Revelation 5:13 kjv

And 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.

Revelation 5:13 nkjv

And 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, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"

Revelation 5:13 niv

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"

Revelation 5:13 esv

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"

Revelation 5:13 nlt

And 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."

Revelation 5 verses

Revelation 5 13 Meaning

Revelation 5:13 portrays a vision of universal adoration, where every created being throughout all realms of existence joins in a unified chorus of praise directed simultaneously towards God the Father, "Him who sits on the throne," and Jesus Christ, "the Lamb." This acclamation attributes to them eternal blessing, honor, glory, and might, confirming their absolute worthiness and ultimate sovereignty over all creation, now and forever. The "Amen" affirms the truth and finality of this boundless worship.

Revelation 5 13 Context

Revelation 5:13 marks the grand culmination of the worship scenes introduced in Revelation Chapter 4, and significantly expanded upon in Chapter 5. In Chapter 4, heavenly beings adore God the Father for His creation. Chapter 5 introduces a profound dilemma: a scroll sealed with seven seals (Rev 5:1-4) represents God's plan for the future, but no one is worthy to open it. John weeps, until one of the elders declares the worthiness of the "Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David" (Rev 5:5). This powerful figure is then revealed not as a conquering lion, but as a "Lamb standing, as though it had been slain" (Rev 5:6), who alone is worthy to take the scroll. This act initiates an escalating symphony of worship: first from the living creatures and elders (Rev 5:8-10), then joined by myriad angels (Rev 5:11-12), and finally, in verse 13, all of creation itself participates. The historical context for John's original audience involved widespread pressure to participate in Roman imperial cult, where the emperor was revered as a divine figure and "Lord." This verse stands as a direct polemic, unequivocally stating that the true "Lord" deserving universal worship is not any earthly ruler, but the God on the throne and the crucified, resurrected Lamb.

Revelation 5 13 Word analysis

• And I heard (Καὶ ἤκουσα, Kai ēkousa): The aorist tense emphasizes John's immediate experience of perceiving this vast, sweeping sound. It marks his personal witness to this universal declaration.
• every creature (πᾶν κτίσμα, pan ktisma): "Every created thing." This stresses the absolute totality and inclusiveness of the worship. It denotes a worship extending beyond just intelligent beings to literally all existence, animate and inanimate.
• in heaven (ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, en tō ouranō): Encompasses celestial beings and all spiritual realms where God's presence extends.
• and on earth (καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, kai epi tēs gēs): Refers to all living things on the physical world, including humanity and animals.
• and under the earth (καὶ ὑποκάτω τῆς γῆς, kai hypokatō tēs gēs): Typically interpreted as the spirits of the dead (both saved and unsaved, awaiting judgment) and possibly also demonic powers who are ultimately subjugated. This highlights the absolute scope of Christ's dominion, even over death and the underworld, echoing Phil 2:10.
• and in the sea (καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης, kai epi tēs thalassēs): Represents another distinct and vast domain of creation, indicating that no part of the created order is excluded from this worship.
• and all therein (καὶ τὰ ἐν αὐτοῖς, kai ta en autois): An additional comprehensive phrase, reinforcing that every single inhabitant or element within these specified domains is included, leaving no exception. It solidifies the idea of absolute universality.
• saying (λέγοντας, legontas): Implies a collective, unified declaration or pronouncement rather than disjointed utterances.
• To him who sits on the throne (Τῷ καθημένῳ ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου, Tō kathēmenō epi tou thronou): Directly identifies God the Father, the ultimate sovereign of the cosmos, consistently presented in Revelation as the primary object of worship and source of authority. The dative case shows the direct recipient of the honor.
• and to the Lamb (καὶ τῷ ἀρνίῳ, kai tō arniō): Refers to Jesus Christ. The co-recipient of worship with the Father is a pivotal theological statement on the Lamb's co-equality and divinity. The identical dative case signifies shared adoration without distinction in its object.
• be blessing (ἡ εὐλογία, hē eulogia): Means "praise," "well-speaking," an acknowledgment of inherent goodness and divine favor, given or received. Here, it is given to God and the Lamb.
• and honor (καὶ ἡ τιμή, kai hē timē): Signifies "esteem," "high regard," or "worth." It recognizes their supreme value, dignity, and elevated status.
• and glory (καὶ ἡ δόξα, kai hē doxa): Denotes "majesty," "splendor," "radiance," and inherent divine renown. It is an acknowledgment of their awe-inspiring presence and character.
• and might (καὶ τὸ κράτος, kai to kratos): Implies "strength," "dominion," or "absolute power." It acknowledges their irresistible sovereign authority and eternal reign.
• forever and ever (εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων, eis tous aiōnas tōn aiōnon): "Into the ages of the ages." This superlative temporal expression indicates an eternal, unending, ceaseless quality to the worship, signifying its permanence.
• Amen (Ἀμήν, Amēn): A transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning "so be it" or "truly." Here, it functions as a strong affirmation or endorsement of the profound and true declaration that has just been made.

• Words-group analysis:
  • "every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein": This systematic list of realms is a literary device known as a merism, where comprehensive parts indicate an exhaustive whole. It functions to emphasize the totality and universality of creation’s participation in worship. It leaves no part of existence unrepresented, powerfully conveying the unmatched supremacy of God and the Lamb.
  • "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb": The parallel phrasing and identical grammatical construction ("To him...and to the Lamb") are crucial. This joint dative underscores their co-equality in receiving divine worship. This is a profound affirmation of Christ's deity, placing Him on par with God the Father in the cosmic hierarchy of adoration, dismantling any notion of Him being a lesser divine being.
  • "be blessing and honor and glory and might": This tetralogy of attributes signifies a complete and perfect form of divine homage. Each term contributes a specific nuance, expressing the creatures' profound recognition of God and the Lamb's intrinsic goodness (blessing), their exalted status (honor), their inherent divine splendor (glory), and their supreme, unstoppable power (might).

Revelation 5 13 Bonus section

• Theology of Joint Worship: This verse is a cornerstone in Christian theology for affirming the divinity of Jesus Christ. The fact that the Lamb receives the same exact attributes of praise ("blessing, honor, glory, and might") and in the same direct manner ("To him... and to the Lamb") as the One on the throne, distinguishes Jesus not as a mere creature, but as co-equal with God the Father. This profound theological statement underlines the Trinitarian nature of the divine Persons, even if not explicitly defined here.
• Refutation of Imperial Cult: For its original audience in Asia Minor, suffering under the demands of Roman imperial worship, this verse would have been a potent and subversive message. It unequivocally shifts all ultimate authority and worthiness away from the emperor (who often demanded to be worshipped as a god, with titles mirroring divine attributes) to the one true God and His Son, the Lamb. It served as an encouragement to maintain allegiance to Christ alone.
• Aesthetic Grandeur: John’s visions, particularly in chapters 4-5, employ rich, evocative language to convey majesty and splendor. The vastness of "every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea" is a literary depiction of unimaginable scope, drawing the reader into the overwhelming spectacle of divine worship. This builds on Jewish apocalyptic tradition of cosmic visions of God's throne room.

Revelation 5 13 Commentary

Revelation 5:13 caps a magnificent sequence of escalating worship in heaven, portraying a universal chorus where every created being, from the highest heavens to the lowest depths, offers unqualified adoration to God the Father and the Lamb. This seamless joint worship of the two figures is profoundly significant, serving as a powerful declaration of Christ's co-equality and shared deity with God. The attributes ascribed—blessing, honor, glory, and might—represent the fullness of divine praise, acknowledged as due eternally. This vision provided immense comfort and encouragement to early Christians facing persecution, asserting that the true cosmic power resided not in the Roman Emperor, but in the divine Lamb and the Sovereign God, who alone are worthy of such boundless and unending homage. This cosmic doxology foreshadows a future when all things will ultimately submit to the authority of Christ, revealing the ultimate triumph of God’s redemptive plan.