Revelation 5:3 kjv

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

Revelation 5:3 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.

Revelation 5:3 niv

But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.

Revelation 5:3 esv

And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it,

Revelation 5:3 nlt

But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.

Revelation 5 verses

Revelation 5 3 Meaning

Revelation 5:3 conveys a profound truth about the divine scroll held by God. It declares a universal and absolute inability among all created beings—whether in the spiritual realm of heaven, the physical realm of earth, or the realm beneath the earth (often associated with the departed or underworld)—to either open this significant scroll or even to gaze intently upon it. This emphasizes the unparalleled authority, wisdom, and redemptive qualification required for such an act, which no part of creation possessed.

Revelation 5 3 Context

Revelation chapter 5 immediately follows chapter 4, where God's holiness and supreme majesty as Creator are worshiped in heaven. Chapter 5 shifts focus to God's ultimate plan for creation, represented by a sealed scroll held in the right hand of God. The universal inability declared in verse 3 directly precedes John's profound despair (v. 4), where he weeps greatly because no one in the cosmos is found worthy to execute God's plan contained within the scroll. This sets the stage for the dramatic introduction of the Lamb (Christ) as the uniquely qualified one in subsequent verses, establishing His worthiness not by inherent divine decree alone, but by His redemptive work (being slain) and triumph. The historical context reflects a Jewish apocalyptic vision, using familiar symbolic imagery for God's sovereign control over history and a prophetic hope for a decisive divine intervention to fulfill His purposes and bring ultimate judgment and salvation.

Revelation 5 3 Word analysis

• And no one (kai oudeis - καὶ οὐδείς): The Greek oudeis emphasizes an absolute negation. It means "absolutely no one," stressing a total and complete lack of any being with the necessary qualification or ability.
• in heaven (en tō ouranō - ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ): Refers to the angelic beings and spirits, or possibly even the glorified saints. It signifies the spiritual, celestial realm, highlighting that even the most powerful or knowledgeable beings there lacked the ability.
• or on earth (oudi epi tēs gēs - οὐδὲ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς): Refers to humanity, whether living or historical, kings, prophets, or ordinary people. This covers all human rulers and authorities.
• or under the earth (oude hypokatō tēs gēs - οὐδὲ ὑποκάτω τῆς γῆς): Typically understood as the realm of the dead, or the underworld, sometimes associated with demonic forces. This tripartite division ("heaven, earth, and under the earth") is a comprehensive Jewish idiom for the entirety of creation or the entire cosmos, underscoring the absolute scope of the inability. It leaves no realm, no kind of being, that could open the scroll.
• was able (edynato - ἐδύνατο): From the verb dynamai (δύναμαι), meaning "to be able," "to have power" or "capacity." The imperfect tense here indicates a continuous state of inability or a settled incapacity; not just a momentary lack, but an inherent unfitness that persisted. No one had the inherent authority or strength.
• to open (anoixai - ἀνοῖξαι): The act of breaking the seals of the scroll and revealing its contents. In the ancient world, a sealed scroll was a legal document or testament. To open it implied authority, a right to reveal, or the power to execute its terms.
• the scroll (to biblion - τὸ βιβλίον): This is the scroll seen in the hand of God (Rev 5:1), previously described as written on both sides and sealed with seven seals. It represents God's sovereign plan, His righteous judgments, His redemptive purposes for history, and the rightful title deed to the universe.
• or to look into it (oude blepsai auto - οὐδὲ βλέψαι αὐτό): This goes beyond mere opening. Blepsai implies a focused gaze, to discern, to understand, or to gain authoritative insight into its profound contents. Not only was no one able to perform the active deed of opening, but no one was even qualified to gaze upon or fully comprehend its divine counsel.

Words-group analysis:

• "no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth": This is a powerful expression of universal incompetence and a rhetorical device known as a merism. By listing these three cosmic spheres, it comprehensively excludes every created being, leaving no exception. It highlights that no being—whether angelic, human, or demonic, glorified or departed—possesses the necessary attributes or qualifications to interact with the scroll.
• "was able to open the scroll or to look into it": This phrase highlights a two-fold incapacity. The primary inability is "to open," which signifies initiating the unfolding of God's final plan and judgment. The secondary, yet equally profound, inability is "to look into it," suggesting an incapacity to fully comprehend, interpret, or be worthy of even discerning the sacred and awe-inspiring contents of God's sovereign will for the universe. This implies not merely a physical act but a profound lack of spiritual authority and divine wisdom.

Revelation 5 3 Bonus section

The profound silence that hangs over creation at the declaration of verse 3 (prior to John's weeping) emphasizes the weighty impasse. The inability of any created being to open the scroll also subtly undermines any alternative sources of ultimate authority, wisdom, or power that humanity might look to, whether earthly empires, human philosophies, or even the grandest angelic powers. This total failure creates an absolute necessity for divine intervention from outside of created realms, foreshadowing the triumphant appearance of the unique Kinsman-Redeemer. The scroll's ultimate importance indicates that the final disposition of all things, the consummation of history, and the ultimate victory belong to God alone, and only His designated champion can enact His will.

Revelation 5 3 Commentary

Revelation 5:3 lays the groundwork for the ensuing climax of chapter 5, which reveals the Lamb's unique worthiness. By establishing a comprehensive void—that no being in all creation (angelic, human, or spiritual/infernal) possesses the inherent authority or capacity—it elevates the problem to a cosmic scale. The sealed scroll represents God's pre-ordained plan for salvation, judgment, and the ultimate restoration of His kingdom, implying that human and even angelic efforts are insufficient to initiate or comprehend its unfolding. This universal disqualification leads to John's profound grief, underscoring the gravity of the situation and emphasizing that humanity's destiny rests in a realm beyond created capability. The inability "to look into it" further intensifies the exclusivity, signifying that only one truly aligned with God's perfect will and possessing supreme authority could ever access or execute the divine purpose embedded within the scroll. This scene magnificently exalts the worth and singular power of the Lamb who alone proves qualified to fulfill God's eternal purposes.