Berean Standard Bible
Revelation 5:8
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.
Revelation 5:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And 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.
- New International Version (NIV)And when he had taken it, 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 God’s people.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now when He had taken the scroll, 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 prayers of the saints.
Context of Revelation 5:8
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. When 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.”
Read all of Revelation 5Revelation 5:8 word by word
καὶ ὅτε ἔλαβεν τὸ βιβλίον, τὰ τέσσαρα ζῷα καὶ οἱ εἴκοσι τέσσαρες πρεσβύτεροι ἔπεσαν ἐνώπιον τοῦ ἀρνίου ἔχοντες ἕκαστος κιθάραν καὶ φιάλας χρυσᾶς γεμούσας θυμιαμάτων αἵ εἰσιν αἱ προσευχαὶ τῶν ἁγίων.Read the interlinear
- ·καίkai · andG2532
- Whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
- He had takenλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- scrollβιβλίονbiblion · scrollG975
- fourτέσσαρεςtessares tessara · fourG5064
- living creaturesζῷονzōon · living thingG2226
- twenty-fourεἴκοσιeikosi · twentyG1501
- eldersπρεσβύτεροςpresbuteros · elder (leader)G4245
- fell downπίπτωpiptō petō · to collapseG4098
- beforeἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
- Lambἀρνίονarnion · lambG721
- Each oneἕκαστοςhekastos · eachG1538
- hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- a harpκιθάραkithara · harpG2788
- goldenχρύσεοςchruseos · goldenG5552
- bowlsφιάληphialē · bowlG5357
- fullγέμωgemō · be fullG1073
- of incenseθυμίαμαthumiama · incenseG2368
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- prayersπροσευχήproseuchē · prayerG4335
- saintsἅγιοςhagios · holy: saintG40
Cross-references for Revelation 5:8
- Revelation 5:14And the four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
- Revelation 4:4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.
- Revelation 7:10And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
- Revelation 19:4And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying: “Amen, Hallelujah!”
- John 5:23so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
- Romans 14:10Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
- Philippians 2:9Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,
- Hebrews 1:6And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all God’s angels worship Him.”
- Revelation 14:2And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of many waters and the loud rumbling of thunder. And the sound I heard was like harpists strumming their harps.
- Revelation 15:2And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, beside which stood those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name. They were holding harps from God,
- Psalms 33:2Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him with ten strings.
- Psalms 43:4Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. I will praise You with the harp, O God, my God.
- Psalms 81:2Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.
- Psalms 150:3Praise Him with the sound of the horn; praise Him with the harp and lyre.
- Revelation 15:7Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.
- Revelation 8:3Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.
Commentaries on Revelation 5:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8The four beasts - fell down before the Lamb - The whole Church of God, and all his children in heaven and earth, acknowledge that Jesus Christ is alone worthy and able to unfold and execute all the mysteries and counsels of God. See on Revelation 5:9; (note). Having every one of them harps - There were harps and vials; and each of the elders and living creatures had one. Odours, which are the prayers of saints - The frankincense and odours offered at the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8And when he had taken the book, the four beasts - The acts of adoration here described as rendered by the four living creatures and the elders are, according to the explanation given in Revelation 4:4-7, emblematic of the honor done to the Redeemer by the church, and by the course of providential events in the government of the world. Fell down before the Lamb - The usual posture of profound worship. Usually in such worship there was entire prostration…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-14Verses 8-14 It is matter of joy to all the world, to see that God deals with men in grace and mercy through the Redeemer. He governs the world, not merely as a Creator, but as our Saviour. The harps were instruments of praise; the vials were full of odours, or incense, which signify the prayers of the saints: prayer and praise should always go together. Christ has redeemed his people from the bondage of sin, guilt, and Satan. He has not only purchased…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8fell down before the Lamb: The crucified and risen Christ has the divine authority to start the events of this age. He is fully worthy of worship. The prayers of God's people play a significant role in the judgments and plagues (Revelation 6:9–11; 8:2–5).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. had taken--Greek, "took." fell down before the Lamb--who shares worship and the throne with the Father. harps--Two oldest manuscripts, A, B, Syriac and Coptic read, "a harp": a kind of guitar, played with the hand or a quill. vials--"bowls" [Tregelles]; censers. odours--Greek, "incense." prayers of saints--as the angel offers their prayers (Re 8:3) with incense (compare Psa 141:2). This gives not the least sanction to Rome's dogma of our praying to…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 5:8
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
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