Revelation 5
New English Translation
The Opening of the Scroll
5 Then[a] I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the front and back[b] and sealed with seven seals.[c] 2 And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming in a loud voice: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” 3 But[d] no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it. 4 So[e] I began weeping bitterly[f] because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 Then[g] one of the elders said[h] to me, “Stop weeping![i] Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered;[j] thus he can open[k] the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then[l] I saw standing in the middle of the throne[m] and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been killed.[n] He had[o] seven horns and seven eyes, which[p] are the seven[q] spirits of God[r] sent out into all the earth. 7 Then[s] he came and took the scroll[t] from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne, 8 and when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders threw themselves to the ground[u] before the Lamb. Each[v] of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense (which are the prayers of the saints).[w] 9 They were singing a new song:[x]
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals
because you were killed,[y]
and at the cost of your own blood[z] you have purchased[aa] for God
persons[ab] from every tribe, language,[ac] people, and nation.
10 You have appointed[ad] them[ae] as a kingdom and priests[af] to serve[ag] our God, and they will reign[ah] on the earth.”
11 Then[ai] I looked and heard the voice of many angels in a circle around the throne, as well as the living creatures and the elders. Their[aj] number was ten thousand times ten thousand[ak]—thousands times thousands— 12 all of whom[al] were singing[am] in a loud voice:
“Worthy is the lamb who was killed[an]
to receive power and wealth
and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and praise!”
13 Then[ao] I heard every creature—in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them—singing:[ap]
“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power[aq] forever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures were saying “Amen,” and the elders threw themselves to the ground[ar] and worshiped.
Footnotes
- Revelation 5:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 5:1 tn Grk “written on the inside and the outside” (an idiom for having writing on both sides).
- Revelation 5:1 tn L&N 6.55 states, “From the immediate context of Re 5:1 it is not possible to determine whether the scroll in question had seven seals on the outside or whether the scroll was sealed at seven different points. However, since according to chapter six of Revelation the seals were broken one after another, it would appear as though the scroll had been sealed at seven different places as it had been rolled up.”
- Revelation 5:3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
- Revelation 5:4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of no one being found worthy to open the scroll.
- Revelation 5:4 tn Grk “much.”
- Revelation 5:5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 5:5 tn Grk “says” (a historical present).
- Revelation 5:5 tn The present imperative with μή (mē) is used here to command cessation of an action in progress (ExSyn 724 lists this verse as an example).
- Revelation 5:5 tn Or “has been victorious”; traditionally, “has overcome.”
- Revelation 5:5 tn The infinitive has been translated as an infinitive of result here.
- Revelation 5:6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 5:6 tn Perhaps, “in the middle of the throne area” (see L&N 83.10).
- Revelation 5:6 tn Or “slaughtered”; traditionally, “slain.” The phrase behind this translation is ὡς ἐσφαγμένον (hōs esphagmenon). The particle ὡς is used in Greek generally for comparison, and in Revelation it is used often to describe the appearance of what the author saw. This phrase does not imply that the Lamb “appeared to have been killed” but in reality was not, because the wider context of the NT shows that in fact the Lamb, i.e., Jesus, was killed. See 13:3 for the only other occurrence of this phrase in the NT.
- Revelation 5:6 tn Grk “killed, having.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the pronoun “he.”
- Revelation 5:6 sn The relative pronoun which is masculine, referring back to the eyes rather than to the horns.
- Revelation 5:6 tc There is good ms evidence for the inclusion of “seven” (ἑπτά, hepta; P24 א 2053 2351 MK). There is equally good ms support for the omission of the term (A 1006 1611 MA). It may have been accidentally added due to its repeated presence in the immediately preceding phrases, or it may have been intentionally added to maintain the symmetry of the phrases or more likely to harmonize the phrase with 1:4; 3:1; 4:5. Or it may have been accidentally deleted by way of homoioteleuton (τὰ ἑπτά, ta hepta). A decision is difficult in this instance. NA28 also does not find the problem easy to solve, placing the word in brackets to indicate doubts as to its authenticity.
- Revelation 5:6 sn See the note on the phrase the seven spirits of God in Rev 4:5.
- Revelation 5:7 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 5:7 tn The words “the scroll” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
- Revelation 5:8 tn Grk “fell down.” BDAG 815 s.v. πίπτω 1.b.α.ב. has “fall down, throw oneself to the ground as a sign of devotion or humility, before high-ranking persons or divine beings.”
- Revelation 5:8 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
- Revelation 5:8 sn This interpretive comment by the author forms a parenthesis in the narrative.
- Revelation 5:9 tn The redundant participle λέγοντες (legontes) has not been translated here.
- Revelation 5:9 tn Or “slaughtered”; traditionally, “slain.”
- Revelation 5:9 tn The preposition ἐν (en) is taken to indicate price here, like the Hebrew preposition ב (bet) does at times. BDAG 329 s.v. ἐν 5.b states, “The ἐν which takes the place of the gen. of price is also instrumental ἠγόρασας ἐν τῷ αἵματί σου Rv 5:9 (cp. 1 Ch 21:24 ἀγοράζω ἐν ἀργυρίῳ).”
- Revelation 5:9 tc The Greek text as it stands above (i.e., the reading τῷ θεῷ [tō theō] alone) is found in codex A. א 2050 2344 M sy add the term “us” (ἡμᾶς, hēmas), either before or after τῷ θεῷ, as an attempt to clarify the object of “purchased” (ἠγόρασας, ēgorasas). A few mss (1 vgms) delete the reference to God altogether and simply replace it with “us” (ἡμᾶς). This too is an attempt to remove ambiguity in the phrase and provide an object for “purchased.” The shorter reading, supported by the best witness for Revelation, best accounts for the other readings.
- Revelation 5:9 tn The word “persons” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
- Revelation 5:9 tn Grk “and language,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
- Revelation 5:10 tn The verb ἐποίησας (epoiēsas) is understood to mean “appointed” here. For an example of this use, see Mark 3:14.
- Revelation 5:10 tc The vast majority of witnesses have αὐτούς (autous, “them”) here, while the Textus Receptus reads ἡμᾶς (hēmas, “us”) with insignificant support (pc gig vgcl sa Prim Bea). There is no question that the original text read αὐτούς here.
- Revelation 5:10 tn The reference to “kingdom and priests” may be a hendiadys: “priestly kingdom.”
- Revelation 5:10 tn The words “to serve” are not in the Greek text, but are implied by the word “priests.”
- Revelation 5:10 tc The textual problem here between the present tense βασιλεύουσιν (basileuousin, “they are reigning”; so A 1006 1611 MK) and the future βασιλεύσουσιν (basileusousin, “they will reign”; so א 1854 2053 MA lat co) is a difficult one. Both readings have excellent support. On the one hand, the present tense seems to be the harder reading in this context. On the other hand, codex A elsewhere mistakes the future for the present (20:6). Further, the lunate sigma in majuscule script could have been overlooked by some scribes, resulting in the present tense. All things considered, there is a slight preference for the future.
- Revelation 5:11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 5:11 tn Grk “elders, and the number of them was.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
- Revelation 5:11 tn Or “myriads of myriads.” Although μυριάς (murias) literally means “10,000,” the point of the combination here may simply be to indicate an incalculably huge number. See L&N 60.9.
- Revelation 5:12 tn The words “all of whom” are not in the Greek text, but have been supplied to indicate the resumption of the phrase “the voice of many angels” at the beginning of the verse.
- Revelation 5:12 tn Grk “saying.”
- Revelation 5:12 tn Or “slaughtered”; traditionally, “slain.”
- Revelation 5:13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 5:13 tn Grk “saying.”
- Revelation 5:13 tn Or “dominion.”
- Revelation 5:14 tn Grk “fell down.” BDAG 815 s.v. πίπτω 1.b.α.ב. has “fall down, throw oneself to the ground as a sign of devotion or humility, before high-ranking persons or divine beings.”
Revelation 5
New King James Version
The Lamb Takes the Scroll
5 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne (A)a scroll written inside and on the back, (B)sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, (C)“Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open [a]and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, (D)the Lion of the tribe of (E)Judah, (F)the Root of David, has (G)prevailed to open the scroll (H)and [b]to loose its seven seals.”
6 And I looked, [c]and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood (I)a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and (J)seven eyes, which are (K)the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand (L)of Him who sat on the throne.
Worthy Is the Lamb
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, (M)the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the (N)prayers of the saints. 9 And (O)they sang a new song, saying:
(P)“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And (Q)have redeemed us to God (R)by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made [d]us (S)kings[e] and (T)priests to our God;
And [f]we shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And (U)every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
(V)“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him (W)who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and [g]ever!”
14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the [h]twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped [i]Him who lives forever and ever.
Footnotes
- Revelation 5:4 NU, M omit and read
- Revelation 5:5 NU, M omit to loose
- Revelation 5:6 NU, M I saw in the midst . . . a Lamb standing
- Revelation 5:10 NU, M them
- Revelation 5:10 NU a kingdom
- Revelation 5:10 NU, M they
- Revelation 5:13 M adds Amen
- Revelation 5:14 NU, M omit twenty-four
- Revelation 5:14 NU, M omit Him who lives forever and ever
Hisgalus 5
Orthodox Jewish Bible
5 And I saw on the yad yamin (right hand) of the One sitting on the Kes (Throne) a sefer (book) having been written inside and on the back, having been sealed with sheva chotamot (seven seals). [YECHEZKEL 2:9,10; YESHAYAH 29:11; DANIEL 12:4]
2 And I saw a strong malach (angel), proclaiming in a kol gadol (loud voice), Who is worthy to open the sefer (book) and break its chotamot (seals)?
3 And no one in Shomayim or on ha’aretz or under ha’aretz was being able to open the sefer (book) or to look into it.
4 And I was weeping copiously because no one was found worthy to open the sefer (book) or to look into it.
5 And one of the Zekenim says to me, Do not weep, hinei, HaAryeh (The Lion) from the Shevet Yehudah (Tribe of Judah), the Shoresh Dovid (Root of Dovid), has won the nitzachon (victory) and he is able to open the sefer (book) and its sheva chotamot (seven seals). [BERESHIS 49:9; YESHAYAH 11:1,10]
6 And I saw between the Kes (Throne) and the Arbah Chayyot (four living beings) and among the Zekenim (Elders, SHEMOT 12:21) a SEH (Lamb, YESHAYAH 53:7, Moshiach) having stood as having been slain, having sheva karnayim (horns, omnipotence), sheva eynayim (eyes, omniscience), which are the sheva ruchot (spirits) of Hashem having been sent into kol ha’aretz (all the earth).
7 And the SEH (Lamb, YESHAYAH 53:7) came and has taken the sefer out of the yad yamin (right hand) of the One sitting on the Kes (Throne).
8 And when the SEH (YESHAYAH 53:7) received the sefer, the Arbah Chayyot (four living beings) and the esrim v’arba’ah Zekenim (twenty-four Elders, SHEMOT 12:21) fell down before the SEH, (Lamb, YESHAYAH 53:7) each one having a nevel (harp) and golden ke’arot (bowls) full of ketoret (incense), which are the tefillos (prayers) of the Kadoshim. [TEHILLIM 141:2;16:3]
9 And they are singing a SHIR CHADASH (TEHILLIM 96:1) saying, Worthy art thou to take the sefer (book) and to open the chotamot (seals) of it, because you were slain and with your dahm [kapporah] you paid the price for the Geulah [VAYIKRA 25:50-51] redemption and purchased ones for Hashem from every mishpochah (family) and lashon (tongue) and am (people) and goy (nation), [TEHILLIM 40:3; 98:1; YESHAYAH 42:10]
10 And made them for Eloheinu a Malchut and kohanim, and they will reign on ha’aretz (the earth).
11 And I saw and I heard the kol (voice) of many malachim (angels); they numbered myriads of myriads and v’alfei alafim (thousands of thousands), around the Kes (Throne) and the Chayyot (the living beings) and the Zekenim (Elders, SHEMOT 12:21) [DANIEL 7:10]
12 Saying with a kol gadol, Worthy is the SEH (Lamb, SHEMOT 12:3; YESHAYAH 53:7 Moshiach) having been slain, to receive the oz (power) and the osher (wealth) and the chochmah (wisdom) and the gevurah (strength) and hod (honor) and kavod (glory) and bracha (blessing).
13 And every beriyah (creature) which is in Shomayim and on ha’aretz (the earth) and under ha’aretz and on the yam (sea) and all things in them, I heard saying, To the One sitting on the Kes (Throne) and to the SEH (Lamb, SHEMOT 12:3; YESHAYAH 53:7 Moshiach) be the bracha (blessing) and the hod (honor) and the hadar (glory) and the memshalah (dominion) ad Olemei Olamim (forever and ever). [DIVREY HAYAMIM ALEF 29:11; MALACHI 1:6; 2:2]
14 And the Arbah Chayyot were saying, Omein. And the Zekenim (Elders, SHEMOT 12:21) fell down and worshiped.
啟示錄 5
Revised Chinese Union Version (Traditional Script) Shen Edition
書卷和羔羊
5 我看見坐在寶座那位的右手中有書卷,正反面都寫着字,用七個印密封着。 2 我又看見一位大力的天使大聲宣告說:「有誰配展開那書卷,揭開那七個印呢?」 3 在天上、地上、地底下,沒有人能展開、能閱覽那書卷。 4 因為沒有人配展開、閱覽那書卷,我就大哭。 5 長老中有一位對我說:「不要哭。看哪,猶大支派中的獅子,大衛的根,他已得勝,能展開那書卷,揭開那七個印。」
6 我又看見寶座和四個活物,以及長老之中有羔羊站着,像是被殺的,有七個角七隻眼睛,就是 神的七[a]靈,奉差遣往普天下去的。 7 這羔羊前來,從坐在寶座上那位的右手中拿了書卷。 8 他一拿了書卷,四活物和二十四位長老就俯伏在羔羊面前,各拿着琴和盛滿了香的金爐;這香就是眾聖徒的祈禱。 9 他們唱新歌,說:
「你配拿書卷,
配揭開它的七印;
因為你曾被殺,用自己的血
從各支派、各語言、各民族、各邦國中買了人來,使他們歸於 神,
10 又使他們成為國民和祭司,歸於我們的 神;
他們將在地上執掌王權。」
11 我又觀看,我聽見寶座和活物及長老的周圍有許多天使的聲音;他們的數目有千千萬萬, 12 大聲說:
「被殺的羔羊配得
權能、豐富、智慧、力量、
尊貴、榮耀、頌讚。」
13 我又聽見在天上、地上、地底下、滄海裏和天地間一切所有被造之物,都說:
「願頌讚、尊貴、榮耀、權勢,
都歸給坐在寶座上的那位和羔羊,
直到永永遠遠!」
14 四活物就說:「阿們!」眾長老也俯伏敬拜。
Footnotes
- 5.6 有古卷沒有「七」。
Revelation 5
New International Version
The Scroll and the Lamb
5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne(A) a scroll with writing on both sides(B) and sealed(C) with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel(D) proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion(E) of the tribe of Judah,(F) the Root of David,(G) has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb,(H) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures(I) and the elders.(J) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,(K) which are the seven spirits[a](L) of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.(M) 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures(N) and the twenty-four elders(O) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp(P) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers(Q) of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:(R)
“You are worthy(S) to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood(T) you purchased(U) for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.(V)
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests(W) to serve our God,
and they will reign[b] on the earth.”(X)
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.(Y) They encircled the throne and the living creatures(Z) and the elders.(AA) 12 In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb,(AB) who was slain,(AC)
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”(AD)
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth(AE) and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne(AF) and to the Lamb(AG)
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”(AH)
14 The four living creatures(AI) said, “Amen,”(AJ) and the elders(AK) fell down and worshiped.(AL)
Footnotes
- Revelation 5:6 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
- Revelation 5:10 Some manuscripts they reign
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International
和合本修訂版經文 © 2006, 2010, 2017 香港聖經公會。蒙允許使用。 Scripture Text of Revised Chinese Union Version © 2006, 2010, 2017 Hong Kong Bible Society. www.hkbs.org.hk/en/ Used by permission.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.