Revelation 1:5

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,
• English Standard Version (ESV)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
• 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,

Context of Revelation 1:5

3Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it, because the time is near! 4From John, to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from “he who is,” and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ – the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood 6and has appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father – to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever! Amen. 7(Look! He is returning with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes on the earth will mourn because of him. This will certainly come to pass! Amen.)

Revelation 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“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation:
• Psalms 89:36His dynasty will last forever. His throne will endure before me, like the sun,
• Isaiah 55:4Look, I made him a witness to nations, a ruler and commander of nations.”
• John 3:11I tell you the solemn truth, we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony.
• John 8:14Jesus answered, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you people do not know where I came from or where I am going.
• John 18:37Then Pilate said, “So you are a king!” Jesus replied, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world – to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
• 1 Timothy 6:13I charge you before God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who made his good confession before Pontius Pilate,
• 1 John 5:7For there are three that testify,
• Acts 26:23that the Christ was to suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, to proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:20But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
• Colossians 1:18He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.
• 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 will reign for ever and ever.”
• Revelation 17:14They will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those accompanying the Lamb are the called, chosen, and faithful.”
• Revelation 19:16He has a name written on his clothing and on his thigh: “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
• Psalms 72:11All kings will bow down to him; all nations will serve him.
• Psalms 89:27I will appoint him to be my firstborn son, the most exalted of the earth’s kings.

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

• Ablution
• Atonement
• Birthright
• Blood
• Cleanliness
• Firstborn
• God
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Jesus
• Christ, Messiah
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• First-Begotten
• Jesus Christ
• Alpha
• Beginning
• Magistrate
• Star

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