Revelation 5:1

Revelation 5:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And 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.
• New International Version (NIV)Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

Context of Revelation 5:1

I saw in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, closed and sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a strong angel announcing with a loud voice, “Who is worthy [having the authority and virtue] to open the scroll and to break its seals?” 3And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth [in Hades, the realm of the dead] was able to open the scroll or look into it.

Revelation 5:1 word by word

Καὶ εἶδον ἐπὶ τὴν δεξιὰν τοῦ καθημένου ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου βιβλίον γεγραμμένον ἔσωθεν καὶ ὄπισθεν, κατεσφραγισμένον σφραγῖσιν ἑπτά.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• I sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• inἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• the right handδεξιόςdexios · rightG1188
• of himὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• that satκάθημαιkathēmai · to sitG2521
• the throneθρόνοςthronos · throneG2362
• a bookβιβλίονbiblion · scrollG975
• writtenγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• withinἔσωθενesōthen · inwardlyG2081
• on the backsideὄπισθενopisthen · afterG3693
• sealedκατασφραγίζωkatasphragizō · to sealG2696
• with sevenἑπτάhepta · sevenG2033
• sealsσφραγίςsphragis · sealG4973

Cross-references for Revelation 5:1

• Revelation 4:3And He who sat there appeared like [the crystalline sparkle of] a jasper stone and [the fiery redness of] a sardius stone, and encircling the throne there was a rainbow that looked like [the color of an] emerald.
• Revelation 10:2and he had a little book (scroll) open in his hand. He set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land;
• Isaiah 34:16Seek from the book of the Lord, and read: Not one of these [creatures] will be missing; None will lack its mate. For His mouth has commanded, And His Spirit has gathered them.
• Ezekiel 2:9Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out toward me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it.
• Revelation 6:1Then I saw as the Lamb (Christ) broke one of the seven seals [of the scroll initiating the judgments], and I heard one of the four living creatures call out as with a voice of thunder, “Come.”
• Isaiah 8:16Bind up the testimony, seal the law and the teaching among my (Isaiah’s) disciples.
• Isaiah 29:11The entire vision [of all these things] will be to you like the words of a scroll that is sealed, which they give to one who can read, saying, “Read this, please,” he shall say, “I cannot, for it is sealed.”
• Daniel 8:26The vision of the evenings and the mornings Which has been told [to you] is true. But keep the vision a secret, For it has to do with many days in the now distant future.”
• Daniel 12:4But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the scroll until the end of time. Many will go back and forth and search anxiously [through the scroll], and knowledge [of the purpose of God as revealed by His prophets] will [greatly] increase.”

Commentaries on Revelation 5:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1A book written within and on the back side - That is, the book was full of solemn contents within, but it was sealed; and on the back side was a superscription indicating its contents. It was a labelled book, or one written on each side of the skin, which was not usual. Sealed with seven seals - As seven is a number of perfection, it may mean that the book was so sealed that the seals could neither be counterfeited nor broken; i.e., the matter of the book…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne - Of God, Revelation 4:3-4. His form is not described there, nor is there any intimation of it here except the mention of his.” right hand.” The book or roll seems to have been so held in his hand that John could see its shape, and see distinctly how it was written and sealed. A book - ́ biblionThis word is properly a diminutive of the word commonly rendered “book” ( ́ biblos), and would strictly…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1A book sealed with seven seals, which could be opened by none but Christ, who took the book to open it. (1-7) Upon which all honour is ascribed to him, as worthy to open it. (8-14) Verses 1-7 The apostle saw in the hand of Him that sat upon the throne, a roll of parchments in the form usual in those times, and sealed with seven seals. This represented the secret purposes of God about to be revealed. The designs and methods of Divine Providence, toward the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1The scroll, like a dramatic script, describes God's plan for the world (Psalm 139:16). The right hand represents God's gracious authority and power (see Revelation 1:17, 20). The writing on both sides of the scroll shows that God's plans for history are full and complete. sealed with seven seals: God has placed his purposes for history in something that cannot be opened by human effort (Isaiah 29:11–12; Daniel 8:26). His purposes will be fulfilled only…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-141. in, &c.--Greek, "(lying) upon the right hand." His right hand was open and on it lay the book. On God's part there was no withholding of His future purposes as contained in the book: the only obstacle to unsealing it is stated in Re 5:3 [Alford]. book--rather, as accords with the ancient form of books, and with the writing on the backside, "a roll." The writing on the back implies fulness and completeness, so that nothing more needs to be added (Re…Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 5:1

• Seal
• Seven
• Vision

In the dictionaries

• Behold
• Book
• Loose
• Receive
• Abinoam
• Back, Back Parts
• Ethics
• Israel, History of
• Literature, Sub-Apostolic
• Number

Commentaries on Revelation 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings