New American Standard Bible 1995
Revelation 5:8
8When He had taken the 1book, the 2four living creatures and the 3twenty-four elders 4fell down before the 5Lamb, each one holding a 6harp and 7golden bowls full of incense, which are the 8prayers of the 9saints.
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
6And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. 7And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to 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
- Whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
- He had takenλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- bookβιβλίονbiblion · scrollG975
- fourτέσσαρεςtessares tessara · fourG5064
- livingζῷονzōon · living thingG2226
- twenty-fourεἴκοσιeikosi · twentyG1501
- eldersπρεσβύτεροςpresbuteros · elder (leader)G4245
- fellπίπτωpiptō petō · to collapseG4098
- beforeἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
- eachἕκαστοςhekastos · eachG1538
- holdingζάωzaō · to liveG2198
- harpκιθάραkithara · harpG2788
- goldenχρύσεοςchruseos · goldenG5552
- bowlsφιάληphialē · bowlG5357
- fullγέμωgemō · be fullG1073
- of incenseθυμίαμαthumiama · incenseG2368
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- prayersπροσευχήproseuchē · prayerG4335
- saintsἅγιοςhagios · holy: saintG40
Cross-references for Revelation 5:8
- Revelation 5:14And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
- Revelation 4:4Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.
- Revelation 7:10and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “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 will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
- Romans 14:10But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
- Philippians 2:9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
- Hebrews 1:6And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “And let all the angels of God worship Him.”
- Revelation 14:2And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps.
- Revelation 15:2And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.
- Psalms 33:2Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.
- Psalms 43:4Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God.
- Psalms 81:2Raise a song, strike the timbrel, The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.
- Psalms 150:3Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre.
- Revelation 15:7Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.
- Revelation 8:3Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was 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
Notes
- 1. Revelation 5:8 Or scroll ↩
- 2. Revelation 5:8 Rev 4:6; 5:6, 11, 14 ↩
- 3. Revelation 5:8 Rev 4:4; 5:14 ↩
- 4. Revelation 5:8 Rev 4:10 ↩
- 5. Revelation 5:8 John 1:29; Rev 5:6, 12f; 13:8 ↩
- 6. Revelation 5:8 Rev 14:2; 15:2 ↩
- 7. Revelation 5:8 Rev 15:7 ↩
- 8. Revelation 5:8 Ps 141:2; Rev 8:3f ↩
- 9. Revelation 5:8 Or holy ones ↩
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
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries