Revelation 5:3

Revelation 5:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
• New International Version (NIV)But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it,
• New King James Version (NKJV)And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

Context of Revelation 5:3

1Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. 4Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. 5But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Revelation 5:3 word by word

καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐδύνατο ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ οὐδὲ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς οὐδὲ ὑποκάτω τῆς γῆς ἀνοῖξαι τὸ βιβλίον οὔτε βλέπειν αὐτό.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• no manοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• heavenὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• norοὐδέoude · norG3761
• inἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
• underὑποκάτωhupokatō · underG5270
• was ableδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• to openἀνοίγωanoigō · to openG455
• the bookβιβλίονbiblion · scrollG975
• to lookβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
• thereonαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for Revelation 5:3

• Revelation 5:13And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.”
• Isaiah 40:13Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?
• Isaiah 41:28Not one of your idols told you this. Not one gave any answer when I asked.
• Romans 11:34For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice?

Commentaries on Revelation 5:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3And no man - · No person or being. In heaven - Among all the angels of God. Nor in the earth - No human being. Neither under the earth - No disembodied spirit, nor any demon. Neither angels, men, nor devils, can fathom the decrees of God. Neither to look thereon - None can look into it unless it be opened, and none can open it unless the seals be unloosed.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3And no man in heaven - No one - ̓̀ oudeisThere is no limitation in the original to man. The idea is, that there was no one in heaven - evidently alluding to the created beings there - who could open the volume. Is it not taught here that angels cannot penetrate the future, and disclose what is to come? Are not their faculties limited in this respect like those of man? Nor in earth - Among all classes of people - sages, divines, prophets, philosophers…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-3At first, no one in the entire universe seemed to have the divine authority or power to answer the angel’s call.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. no man--Greek, "no one." Not merely no man, but also no one of any order of beings. in earth--Greek, "upon the earth." under the earth--namely, in Hades. look thereon--to look upon the contents, so as to read them.Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 5:3

• Angel (a Spirit)
• Salvation
• Vision

In the dictionaries

• Behold
• Book
• Loose
• Receive
• Ethics
• Governor
• Israel, History of
• Jael
• Judges, Period of
• Literature, Sub-Apostolic

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