Revelation 5:1 kjv

And 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.

Revelation 5:1 nkjv

And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

Revelation 5:1 niv

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.

Revelation 5:1 esv

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

Revelation 5:1 nlt

Then 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.

Revelation 5 verses

Revelation 5 1 Meaning

Revelation 5:1 unveils a central vision within the book: a scroll held in the right hand of God, who is seated on the throne. This scroll is unique, having writing on both its interior and exterior, and it is sealed securely with seven seals. This scroll represents God's preordained and comprehensive plan for the cosmos and humanity, encompassing both judgment and the consummation of His kingdom, a plan that is divinely decreed, protected, and yet to be unfolded.

Revelation 5 1 Context

Revelation chapter 5 immediately follows chapter 4, where John is transported to heaven and beholds the glory of God seated on the throne, surrounded by twenty-four elders and four living creatures offering continuous worship. Chapter 4 establishes God's supreme holiness, power, and worthiness of praise as Creator. Chapter 5 transitions the focus from God's role as Creator to His role as Redeemer and Judge, initiating the dramatic unfolding of His divine plan for salvation and judgment. The introduction of the scroll, held by God Himself, indicates that this plan is integral to God's nature and ultimate purposes. It sets the stage for the crucial question of who is worthy to reveal and execute this divine plan.

Revelation 5 1 Word analysis

• And I saw in the right hand (καὶ εἶδον ἐπὶ τὴν δεξιὰν)
  • εἶδον (eidon): "I saw." John's direct perception of the vision. Emphasizes divine revelation, not human imagination. Consistent with his role as a revelatory eyewitness throughout the book.
  • ἐπὶ (epi): "on" or "upon." Signifies the scroll is held by or resting on the right hand.
  • δεξιὰν (dexian): "right hand." Symbolizes power, authority, honor, and sovereign execution. In biblical thought, God's "right hand" is often synonymous with His active omnipotence and righteous might.
• of Him who sat on the throne (τοῦ καθημένου ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου)
  • τοῦ καθημένου (tou kathēmenou): "of the one sitting." References God the Father, the glorious, majestic sovereign introduced in Rev 4. Underscores God's supreme rule.
  • θρόνου (thronou): "throne." The symbol of universal authority and divine majesty. Emphasizes that this scroll originates directly from God's sovereign will and decree.
• a scroll (βιβλίον - biblion)
  • βιβλίον (biblion): A scroll or small book. In ancient times, documents, especially important ones like deeds, wills, or prophetic pronouncements, were written on scrolls. It’s typically a rolled document. This specific "biblion" is clearly not a simple note. Its content and sealing elevate its importance.
• written inside and on the back (γεγραμμένον ἔσωθεν καὶ ὄπισθεν - gegrammenon esōthen kai opisthen)
  • γεγραμμένον (gegrammenon): "written." Indicates a finished, complete document.
  • ἔσωθεν (esōthen): "inside."
  • ὄπισθεν (opisthen): "on the back" or "outside."
  • Significance: Scrolls were usually written only on the inside (one side of the papyrus/parchment). Writing on both sides was highly unusual, suggesting either a voluminous amount of content that exceeded normal capacity, or an overflowing, complete, and weighty message. This points to the absolute fullness and exhaustiveness of God's plan, leaving no room for addition or alteration. It often implied that the document contained dire judgments or a very extensive record.
• sealed with seven seals (κατεσφραγισμένον σφραγῖσιν ἑπτά - katesphragismenon sphragisin hepta)
  • κατεσφραγισμένον (katesphragismenon): "sealed down," "firmly sealed." This intensifies the act of sealing, emphasizing the absolute security, inaccessibility, and confidentiality of the scroll’s contents.
  • σφραγῖσιν (sphragisin): "with seals." Seals in the ancient world indicated authenticity, ownership, and protection. They denoted a document's legal authority and confidentiality, requiring an authorized person to break them for the contents to be revealed.
  • ἑπτά (hepta): "seven." The number seven signifies completeness, perfection, and divine fullness. Seven seals suggest an ultimate, perfect, and unalterable divine decree. Each seal must be broken sequentially, implying a progression in God's plan.

Words-Group Analysis

• "in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne": This phrase immediately establishes divine sovereignty and omnipotence as the source of the scroll. It is not an earthly document but a celestial decree held by the Almighty God Himself, indicating its supreme authority and inescapable execution. The "right hand" implies active power, ready to act.
• "a scroll, written inside and on the back": This detail is crucial for understanding the scroll's nature. It’s not a mere symbolic representation; it contains substantive content, so vast that it overflows conventional bounds. It symbolizes the comprehensive nature of God's preordained plan, including all future events, judgments, and the ultimate restoration. It means the plan is exhaustive and leaves nothing out.
• "sealed with seven seals": The multiple, complete sealing indicates profound mystery, divine decree, and impenetrable security. The content is inaccessible to any but the divinely appointed agent. It signifies that the time for its revelation and execution has not yet come, or that a special authorization is required. The "seven" conveys perfection, highlighting that this is God's full and final word regarding these matters.

Revelation 5 1 Bonus section

The scroll described in Rev 5:1 has often been interpreted by scholars as potentially representing several things simultaneously:

• Title Deed to the Earth: In ancient Near Eastern legal practice, a sealed scroll could function as a title deed, especially in property transactions or wills. In this context, the scroll would signify God’s sovereign claim and ownership of the universe, and the redemption process involves Christ re-possessing what was lost due to sin and reasserting divine dominion.
• Divine Will or Testament: The scroll could embody God's last will and testament for humanity, detailing the inheritance of the saints and the judgments upon the unrighteous, to be fully executed through the one found worthy.
• Book of Decrees: It contains the full decree of God's unchangeable plan concerning the end times, the consummation of history, and the coming of His kingdom. It holds all the judgments and blessings.The firm sealing of the scroll suggests not only confidentiality but also the finality of its contents. Once opened, these events will certainly transpire. This scene therefore signifies a pivotal moment in the unfolding of prophetic history.

Revelation 5 1 Commentary

Revelation 5:1 initiates the unfolding of God's sovereign agenda for the ages. The scroll, emanating from God’s own powerful right hand, symbolizes His master plan for redemptive history, the execution of His divine judgments, and the ultimate establishment of His kingdom. Its writing on both sides signifies a plan so comprehensive and weighty that it contains every detail from beginning to end, allowing for no additions or omissions. This scroll is not empty; it is overflowing with God’s unalterable decrees concerning creation, judgment, and consummation. The seven seals powerfully emphasize that this plan is perfectly secured, divinely authored, and impenetrably secret until the chosen One, found worthy, can break them sequentially. This visual image creates profound cosmic suspense, leading immediately into the profound question: "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" This setup highlights the divine challenge that no one in heaven or on earth is found worthy, setting the stage for the introduction of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. This verse reminds believers that God holds the future, His plans are sovereign, exhaustive, and executed in His perfect timing, providing assurance amid global upheaval.