrir sus sellos, porque Tú fuiste inmolado(Z), y con Tu sangre compraste[g] para Dios(AA) a gente de toda tribu(AB), lengua, pueblo y nación.
10 Y los has hecho un reino(AC) y sacerdotes(AD) para nuestro Dios; y reinarán sobre la tierra(AE)».
11 Y miré, y oí la voz de muchos ángeles alrededor del trono(AF) y de los seres vivientes(AG) y de los ancianos(AH). El número de ellos era miríadas de miríadas, y millares de millares(AI), 12 que decían a gran voz:
«El Cordero(AJ) que fue inmolado(AK) es digno de recibir el poder, las riquezas, la sabiduría, la fortaleza, el honor, la gloria y la alabanza».
13 Y oí decir a toda cosa creada que está en el cielo, sobre la tierra, debajo de la tierra y en el mar, y a todas las cosas que en ellos hay(AL):
«Al que está sentado en el trono(AM), y al Cordero(AN), sea la alabanza, la honra, la gloria y el dominio por los siglos de los siglos(AO)».
14 Los cuatro seres vivientes(AP) decían: «Amén(AQ)», y los ancianos(AR) se postraron y adoraron[h](AS).
Footnotes
- Apocalipsis 5:1 O rollo y así en el resto del cap.
- Apocalipsis 5:1 O el anverso y el reverso.
- Apocalipsis 5:2 O fuerte.
- Apocalipsis 5:3 Lit. ni mirarlo.
- Apocalipsis 5:4 Lit. ni mirarlo.
- Apocalipsis 5:8 O tazones.
- Apocalipsis 5:9 O redimiste.
- Apocalipsis 5:14 Algunas versiones agregan: al que vive por los siglos de los siglos.
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