Revelation 5:4 kjv

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

Revelation 5:4 nkjv

So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.

Revelation 5:4 niv

I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.

Revelation 5:4 esv

and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

Revelation 5:4 nlt

Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it.

Revelation 5 verses

Revelation 5 4 Meaning

Revelation 5:4 depicts the profound anguish of John as he witnesses the critical moment in God's heavenly throne room. A scroll, representing God's sovereign plan for creation, redemption, and judgment, lies in the hand of the One seated on the throne, but no one is found with the necessary authority, power, and intrinsic worthiness to open its seven seals and unveil its contents. John's "much weeping" signifies the desperation and ultimate hopelessness that would ensue if God's purposes for humanity and creation remained unfulfilled, with the sealed scroll representing the stalled divine action and the unfulfilled promise of salvation and consummation. It underscores the vital importance of the scroll's opening for the unfolding of God's redemptive history and the eschatological hope of the faithful.

Revelation 5 4 Context

Revelation 5 is a pivotal scene occurring after John's vision of God's majestic throne room in Revelation 4. The divine activity observed in Revelation 4 emphasizes God's supreme sovereignty, holiness, and creative power, establishing Him as the unchallenged King. In Chapter 5, a new element is introduced: a scroll, held in the right hand of God, sealed with seven seals. This scroll is not just any book; its content is crucial to the unfolding of God's redemptive purposes for history, humanity, and creation. The public announcement by a mighty angel asking, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" highlights a moment of cosmic crisis. John's intense weeping in verse 4 underscores the profound realization that if no one is found worthy, God's divine plan of salvation and ultimate triumph would remain forever sealed, rendering creation's hope (Rom 8:19-22) unfulfilled and evil unrestrained. The original audience, facing persecution and contemplating the apparent triumph of evil empires (like Rome), would keenly understand the desperate need for a divine intervention and the unveiling of God's decisive action in history. The dilemma presented here is resolved in the subsequent verses by the emergence of the Lamb, demonstrating Christ's unique qualifications and pivotal role.

Revelation 5 4 Word analysis

• And I wept much (καὶ ἔκλαιον πολύ - kai eklaion poly):

  • "wept" (ἔκλαιον - eklaion): An imperfect active verb of κλαίω (klaio), meaning to cry aloud, to wail, or lament. The imperfect tense conveys continuous, deep, and emotional crying. This is not a casual shedding of tears but profound sorrow, anguish, and distress, mirroring intense grief or desperate longing for a resolution.
  • "much" (πολύ - poly): An adverb intensifying the degree of John's weeping. It underscores the severity of the crisis. John’s weeping symbolizes the longing and fear of humanity and creation for the culmination of God's purposes. This intense lament foreshadows the desperate situation of an unresolved universe if no one acts.

• because no one was found (ὅτι οὐδεὶς εὑρέθη - hoti oudeis heurethe):

  • "because" (ὅτι - hoti): Introduces the reason for John's weeping, explaining the gravity of the situation.
  • "no one" (οὐδεὶς - oudeis): An absolute negative pronoun. This is emphatic: absolutely no human, no angel, no created being was qualified. It points to the universal spiritual inadequacy of all creation apart from the Divine solution. This sets up the unique and divine identity of the one who will be found worthy. This stark reality serves as a polemic against any notion that human might, angelic power, or any other cosmic authority could fulfil God's ultimate plan, redirecting all focus to God's chosen Agent.
  • "was found" (εὑρέθη - heurethe): A passive aorist of εὑρίσκω (heurisko), "to find." It suggests a thorough search and examination were conducted (implied by the mighty angel's cry), but yielded no one suitable. The passive voice further emphasizes that the lack of a worthy candidate was an objective fact, not a subjective interpretation.

• worthy (ἄξιος - axios):

  • This adjective denotes being of equal weight, fitting, suitable, or deserving. It implies a moral and authoritative fitness, an intrinsic qualification commensurate with the immense task. In this context, it signifies a combination of character, authority, and ability to execute God’s will, something far beyond any created being's capacity. It is not just about purity but ultimate power and sovereign right.

• to open the scroll (ἀνοῖξαι τὸ βιβλίον - anoixai to biblion):

  • "to open" (ἀνοῖξαι - anoixai): An aorist infinitive meaning to open, unseal, or unroll. The act of "opening" implies both revealing its contents and executing its judgments and plans. The seals signify both the mystery and the security of the divine plan, only to be broken by one with the rightful authority.
  • "the scroll" (τὸ βιβλίον - to biblion): A definitive article "the" emphasizes it as the unique scroll, known and crucial. This "book" or "scroll" represents God's detailed sovereign decree for end times: judgment, redemption, and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. Its remaining sealed implies the deferral or permanent failure of these ultimate divine purposes. The idea of sealed books appears in OT prophecies (Isa 29:11, Dan 12:4), signifying a divinely determined future hidden until the proper time and agency for its unfolding.

• or to look at it (οὐδὲ βλέπειν αὐτό - oude blepein auto):

  • "or" (οὐδὲ - oude): Emphatic "not even," highlighting the extreme lack of qualification.
  • "to look at it" (βλέπειν αὐτό - blepein auto): To behold, gaze upon, or comprehend it. It suggests not merely the act of physically viewing but of fully grasping and discerning its profound contents. The inability to even look at it underscores the absolute lack of qualification. One must possess divine insight and authority to comprehend God's ultimate plan, let alone enact it.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And I wept much, because no one was found worthy...": This entire phrase powerfully establishes the stakes. John, as a representative of humanity, understands the cosmic tragedy that would ensue if God's redemptive plan, contained within the scroll, cannot be initiated. His weeping indicates the profound spiritual distress and absence of hope without a divine solution. It builds anticipation for the resolution, preparing the reader for the entrance of the worthy one.
  • "...to open the scroll or to look at it.": This dual phrasing highlights both the action (opening/executing) and the understanding (gazing/comprehending) required. The task demands both supreme authority to unleash divine judgment and salvation, and infinite wisdom to fully grasp and manage such a divine plan. The fact that no one can even look at it stresses the unparalleled nature of the scroll and its contents, elevating it beyond any creaturely grasp or intervention.

Revelation 5 4 Bonus section

• Theological Implication: The universal unworthiness of any created being apart from God to enact divine purposes sets up a crucial theological foundation for Christ's uniqueness. It elevates the coming Lamb not merely as a victor but as the singular, divinely-empowered one who bridges the gap between God's transcendent will and its unfolding in creation. This void created by "no one was found worthy" intensifies the anticipation for the revelation of Jesus as the Lion of Judah and the Lamb, who is inherently and sacrificially worthy.
• Prophetic Connection: The concept of a "sealed book" echoes Old Testament prophecies (e.g., Isa 29:11, Dan 12:4). Daniel's prophecy about the book being sealed "until the time of the end" finds its dramatic moment here in Revelation 5. John's despair, therefore, represents the historical period before the unveiling and execution of these crucial end-time prophecies.
• Worship & Worthiness: The preceding chapter (Rev 4) focuses solely on God's worthiness as Creator. This verse pivots to ask about worthiness in the context of implementing a redemptive and judgment plan, moving the focus towards the character and action required for this specific task, which prepares for the worthiness of the Lamb, uniquely found in His redemptive act.

Revelation 5 4 Commentary

Revelation 5:4 serves as a dramatic tension point, setting the stage for the climactic unveiling of the One truly worthy. John's extreme sorrow vividly portrays the profound spiritual crisis facing creation if God's ultimate plan remains sealed. This weeping underscores that without a specific, supremely qualified individual to unlock destiny, history lacks direction, redemption stalls, and ultimate justice is delayed or denied. The phrase "no one was found worthy" highlights the inherent inadequacy of all created beings – whether human, angelic, or otherwise powerful – to interact with and execute God's divine purpose in its fulness. Their unworthiness stems not merely from moral imperfection but from a fundamental lack of intrinsic, divine authority and accomplished redemptive work. This emphasizes the unique nature of the one who would step forward. The sealed scroll embodies God's sovereign will concerning judgment, redemption, and the consummation of His kingdom; its inviolability until the rightful one appears underscores the immense importance and sanctity of God's redemptive work. The inability to "look at it" further signifies that the depth and complexity of God's plan are beyond created comprehension, let alone initiation. This verse builds great anticipation for the revelation of Christ as the unique Redeemer and Administrator of God's eternal purposes.