Revelation 5:6 kjv
And 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.
Revelation 5:6 nkjv
And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
Revelation 5:6 niv
Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
Revelation 5:6 esv
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
Revelation 5:6 nlt
Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth.
Revelation 5 6 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
Exod 12:3 | Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth of this... | The Passover Lamb instituted. |
Isa 53:7 | He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth... | The suffering servant, a lamb led to slaughter. |
Jer 11:19 | But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter... | Prophet as a suffering lamb. |
John 1:29 | The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb... | Jesus identified as the Lamb of God who takes away sin. |
1 Cor 5:7 | ...For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. | Christ as the new Passover Lamb. |
1 Pet 1:18-19 | ...with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood... | Redemption through the sinless blood of Christ. |
Heb 9:11-12 | ...Christ appeared as a high priest...not through the blood of goats... | Christ's single, perfect sacrifice for redemption. |
Rev 13:8 | ...whose name has not been written in the book of life of the Lamb... | The Lamb's sacrificial work is eternally purposed. |
Rev 1:4 | John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace... | "Seven Spirits of God" introduced earlier in Revelation. |
Rev 3:1 | “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘He who has the seven... | Jesus holds the seven Spirits and stars. |
Isa 11:2 | The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The Spirit of wisdom... | Prophecy of the seven-fold Spirit of the Lord on the Messiah. |
Zech 4:10 | For those who have despised the day of small beginnings will rejoice... | "Seven eyes of the LORD, which range throughout the earth." |
Ps 2:7 | "I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me... | Enthronement of God's Son (King/Lamb). |
Dan 7:13-14 | I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds... | Son of Man receiving dominion, glory, and an eternal kingdom. |
Matt 28:18 | And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has... | Jesus' ultimate authority after resurrection. |
Phil 2:8-11 | ...He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death... | Christ's humiliation leading to exaltation and universal Lordship. |
Col 2:3 | ...in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. | Christ as the embodiment of all divine wisdom. |
John 14:26 | But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name... | The Holy Spirit's global mission. |
John 16:13 | But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all... | The Spirit's role in conveying truth and knowledge. |
Acts 1:8 | but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you... | The Holy Spirit's empowerment for global witness. |
Rom 8:34 | who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather... | Christ's current position, interceding and ruling. |
Heb 7:25 | Therefore He is able also to save forever those who come to God... | Christ's perpetual intercession. |
Revelation 5 verses
Revelation 5 6 Meaning
Revelation 5:6 reveals a pivotal moment in John's vision, where he sees the Messiah in a unique and paradoxical form. Instead of the expected triumphant Lion from the tribe of Judah, he beholds a Lamb, specifically depicted as having been slain, yet now standing. This image powerfully combines the completed act of sacrifice with a current posture of strength and authority. The Lamb possesses ultimate power and perfect wisdom, represented by its seven horns and seven eyes, which are identified as the seven Spirits of God sent throughout the whole earth, indicating the Spirit's comprehensive knowledge, insight, and universal reach. This portrayal underscores the truth that Jesus' victory and worthiness to open the scroll are rooted in His atoning sacrifice and subsequent resurrection power, establishing His absolute dominion and universal mission.
Revelation 5 6 Context
Revelation 5:6 is central to the broader context of Revelation 4 and 5. Chapter 4 establishes God the Father's absolute sovereignty, seated on the throne as the Creator and Ruler of the universe, receiving universal worship. John then sees a scroll sealed with seven seals in the hand of the One seated on the throne. This scroll contains God's future purposes and judgment for the world. In Revelation 5:1-5, a mighty angel asks who is worthy to open the scroll, and no one in heaven or on earth is found worthy, leading John to weep profusely. The Elder then points to the "Lion from the tribe of Judah," who has conquered and is worthy. This sets up a profound expectation for a powerful, conquering figure. Verse 6 immediately follows this declaration, revealing the Lion not as an intimidating beast, but as a Lamb that had been slain. This shocking revelation underscores the unique nature of Jesus' triumph: He conquers not through brute force, but through sacrificial death and resurrection. Historically, the scene in Revelation also contains a subtle polemic against the Roman Empire and its imperial cult, which demanded worship of the emperor as divine. The true and worthy ruler is not a powerful earthly emperor but the Lamb who was slain, whose authority is derived from humble sacrifice, not human might.
Revelation 5 6 Word analysis
- And I saw, and behold: Introduces a striking visual, emphasizing the immediate revelation and contrast with prior expectations (the Lion).
- in the midst of the throne: Signifies the Lamb's co-equality and co-occupancy of God's throne, sharing in divine authority and sovereignty. This placement among the four living creatures and elders positions the Lamb as the center of heavenly worship and divine governance.
- and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders: Highlights the Lamb's supreme position even among these highly exalted heavenly beings, showing they encircle and acknowledge His central role and authority.
- a Lamb (ἀρνίον, arníon): A diminutive form of 'lamb,' often implying endearment, weakness, or innocence. In this context, it contrasts sharply with the "Lion of the tribe of Judah." This designation frequently refers to Jesus, emphasizing His meekness, sacrificial nature, and identification with the Passover Lamb.
- standing (ἑστηκὸς, hestēkos): Perfect participle, implying a fixed or established posture. It conveys a dynamic stance, suggesting readiness, alertness, and permanence. It speaks of the Lamb's present active state, having endured but now enduring, living, and reigning.
- as though it had been slain (ὡς ἐσφαγμένον, hōs esphagmenon): The crucial paradox. "As though" points to the visible evidence of the Lamb's past sacrificial death, specifically a violent death, yet "standing" asserts its present vitality and power. ἐσφαγμένον is a perfect passive participle of σφάζω (sphazo), meaning 'to slaughter, to kill (by violence, particularly ritual or sacrificial slaughter)'. The perfect tense denotes a completed action with continuing results, meaning the Lamb's state of being "slain" is a permanent characteristic and the source of its authority and victory.
- having seven horns (κέρατα ἑπτά, kerata hepta): In biblical symbolism, horns represent strength, power, and authority (Deut 33:17, Ps 75:10, Zech 1:18). "Seven" signifies completeness and perfection. Therefore, "seven horns" symbolize the Lamb's absolute, perfect, and universal power, omnipotence, and full royal authority.
- and seven eyes (ὀφθαλμοὺς ἑπτά, ophthalmous hepta): Eyes symbolize knowledge, understanding, and divine perception. "Seven eyes" denote perfect, complete, and omniscient wisdom and comprehensive insight. This image suggests pervasive vigilance and discernment.
- which are the seven Spirits of God: This directly interprets the symbolism, connecting the eyes of the Lamb to the Holy Spirit. "Seven Spirits of God" likely refers to the fullness, perfection, and multi-faceted aspects of the Holy Spirit (as seen in Isa 11:2), conveying omniscience and universal spiritual discernment.
- sent out into all the earth: This describes the universal mission, omnipresence, and comprehensive reach of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit emanating from the Lamb signifies His active agency in God's redemptive plan across the entire creation, enabling Him to perceive and interact with all things.
Revelation 5 6 Bonus section
The image of the "seven eyes of the LORD which range throughout the whole earth" found in Zechariah 4:10 is a crucial Old Testament precursor to Revelation 5:6. This direct biblical connection clarifies that the "seven eyes" are not merely symbolic but refer to the Holy Spirit's comprehensive omniscience and omnipresence, constantly surveying and working throughout all creation. This linkage underscores the deep unity and continuity between God's work in the Old Testament and the New. The Lamb, therefore, is not only the fulfillment of the sacrificial system but also the embodiment and dispatcher of God's all-seeing and all-empowering Spirit, linking Christ's post-resurrection authority to the Spirit's global mission. This profound imagery contrasts worldly power, which relies on surveillance and physical might, with the divine power of the Lamb, which operates through suffering and spiritual discernment, making Him uniquely worthy to execute divine judgment and salvation.
Revelation 5 6 Commentary
Revelation 5:6 is the theological heart of the entire book of Revelation, powerfully reconciling the paradox of triumph through sacrifice. John, expecting a roaring lion of strength, is confronted with a Lamb bearing the marks of slaughter, yet vibrant and standing. This Lamb is Jesus Christ, whose victory over sin and death was secured not by military might or political power, but through His voluntary, sacrificial death on the cross (as "slain") and subsequent resurrection (as "standing"). The marks of His passion are His eternal credentials for worthiness.
His supreme authority is visualized by "seven horns," symbolizing absolute and complete power, not as a worldly king but as the sovereign King of kings. His perfect wisdom, insight, and omniscience are depicted by "seven eyes." Crucially, these seven eyes are explicitly identified as "the seven Spirits of God," revealing the Lamb as the source and dispatcher of the Holy Spirit. This highlights the intimate connection between the Son and the Spirit, affirming the Spirit's omnipresence, comprehensive knowledge, and His being "sent out into all the earth" for the universal mission of God. This single verse summarizes the essence of Christ's character, the nature of His redemption, and His supreme, unique qualification to execute God's plan. It demonstrates that the Lion conquers as the Lamb, making His sacrifice the very foundation of His reign and universal mission.
For practical understanding, consider how believers are called to participate in this paradox: our strength as Christians is found in embracing the Lamb's way—through humility, suffering, and sacrifice, rather than through worldly power or self-assertion. The wisdom of God (represented by the seven eyes) often confounds worldly wisdom (1 Cor 1:18-25).