English Standard Version
Revelation 1:5
5and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
Revelation 1:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
- New International Version (NIV)and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
- New King James Version (NKJV)and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
- New Living Translation (NLT)and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us.
Context of Revelation 1:5
3Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. 4John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
Read all of Revelation 1Revelation 1:5 word by word
καὶ ἀπὸ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ μάρτυς ὁ πιστός, ὁ πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν καὶ ὁ ἄρχων τῶν βασιλέων τῆς γῆς. τῷ ἀγαπῶντι ἡμᾶς καὶ λύσαντι ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ αἵματι αὐτοῦRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- theμάρτυςmartus · witnessG3144
- faithfulπιστόςpistos · faithfulG4103
- the first begottenπρωτότοκοςprōtotokos · firstbornG4416
- ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- the deadνεκρόςnekros · deadG3498
- the princeἄρχωνarchōn · rulerG758
- of the kingsβασιλεύςbasileus · kingG935
- of the earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
- Unto him that lovedἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
- usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- washedλούωlouō · to washG3068
- sinsἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- his ownαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- bloodαἷμαaima · bloodG129
Cross-references for Revelation 1:5
- Revelation 3:14"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
- Psalms 89:36His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me.
- Isaiah 55:4Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.
- John 3:11Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.
- John 8:14Jesus answered, "Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
- John 18:37Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."
- 1 Timothy 6:13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,
- 1 John 5:7For there are three that testify:
- Acts 26:23that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles."
- 1 Corinthians 15:20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
- Colossians 1:18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
- Revelation 11:15Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever."
- Revelation 17:14They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful."
- Revelation 19:16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
- Psalms 72:11May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!
- Psalms 89:27And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
Commentaries on Revelation 1:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5The faithful witness - The true teacher, whose testimony is infallible, and whose sayings must all come to pass. The first-begotten of the dead - See the note on Colossians 1:18. The prince of the kings - ̔ , The chief or head, of all earthly potentates; who has them all under his dominion and control, and can dispose of them as he will. Unto him that loved us - This should begin a new verse, as it is the commencement of a new subject. Our salvation is…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness - See the notes on Revelation 1:2. He is faithful in the sense that he is one on whose testimony there may be entire reliance, or who is entirely worthy to be believed. From him “grace and peace” are appropriately sought, as one who hears such a testimony, and as the first-begotten from the dead, and as reigning over the kings of the earth. Thus, grace and peace are invoked from the infinite God in all…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-8Verses 4-8 There can be no true peace, where there is not true grace; and where grace goeth before, peace will follow. This blessing is in the name of God, of the Holy Trinity, it is an act of adoration. The Father is first named; he is described as the Jehovah who is, and who was, and who is to come, eternal, unchangeable. The Holy Spirit is called the seven spirits, the perfect Spirit of God, in whom there is a diversity of gifts and operations. The…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5Jesus serves as our example for sharing the good of salvation (Revelation 1:2). The belief that Jesus was the first to rise from the dead is essential to Christian faith (1 Corinthians 15:14, 17). As the ruler of all the kings of the world (see also Revelation 17:14; 19:16), he is the ultimate Lord of everything. People in the Roman world were expected to declare Caesar as the absolute lord; many early Christians died for their belief that Jesus alone…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. the faithful witness--of the truth concerning Himself and His mission as Prophet, Priest, and King Saviour. "He was the faithful witness, because all things that He heard of the Father He faithfully made known to His disciples. Also, because He taught the way of God in truth, and cared not for man, nor regarded the persons of men. Also, because the truth which He taught in words He confirmed by miracles. Also, because the testimony to Himself on the…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 1:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Revelation 1
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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