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,
• 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,
• 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 it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. 4John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 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, 6and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 7“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! 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: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.
• Psalms 89:36that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun;
• Isaiah 55:4See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples.
• John 3:11Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.
• John 8:14Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.
• John 18:37“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
• 1 Timothy 6:13In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you
• 1 John 5:7For there are three that testify:
• Acts 26:23that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:20But Christ has indeed 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 and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
• Revelation 11:15The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
• Revelation 17:14They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
• Revelation 19:16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
• Psalms 72:11May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.
• Psalms 89:27And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted 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

• 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