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

Then I looked at the one who was sitting on the throne. I saw that he held a book in his right hand. Words were written on both sides, the inside and the outside. Seven seals kept the book closed. 2Then I saw a powerful angel. He said with a loud voice, ‘Who is so good that they can break the seals? Who can open the book?’ 3But nobody in heaven could open the book and look inside it. Neither could anyone on the earth or anyone under the earth open 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 4:3The person who sat there shone with bright red and white light, like jewels called jasper and ruby. Around the throne there was a rainbow that shone with bright green light like an emerald jewel.
• Revelation 10:2He had a little book in his hand and it was open. He put his right foot on the sea and he put his left foot on the land.
• Isaiah 34:16Read the Lord's book very carefully: ‘All these animals and birds will be there. They will all be together in pairs. The Lord himself has commanded what must happen. His Spirit brings them all together.’
• Ezekiel 2:9When I looked, I saw a hand! It held out a scroll towards me.
• Revelation 6:1Then I watched while the Lamb opened one of the seven seals on the book. I heard one of the four beings say, ‘Come!’ It spoke very loudly with a voice like thunder.
• Isaiah 8:16Tie a string round the paper where I have written this. Keep it safe as a true message. Give it to my disciples, to teach them.
• Isaiah 29:11You do not understand this vision that the Lord has given to me. It is like the words in a closed book. Give the book to someone who can read. Say to him, ‘Read this, please.’ But he will answer, ‘I cannot read it, because someone has closed it.’
• Daniel 8:26This vision about the evenings and the mornings is true. I have told you what it means. But keep the vision as a secret now. It will be a long time before these things happen.’
• Daniel 12:4Daniel, you must now close this message. Put seals on the book so that nobody can open it until it is time for the end of this world. Many people will try to understand about these things. They will travel everywhere to get more knowledge.’

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