American Standard Version
Revelation 5:4
4And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look thereon:
Revelation 5:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
- New International Version (NIV)I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.
- English Standard Version (ESV)and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.
Context of Revelation 5:4
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. And 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.
Read all of Revelation 5Revelation 5:4 word by word
καὶ ἔκλαιον πολὺ ὅτι οὐδεὶς ἄξιος εὑρέθη ἀνοῖξαι τὸ βιβλίον οὔτε βλέπειν αὐτό.Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Revelation 5:4
- Revelation 4:1After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, a voiceas of a trumpet speaking with me, one saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must come to pass hereafter.
- Daniel 12:8And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my lord, what shall be the issue of these things?
Commentaries on Revelation 5:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4I wept much - Because the world and the Church were likely to be deprived of the knowledge of the contents of the book.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy - Greek, as in Revelation 5:3, no one. It would seem as if there was a pause to see if there were any response to the proclamation of the angel. There being none, John gave way to his deep emotions in a flood of tears. The tears of the apostle here may be regarded as an illustration of two things which are occurring constantly in the minds of people: (1) The strong desire to penetrate the future; to lift…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4John cried because he feared he would not learn about God's plan for history, even though it was promised to him (Revelation 4:1; see 10:4). His tears show how important the revelation was to him.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. and to read--inserted in English Version Greek text without good authority. One oldest manuscript, Origen, Cyprian, and Hilary omit the clause. "To read" would be awkward standing between "to open the book" and "to look thereon." John having been promised a revelation of "things which must be hereafter," weeps now at his earnest desire being apparently frustrated. He is a pattern to us to imitate, as an eager and teachable learner of the Apocalypse.Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 5:4
In the dictionaries
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
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries