New International Version
Revelation 5:8
8And 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
Context of Revelation 5:8
6Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 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. 9And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
- he had takenλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- the bookὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the bookβιβλίονbiblion · scrollG975
- theζῷονzōon · living thingG2226
- fourτέσσαρεςtessares tessara · fourG5064
- fourεἴκοσιeikosi · twentyG1501
- eldersπρεσβύτεροςpresbuteros · elder (leader)G4245
- fell downπίπτωpiptō petō · to collapseG4098
- beforeἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
- the Lambἀρνίονarnion · lambG721
- havingἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- every one of themἕκαστοςhekastos · eachG1538
- harpsκιθάραkithara · harpG2788
- goldenχρύσεοςchruseos · goldenG5552
- vialsφιάληphialē · bowlG5357
- fullγέμωgemō · be fullG1073
- of odoursθυμίαμαthumiama · incenseG2368
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the prayersπροσευχήproseuchē · prayerG4335
- of saintsἅγιοςhagios · holy: saintG40
Cross-references for Revelation 5:8
- Revelation 5:14The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
- Revelation 4:4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.
- Revelation 7:10And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
- Revelation 19:4The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!”
- John 5:23that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
- Romans 14:10You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
- Philippians 2:9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
- Hebrews 1:6And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
- Revelation 14:2And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.
- Revelation 15:2And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God
- Psalms 33:2Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
- Psalms 43:4Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.
- Psalms 81:2Begin the music, strike the timbrel, play the melodious harp and lyre.
- Psalms 150:3Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,
- Revelation 15:7Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.
- Revelation 8:3Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of 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
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
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