New Testament · Prophecy

Revelation 5

The Lamb Who Was Slain

A scroll sealed with seven seals, and no one in heaven or earth can open it — until a slaughtered Lamb steps forward and the universe erupts in worship.

King James Version BSB KJV

1And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

3And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

5And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

6And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

7And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

8And 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.

9And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

11And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

13And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

14And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Understand This

Revelation 5, explained

What Revelation 5 is saying

A scroll sealed with seven seals appears in God's right hand, and John weeps because no one in all creation is found worthy to open it. An elder redirects him to the Lion of the tribe of Judah (ho leōn ho ek tēs phylēs Iouda), but what John sees is a Lamb standing as though slain (arnion hestēkos hōs esphagmenon)—the decisive Christological paradox of the entire Apocalypse. The Lamb takes the scroll, triggering an expanding cascade of worship from the living creatures, the elders, myriads of angels, and finally all creation.

The background behind it

The sealed scroll likely represents God's redemptive plan for history, echoing the sealed document in Daniel 12:4. The image of the slaughtered-yet-standing Lamb draws on the Passover tradition and Isaiah 53, while the Lion-Lamb juxtaposition redefines messianic expectation away from military conquest toward sacrificial victory.

Themes running underneath

The Lion-Lamb paradox is the hermeneutical key to Revelation: what John hears (Lion) is reinterpreted by what he sees (Lamb). Power is redefined through sacrifice. The new song declares the Lamb worthy because He was slain and by His blood purchased people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation—establishing the universal scope of redemption and the priestly kingdom identity of believers.

Why it still matters

This chapter fundamentally redefines power and victory. The one who conquers does so not through violence but through self-giving love, challenging every triumphalist reading of both Scripture and history.

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Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.