Revelation — Chapter 5
Loading ESV text...
1Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.
2And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”
3But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look inside it.
4And I began to weep bitterly, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.
5Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne.
8When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”
11Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels encircling the throne, and the living creatures and the elders. And their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.
12In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
13And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!”
14And the four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
1And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
7And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
11And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13And 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, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
1And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back, close sealed with seven seals.
2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a great voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3And no one in the heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look thereon.
4And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look thereon:
5and one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath overcome to open the book and the seven seals thereof.
6And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.
7And he came, and he taketh [it] out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne.
8And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood [men] of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,
10and madest them [to be] unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth.
11And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12saying with a great voice, Worthy is the Lamb that hath been slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might and honor, and glory, and blessing.
13And every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things are in them, heard I saying, Unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, [be] the blessing, and the honor, and the glory, and the dominion, for ever and ever.
14And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the elders fell down and worshipped.
1Then I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the front and back and sealed with seven seals.
2And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming in a loud voice: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?”
3But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it.
4So I began weeping bitterly because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
5Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered; thus he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6Then I saw standing in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been killed. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7Then he came and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne,
8and when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders threw themselves to the ground before the Lamb. Each of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense (which are the prayers of the saints).
9They were singing a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were killed, and at the cost of your own blood you have purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation.
10You have appointed them as a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
11Then 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 number was ten thousand times ten thousand—thousands times thousands—
12all of whom were singing in a loud voice: “Worthy is the lamb who was killed to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and praise!”
13Then I heard every creature—in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them—singing: “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power forever and ever!”
14And the four living creatures were saying “Amen,” and the elders threw themselves to the ground and worshiped.
1I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals.
2I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?”
3No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look in it.
4And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look in it.
5One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals.”
6I saw in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.
7Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
8Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9They sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals: for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood, out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,
10and made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign on the earth.”
11I saw, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands;
12saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!”
13I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!”
14The four living creatures said, “Amen!” Then the elders fell down and worshiped.
Summary
John sees a scroll sealed with seven seals in the right hand of the one on the throne, and a mighty angel calls out asking who is worthy to open it, but no one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth can do so, leaving John in tears (vv. 1-4). One of the elders comforts him, announcing that the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed and is worthy to open the scroll (v. 5). John then sees not a lion but a Lamb, bearing the marks of slaughter yet standing, who takes the scroll; the four living creatures and twenty-four elders fall down before him with harps and golden bowls of incense representing the prayers of the saints, and sing a new song declaring him worthy because his blood purchased people from every tribe, language, people, and nation and made them a kingdom of priests (vv. 6-10). An innumerable host of angels around the throne then proclaims the Lamb worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise, and every creature in heaven, earth, sea, and under the earth joins in blessing both the one on the throne and the Lamb forever, as the elders fall down in worship (vv. 11-14).
Authorship & Background
Deep Dive
Setting: This is the second half of one heavenly scene. In chapter 4, John was called up through an open door and saw God the Creator enthroned, with the elders and living creatures worshipping him. Now attention turns to a scroll in God's right hand and to the question at the heart of the book: who is worthy to open it? The answer is a Lamb. Chapter 4 praises God for creation. Chapter 5 praises the Lamb for redemption, and then both together. Every judgment from chapter 6 on begins when this Lamb breaks the seals.
The Scroll and the Lamb (vv1–7)
- "In the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals" (v1). A scroll was a roll of papyrus or parchment. Writing on both sides was unusual and means the contents are complete, with nothing left to add (Ezek 2:9–10). Seven seals mean it is completely closed. Interpreters differ on what it is: - God's plan for history and its end, his purposes of judgment and salvation (Dan 12:4, 9). This is the most common view, and the Tyndale notes take it. - A title deed to the creation humanity lost, which only a qualified kinsman-redeemer can reclaim (Jer 32:6–15; Ruth 4). This is popular among futurists. - A sealed will. Roman wills were sealed by seven witnesses and opened only after the testator's death. The picture fits strikingly with a Lamb who has died.
These views overlap. Whatever the scroll is, it holds God's purposes for the world, and opening it puts them into action. That is why the seals in chapter 6 bring events, not just information.
- "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" (v2). "Worthy" is the key word of the chapter (vv2, 4, 9, 12). It means qualified by character and right, not just strength. In 4:11 God was worthy as Creator. Now the question is who is worthy to bring history to its goal.
- "No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able" (v3). These are the three tiers of the ancient picture of the universe: angels, the living, and the dead. Abraham, Moses, David, Michael and Gabriel are all included, and no created being qualifies.
- "I began to weep loudly" (v4). John isn't being dramatic. If the scroll stays sealed, God's plan to judge evil and renew the world stays shut. The suffering churches of chapters 2–3 have no ending to their story.
- "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered" (v5). Two great messianic titles: - Lion of Judah: Jacob blessed Judah as "a lion's cub" from whom the sceptre would not depart (Gen 49:9–10). - Root of David: the "shoot from the stump of Jesse" and "root of Jesse" (Isa 11:1, 10). Jesus is both David's descendant and David's source (22:16; Mark 12:35–37).
"Has conquered" (enikēsen) is the word promised seven times to "the one who conquers." He conquered first.
- "I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain" (v6). This is one of the great turns in Scripture. John is told "Lion" and turns to see a Lamb. Jesus defines what "Lion" means: he conquers by being sacrificed. "Lamb" is arnion, a diminutive, "little lamb," as the lexicon confirms. The diminutive force had faded in everyday Greek, but the contrast with the lion is real. Revelation calls Jesus "Lamb" twenty-eight times. "Slain" is sphazō, to slaughter, especially a sacrificial victim, by cutting the throat. This is the Passover lamb (Exod 12; 1 Cor 5:7) and the lamb led to the slaughter (Isa 53:7). Yet it is "standing": it was killed, and it is alive. The wounds remain, as with the risen Jesus in John 20:27.
- "Between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders" (v6). The Lamb stands at the centre of the throne room, where the attention of all heaven converges. In 7:17 he is "in the midst of the throne."
- "Seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth" (v6). Horns stand for power in the Old Testament (Deut 33:17; Dan 7:24), so seven horns means complete power. The eyes come from Zechariah 4:10, "the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole earth," so the Lamb has complete knowledge. The Spirit is "sent out" from him (John 15:26). The slain Lamb is not weak. He holds all power and sees everything.
- "He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne" (v7). This is the decisive act of the scene, and the text puts it simply. It echoes Daniel 7:13–14, where one like a son of man comes to the Ancient of Days and receives dominion. The Lamb takes the scroll not by force but because he has the right.
- Commentators: On the scroll, Henry sees "the counsels and decrees of God… as in a book, which God held in his right hand". JFB calls it the "title-deed" of the inheritance Christ redeemed for humanity. Guzik weighs several views. He finds the title deed appealing but unproven and leans toward a sealed will, God's final settlement of the universe. Henry reads the Lion of Judah and Root of David as Christ's human and divine natures. JFB puts it as "David's Son and David's Lord, the Lamb slain and therefore the Lion of Juda". Henry and JFB both stress the wounds: "He appears with the marks of his sufferings upon him" (Henry), "bearing marks of His past death wounds" (JFB). Guzik draws out the contrast: John is told of a lion and turns to see a small lamb. JFB says arnion is a word of endearment, set apart from the beast (thērion). The lexicon supports "little lamb" as the basic meaning.
The New Song and the Worship of Heaven (vv8–14)
- "Fell down before the Lamb" (v8). The same beings who fell before God in 4:10 now fall before the Lamb. Revelation forbids worshipping angels (19:10; 22:8–9), so this is a claim that Jesus is God.
- "Each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints" (v8). The harp (kithara), a lyre, was the instrument of the psalms (Ps 33:2). Incense rising stood for prayer (Ps 141:2). "Saints" means all God's people, not a special class. The prayers return in 6:10 and 8:3–5, where they rise before God and fire is cast on the earth. The prayers of suffering believers are part of how God brings history to its end. The elders hold the prayers before God. The text doesn't say they hear or answer them, and nothing here suggests praying to them.
- "They sang a new song" (v9). A "new song" in the Psalms celebrates a new act of God's salvation (Ps 33:3; 96:1; 98:1; Isa 42:10). The act here is the cross.
- "For you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God" (v9). "Ransomed" is agorazō, to buy in the marketplace. The lexicon notes it was common in deeds of sale. It is used for buying slaves and for redemption (1 Cor 6:20; 7:23). The price was blood. The worthiness of the Lamb rests on one thing: "you were slain."
- "From every tribe and language and people and nation" (v9). This fourfold phrase appears seven times in Revelation in various orders (7:9; 10:11; 11:9; 13:7; 14:6; 17:15). It reverses Babel (Gen 11) and fulfils the promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed (Gen 12:3).
- A textual note on "people… them" (vv9–10). The KJV reads "redeemed us… made us… we shall reign," which makes the elders sing about themselves. The oldest manuscripts read "ransomed [people]… made them… they shall reign," and modern translations, the ESV included, follow them. The change matters to the question of who the elders are. With "us," they are redeemed humans. With "them," they could be angels singing about the redeemed. The evidence is mixed in v9: Codex Alexandrinus, one of the oldest manuscripts, has no object at all, while many others read "us." It is clearer in v10, where the main early witnesses read "them."
- "You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth" (v10). This is Israel's calling at Sinai (Exod 19:6), now given to the redeemed of all nations (1:6; 1 Pet 2:9). The reign is "on the earth," not only in heaven. God's goal is a renewed earth (21:1–3). Manuscripts differ between "shall reign" (future) and "reign" (present). Premillennial readers connect this promise with the thousand-year reign of 20:4–6. Amillennial readers see believers' present share in Christ's rule, completed in the new creation.
- "Myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands" (v11). A myriad was ten thousand, the largest single number word in Greek. This is beyond counting, echoing Daniel 7:10. The circle of worship widens: the creatures and elders first, then the angels around them.
- "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" (v12). Seven gifts are ascribed to him, the number of completeness. He takes up what the world denied him at the cross. He who became poor receives wealth (2 Cor 8:9). He who was mocked receives honour. Handel set this verse as the closing chorus of Messiah.
- "Every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea" (v13). The circle widens to all of creation. The three tiers that could not open the scroll (v3) now praise the one who could. Paul has the same picture: every knee bowing and every tongue confessing (Phil 2:10–11). Some think the verse looks ahead to the end, when every creature acknowledges Christ, willingly or not. Others see a picture of praise ringing through the whole creation now.
- "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb" (v13). This is the climax. The praise of chapter 4 (to God) and of chapter 5 (to the Lamb) merge into one doxology to both together. Jewish monotheism, which gives worship to God alone, here includes the Lamb within that worship without any sense of strain.
- "The four living creatures said, 'Amen!' and the elders fell down and worshiped" (v14). The scene closes where it began, with the inner circle. "Amen" means "so be it."
- Commentators: Henry finds a lesson in the bowls and harps: "prayer and praise should always go together." He notes of the angels: "though they did not need a Saviour themselves, yet they rejoice in the redemption and salvation of sinners". On the incense, JFB says it "gives not the least sanction to Rome's dogma of our praying to saints." Guzik says the same: the elders are not mediators, since there is one mediator (1 Tim 2:5). JFB alone discusses the variant, noting that the older manuscripts read "them" in v10. Henry and Guzik comment on the KJV-style "us." JFB also argues that the reign is "over" the earth. Henry says the shared honour in v13 shows the Lamb shares the Father's nature. Guzik reaches the same conclusion from the joint worship. He adds that "worthy" echoes the acclamation crowds shouted to emperors, a point the Tyndale notes also make in chapter 4.
Pointing to Christ
This chapter is about Jesus from beginning to end. History has a goal, and only one person in the universe is qualified to bring it there. He is announced as a Lion but appears as a Lamb, slaughtered and standing. His power is the cross. His worthiness is "you were slain." His victory is a people bought from every nation and made a kingdom of priests. The rest of Revelation can be frightening, but it is unrolled by these hands, still marked by the wounds. All heaven ends up singing to "him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb."
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik covers the sealed scroll, the Lion/Lamb paradox, the new song, and the expanding circles of worship.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Revelation -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- No One Worthy (vv.3-4) — John weeps because no one in all creation is found worthy to open the scroll containing God's plan. Have you tried to be your own solution to problems only Christ can solve?
- The Lion Who Is a Lamb (vv.5-6) — John hears about a conquering Lion but turns to see a slain Lamb — Christ's power is revealed through sacrifice, not force. How does this reshape what you think strength and victory look like?
- Prayers as Incense (v.8) — The prayers of God's people are pictured as precious offerings held before the throne. Does knowing your prayers matter to God change how consistently you bring them to Him?
- Redeemed From Every Nation (v.9) — The new song celebrates people purchased by Christ's blood from every tribe, language, and nation. Does your life and church reflect the diversity of the people He's redeeming?
- Worthy Is the Lamb (v.12) — All heaven declares the Lamb worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing. Are you giving Christ that same complete devotion, or holding parts of your life back from Him?