Revelation 5:7 kjv
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
Revelation 5:7 nkjv
Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
Revelation 5:7 niv
He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
Revelation 5:7 esv
And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.
Revelation 5:7 nlt
He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne.
Revelation 5 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 5:1 | Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll... | Describes the scroll's location initially. |
| Rev 5:4 | I wept much because no one was found worthy to open the scroll... | John's distress at lack of worthy opener. |
| Rev 5:5 | ...the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed... | Introduces the one found worthy to open. |
| Rev 5:6 | And between the throne... stood a Lamb as though it had been slain... | Identifies the "he" of Rev 5:7 as the Lamb. |
| Rev 5:9-10 | And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll...” | Acknowledgment of the Lamb's worthiness. |
| Rev 5:12 | saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive...” | Declaration of Lamb's universal worthiness. |
| Rev 4:2-3 | At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven... | Establishes the setting and God on the throne. |
| Rev 4:9 | ...when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who... | Constant worship of God on the throne. |
| Rev 6:1-2 | Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals... | The Lamb's subsequent action with the scroll. |
| Rev 7:10 | And crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits... | God on throne as source of salvation. |
| Dan 12:4 | But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of... | Sealed book motif in prophecy. |
| Isa 29:11-12 | ...the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that... | Foreshadows an unopenable or unreadable scroll. |
| Ezek 2:9-10 | ...I looked, and behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a roll... | Prophetic scroll given to a prophet. |
| Ps 110:1 | The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies... | Christ's exalted position at God's right hand. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is... | God's exaltation of Christ after his humiliation. |
| Eph 1:20-22 | ...which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him... | Christ's supreme authority established. |
| Matt 28:18 | And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth...” | Christ's post-resurrection universal authority. |
| Heb 1:3 | ...he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high... | Christ's final position of authority. |
| Acts 2:33 | Being therefore exalted to the right hand of God... | Peter's sermon on Christ's divine authority. |
| 1 Pet 3:22 | ...who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels... | Christ's position of power and dominion. |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace... | Believers' access to the Father's presence. |
| Heb 7:25 | Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to... | Christ's ongoing work as intercessor. |
Revelation 5 verses
Revelation 5 7 Meaning
This verse describes the Lamb's decisive action of approaching the One seated on the throne and taking the sealed scroll. This moment signifies the Lamb's unique worthiness and appointed authority to execute God's ultimate plan for all creation, including redemption and judgment, which are contained within the scroll. It is a pivotal transfer of executive power and responsibility in the heavenly throne room.
Revelation 5 7 Context
Revelation 5:7 is a critical turning point within the broader narrative of Revelation. It immediately follows the divine lament and search for someone worthy to open the divinely sealed scroll, detailed in Revelation 5:1-6. In Chapter 4, John beholds the majestic, glorious presence of God on the throne, receiving endless worship. Chapter 5 introduces a dilemma: a sealed scroll, symbolizing God's future purposes and judgment, lies in God's right hand, yet no one is found worthy to open it, causing John great sorrow. Verse 7 provides the solution: the Lamb, who was introduced as both the triumphant "Lion of the tribe of Judah" and the "Lamb as though it had been slain" (Rev 5:5-6), now steps forward to take the scroll. This action marks the formal investiture of the Lamb with the executive authority to fulfill God's redemptive plan and bring history to its appointed conclusion.
Historically, scrolls were common in the ancient world for legal documents, wills, or royal decrees, often sealed to ensure authenticity and secrecy. The "right hand" was universally understood as the position of power, authority, and honor. This imagery would have powerfully communicated to John's original audience the absolute authority granted to the Lamb. The heavenly scene draws on ancient Near Eastern throne room aesthetics and Jewish prophetic visions, emphasizing divine sovereignty and justice.
Revelation 5 7 Word analysis
- And he came (καὶ ἦλθεν - kai ēlthen):
- He (ἔλθεν - ēlthen): Refers directly to "the Lamb" previously introduced in Revelation 5:6. This is Christ in His resurrected and glorified state.
- Came: Signifies an intentional, deliberate, and authoritative approach, not a hesitant or subordinate one. It is an act of sovereign will.
- and took (καὶ ἔλαβεν - kai elaben):
- Took: From the Greek verb lambanō. This is an active taking, implying appropriation and assumption of a role, rather than merely receiving or being given something passively. It denotes assumption of full charge.
- Significance: This verb underscores the Lamb's authority and preparedness to engage with the scroll's contents, signifying the inauguration of His rule and judgment.
- the scroll (τὸ βιβλίον - to biblion):
- The scroll: Previously mentioned in Revelation 5:1, a highly significant object.
- Biblion: Diminutive of biblos, meaning a small book or roll, typically written on papyrus or parchment.
- Symbolism: Represents God's eternal purposes, decrees, divine plan for human history, redemption, and final judgment. Its sealed nature indicates it contains profound truths yet to be revealed and actions yet to be executed.
- out of the right hand (ἐκ τῆς δεξιᾶς χειρὸς - ek tēs dexias cheiros):
- Out of: Emphasizes the source of the scroll.
- The right hand (δεξιᾶς χειρὸς - dexias cheiros): The "right hand" is a consistent biblical idiom for supreme power, authority, honor, strength, and sovereign control (Ps 118:15-16; Exod 15:6).
- Significance: Taking the scroll from this specific position emphasizes that the Lamb is not usurping authority but is being fully invested with divine authority, in full consent of the One on the throne.
- of him who sat on the throne (τοῦ καθημένου ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου - tou kathēmenou epi tou thronou):
- Him who sat: Refers unequivocally to God the Father, introduced in Revelation 4 as the Almighty Creator. His posture on the throne denotes ultimate, unchanging sovereignty.
- On the throne: The seat of supreme authority and divine dominion.
- Theological Implication: This phrase affirms that the authority Christ receives is from the ultimate divine source. There is a seamless continuity and divine orchestration in the transfer of power.
- He came and took: This active phrase conveys the Lamb's determined, worthy, and sovereign assumption of responsibility. It's not a passive receipt but an authoritative acceptance.
- Took the scroll out of the right hand: This precise action symbolizes the formal transfer of executive power. The scroll, representing God's comprehensive plan, is now entrusted to the only one worthy to unveil and execute it, Christ. It signifies a profound divine trust.
- The right hand of him who sat on the throne: This combination powerfully signifies that the authority and mandate Christ receives are not from any lesser power but directly from God the Father, the ultimate sovereign of the universe, in a demonstration of shared divine will and purpose.
Revelation 5 7 Bonus section
The act described in Revelation 5:7 resonates with the New Testament theme of Christ's exaltation and delegated authority after His resurrection and ascension. It is a powerful visual of the Son, who fully completed His redemptive work on earth, now taking His rightful place as the Divine Agent of God's final will. This event not only propels the narrative of Revelation forward but also establishes a foundational theological truth: the future of creation is firmly established and controlled by the very One who offered Himself as a sacrifice. This signifies His active and personal engagement in bringing about His Father's design for the ages, confirming that all power and authority are given to Him.
Revelation 5 7 Commentary
Revelation 5:7 is the moment where the divine drama intensifies and the resolution to the heavenly crisis of "who is worthy?" is fully realized. The Lamb, earlier identified by His victory and sacrificial atonement, steps forward in a scene of immense theological weight. His act of "taking" the scroll from God's "right hand" is not a simple transaction but an authoritative investiture. It reveals Christ as the divinely appointed executor of all divine purposes for human history, the final judgment, and ultimate redemption. This scene underscores the shared divine will between the Father and the Son, where the Father entrusts the fulfillment of His ultimate decrees to the Son, affirming the Son's co-equal authority and unique qualification. It assures the reader that God's plan is not left to chance or lesser beings but is securely held and carried out by the conquering yet slain Lamb.