Revelation 5:4

Revelation 5:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
• New International Version (NIV)I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.

Context of Revelation 5:4

2And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming in a loud voice: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” 3But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it. So I began weeping bitterly because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered; thus he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6Then I saw standing in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been killed. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Revelation 5:4 word by word

καὶ ἔκλαιον πολὺ ὅτι οὐδεὶς ἄξιος εὑρέθη ἀνοῖξαι τὸ βιβλίον οὔτε βλέπειν αὐτό.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• weptκλαίωklaiō · to weepG2799
• muchπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• no manοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• was foundεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
• worthyἄξιοςaxios · worthyG514
• to openἀνοίγωanoigō · to openG455
• to readἀναγινώσκωanaginōskō · to readG314
• the bookὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the bookβιβλίονbiblion · scrollG975
• neitherοὔτεoute · neitherG3777
• to lookβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
• thereonαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for Revelation 5:4

• Revelation 4:1After these things I looked, and there was a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said: “Come up here so that I can show you what must happen after these things.”
• Daniel 12:8I heard, but I did not understand. So I said, “Sir, what will happen after these things?”

Commentaries on Revelation 5:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4I wept much - Because the world and the Church were likely to be deprived of the knowledge of the contents of the book.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy … - Greek, as in Revelation 5:3, no one. It would seem as if there was a pause to see if there were any response to the proclamation of the angel. There being none, John gave way to his deep emotions in a flood of tears. The tears of the apostle here may be regarded as an illustration of two things which are occurring constantly in the minds of people: (1) The strong desire to penetrate the future; to lift…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4John cried because he feared he would not learn about God's plan for history, even though it was promised to him (Revelation 4:1; see 10:4). His tears show how important the revelation was to him.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. and to read--inserted in English Version Greek text without good authority. One oldest manuscript, Origen, Cyprian, and Hilary omit the clause. "To read" would be awkward standing between "to open the book" and "to look thereon." John having been promised a revelation of "things which must be hereafter," weeps now at his earnest desire being apparently frustrated. He is a pattern to us to imitate, as an eager and teachable learner of the Apocalypse.Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 5:4

• Angel (a Spirit)
• Minister, Christian
• Salvation
• Vision
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Behold
• Loose
• Receive
• Ethics
• Israel, History of
• Jael
• Literature, Sub-Apostolic
• Revelation of John
• Seraphim

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