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Revelation 5:1

in Revelation 5

Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back, close sealed with seven seals.

KJV

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

This verse in Revelation 5

Commentary

32 notes on this verse
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne - Of God, Rev 4:3-4. His form is not described there, nor is there any intimation of it here except the mention of his.” right hand.” The book or roll seems to have been so held in his hand that John could see its shape, and see distinctly how it was written and sealed.

This site's exposition

a scroll in the right hand

on Revelation 5:1-2

The scroll has writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals, like a Roman will sealed until its heir claims it, and Ezekiel 2:9-10 shows a scroll written front and back. The angel asks, Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?

The record, by era

The Church Fathers5 voices

"And I saw in the right hand of Him that sate upon the throne, a book written within and without, sealed with seven seals." This book signifies the Old Testament, which has been given into the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ, who received from the Father judgment.

A commentator

Origen of Alexandria

COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 5.6 · Written before 253.

proposed

And what book does John see, which has writing on the front and back and is sealed? Which book could no one read and loose its seals, except the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David who has the key of David, and who opens and no one will close, and closes and no one will open? For the whole Scripture is what is revealed by the book that has writing on the front because its interpretation is easy, and on the back because it is hidden and spiritual.

A commentator

Apringius of Beja

Commentary (church-history corpus) · Written before 600.

proposed

seven seals. the seven seals are first, the incarnation; second, the nativity; third, the passion; fourth, the death; fifth, the resurrection; sixth, the glory; and seventh, the kingdom. Therefore, Christ fulfilled all these things through his humanity. All Scriptures that were closed and sealed, he …

A commentator

Apringius of Beja

Commentary (church-history corpus) · Written before 600.

proposed

book. This book is the creation of the entire present world.

A commentator

Apringius of Beja

TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 5:1 · Written before 600.

proposed

This scroll, which is said to be written on the inside and on the outside, is all of the present world which is a creature [of God]. God perceives the inner [thoughts of every creature] and he knows their outer deeds. For, by the virtue …
25 more voices on this verse

The Church Fathers7 voices

A commentator

Caesarius of Arles

Commentary (church-history corpus) · Written before 542.

proposed

book written within and without. Understand it as both testaments! By the outside the old, by the inside the new, which is concealed within the old.

A commentator

Caesarius of Arles

EXPOSITION OF THE APOCALYPSE 5:1, HOMILY 4 · Written before 542.

proposed

"Sealed," it says, "by seven seals." This means that the book was obscured by the plenitude of all mysteries, since until the passion and resurrection of Christ it had remained sealed. For in no way is anything called a "testament," unless those who are about …

A commentator

Primasius of Hadrumetum

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 5:1 · Written before 560.

proposed

The book is in the right hand because it is in Christ, for he is the arm of God, he is the right hand of the Father, or it means that it was in the highest blessedness. The book written on the inside and the …

A commentator

Cyprian

Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews · Written before 258.

proposed

That Christ was to be born of the seed of David, according to the flesh. In the second of Kings: "And the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the Lord, Thou shall not build me an house to dwell in; but it shall come to pass, when thy days shall be fulfilled, and thou shall sleep with thy fathers, I will raise up thy seed after thee who shall come from thy loins, and I will establish His kingdom. He shall build me a house in my name, and I will set up His throne for ever; and I will be to; Him a Father, and He shall be to me a Son; and His house shall obtain confidence, and His kingdom for ever in my sight." Also in Isaiah: "And a rod shall go forth of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall go up from his root; and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and piety; and the spirit of the fear of the Lord shall fill Him." Also in the cxxxist Psalm: "God hath sworn the truth unto David himself, and He has not repudiated it; of the fruit of thy belly will I set upon my throne." Also in the Gospel according to Luke: "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary. For thou hast found favour before God. Behold, thou shall conceive, and shalt bring forth a son, and shalt call His name Jesus. The same shall be great, and He shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David, and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end." Also in the Apocalypse: "And I saw in the right hand of God, who sate on the throne, a book written within, and on the back sealed with seven seals; and I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to receive the book, and to open its seals? […]

A commentator

Jerome

Letter 53.5 · Written before 420.

proposed

In the apocalypse a book is shewn sealed with seven seals, [Rev. 5:1] which if you deliver to one that is learned saying, Read this, he will answer you, I cannot, for it is sealed. [Isa. 29:11] How many there are to-day who fancy themselves learned, yet the scriptures are a sealed book to them, and one which they cannot open save through Him who has the key of David, "he that openeth and no man shutteth; and shutteth and no man openeth." [Rev. 3:7] In the Acts of the Apostles the holy eunuch (or rather "man" for so the scripture calls him [Acts 8:27] ) when reading Isaiah he is asked by Philip "Understandest thou what thou readest?", makes answer:-"How can I except some man should guide me?" [Acts 8:30, Acts 8:31] To digress for a moment to myself, I am neither holier nor more diligent than this eunuch, who came from Ethiopia, that is from the ends of the world, to the Temple leaving behind him a queen's palace, and was so great a lover of the Law and of divine knowledge that he read the holy scriptures even in his chariot. Yet although he had the book in his hand and took into his mind the words of the Lord, nay even had them on his tongue and uttered them with his lips, he still knew not Him, whom-not knowing-he worshipped in the book. Then Philip came and shewed him Jesus, who was concealed beneath the letter. Wondrous excellence of the teacher! In the same hour the eunuch believed and was baptized; he became one of the faithful and a saint. He was no longer a pupil but a master; and he found more in the church's font there in the wilderness than he had ever done in the gilded temple of the synagogue.

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 550.

proposed

The divine Scripture of God explains in detail to us about a certain scroll [βίβλον] in which all people happen to be written, perhaps metaphorically calling the record of our memory before God a "scroll", except that the prophet calls it a small scroll [βιβλίον] …

A commentator

Jerome

St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER TWELVE · Written before 420.

proposed

[Daniel 12:4] "But Thou, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time appointed. Many shall pass over, and knowledge shall be manifold." He who had revealed manifold truth to Daniel now signifies that the things he has said are matters of secrecy, and he orders him to roll up the scroll containing his words and set a seal upon the book, with the result that many shall read it and inquire as to its fulfilment in history, differing in their opinions because of its great obscurity. And as for the statement, "Many shall pass over" or "go through," this indicates that it will be read by many people. For it is a familiar expression to say: "I have gone through a book," or, "I have passed through an historical account." Indeed this is the idea which Isaiah also expressed in regard to the obscurity of his own book: "And the sayings of that book shall be like the words of a book that is sealed. And if they shall give it to an illiterate man, saying, 'Read it,' he will reply, 'I do not know how to read.' But if they give it to a man who does know how to read and say, 'Read the book,' he will reply, 'I cannot read it, because it is sealed up'" (Isaiah 29:11-12). Also in the Revelation of John, there is a book seen which is sealed with seven seals inside and outside. And when no one proves able to break its seals, John says, "I wept sore; and a voice came to me, saying, 'Weep not: behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book and break its seals'" (Revelation 5:1-5). But that book can be opened by one who has learned the mysteries of Scripture and understands its hidden truths, and its words which seem dark because of the greatness of the secrets they contain. He it is who can interpret the parables and transmute the letter which killeth into the spirit which quickeneth.

The Medieval Church14 voices

A commentator

Nicholas of Gorran

Commentary (church-history corpus) · Written before 1295.

proposed

First is the incarnation Is. 8. Second is the nativity Is. 7. Third is the passion Is. 53. Fourth is the descent into hell Zech 9. Fifth was the resurrection Hosea 6. Sixth is the ascension Is. 63. Seventh is the coming judgment Is. 3. …

A commentator

Nicholas of Gorran

Commentary (church-history corpus) · Written before 1295.

proposed

And I saw. He uses a copulative conjunction 'and', because what is said here is not a different vision from the preceeding one, but they are joined as one section with another.

A commentator

Nicholas of Gorran

Commentary (church-history corpus) · Written before 1295.

proposed

sealed with seven seals. that is, with all obscurity. And because all time is enveloped in seven days, wholeness is rightly signified by the number seven.

A commentator

Bonaventure

Breviloquium, Part 2, Chapter 11 · Written in the 13th century.

proposed

The First Principle made this sensible world to manifest Himself, namely so that through it, as through a mirror and a vestige, man might be led back to God the Maker, to love and praise Him. And accordingly there is a twofold book: one written …

A commentator

Nicholas of Lyra

Commentary (church-history corpus) · Written before 1349.

proposed

in the right hand. The operative power of God is called metaphorically called His right hand.

A commentator

Andreas of Caesarea

Commentary (church-history corpus) · Written before 614.

proposed

sealed with seven seals. this signifies either the fulfillment of the book, which is obscure and unknown to all, or the dispensation of the one who searches the depths of the Spirit of God. 1 Cor 2:10 book written within and without. is the all-wise …

A commentator

Andreas of Caesarea

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 5:1 · Written before 614.

proposed

We recognize the book to be the most wise memory of God in which, according to David, all people are recorded, as well as the depths of the divine judgments. Those things written on the outside through the letter are more easily comprehended. Those things …

A commentator

Alcuin of York

COMMENTARY ON REVELATION · Written before 804.

proposed

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book written within and without. By the one sitting on the throne is indicated the person of the Father, and by the right hand of the one sitting, the same …

A commentator

Alcuin of York

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS MANUAL ON REVELATION · Written before 804.

proposed

QUESTION: What is meant by And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book written within and without? ANSWER: This vision represents the mysteries of the holy Scripture disclosed to us by the incarnation of the Lord. It …

A commentator

Nerses of Lambron

Commentary (church-history corpus) · Written before 1198.

proposed

in the right hand. Now in his right hand, that is, within his power and knowledge, all mystery of the Deity was enclosed in the books of the prophets. For the Lord does nothing which he does not reveal to his servants the prophets.

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 735.

proposed

And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written within and on the back. This vision demonstrates to us the mysteries of the Holy Scripture revealed through the Incarnation of the Lord. Its harmonious unity contains the …

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 735.

proposed

Sealed with seven seals. That is, either covered with the fullness of all hidden mysteries or written by the disposition of the sevenfold Spirit.

A commentator

Hugh of Saint-Cher

Commentary (church-history corpus) · Written before 1263.

proposed

seven seals. The nativity from the womb, this was signified in the birth of Isaac in Gen 22, The passion was prefigured in the sacrifice of the lamb in Ex. 12 and the goat in Num 7. The resurrection was signified in Sampson who broke …

A commentator

Hugh of Saint-Cher

Commentary (church-history corpus) · Written before 1263.

proposed

book. can also be interpreted as the body of Christ which we consume everyday in the sacrament of the alter.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

The book and its seals represent all power in heaven and earth given to Christ. A copy of this book is contained in the following chapters. By "the trumpets," contained under the seventh seal, the kingdom of the world is shaken, that it may at length become the kingdom of Christ.
And I saw on the right hand of him that sat on the throne,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Thus, the seven seals, representing all power given to the Lamb; the seven trumpets, by which the world kingdoms are shaken and overthrown, and the Lamb's kingdom ushered in; and the seven vials, by which the beast's kingdom is destroyed.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

A book written within and on the back side - That is, the book was full of solemn contents within, but it was sealed; and on the back side was a superscription indicating its contents. It was a labelled book, or one written on each side of the skin, which was not usual. Sealed with seven seals - As seven is a number of perfection, it may mean that the book was so sealed that the seals could neither be counterfeited nor broken; i.e., the matter of the book was so obscure and enigmatical and the work it enjoined and the facts it predicted so difficult and stupendous, that they could neither be known nor performed by human wisdom or power.

The words behind it

18 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Revelation 6:1

    Then I watched as the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say in a thunderous voice, “Come!”

    it leads to

    • Revelation 6:5

      And when the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” Then I looked and saw a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of…

    • Revelation 6:7

      And when the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!”

    • Revelation 4:5–7

      From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven Spirits of God.

    • Revelation 5:5–7

      Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

  • Through

    Isaiah 29:11

    And the entire vision will be to you like the words sealed in a scroll. If it is handed to someone to read, he will say, “I cannot, because it is sealed.”

    it leads to

    • Matthew 13:11

      He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

    • Isaiah 8:16

      Bind up the testimony and seal the law among my disciples.

    • Daniel 12:4

      But you, Daniel, shut up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam to and fro, and knowledge will increase.”

  • Through

    Revelation 5:7

    And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne.

    it leads to

    • Revelation 4:2–3

      At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it.

Where this verse is studied

About Revelation

The Transfiguration, Gustave Doré. Public domain.
The Transfiguration, Gustave Doré. Public domain.
This page draws on 27 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alcuin of York, COMMENTARY ON REVELATION; Alcuin of York, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS MANUAL ON REVELATION; Andreas of Caesarea, Commentary (church-history corpus); Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 5:1; Apringius of Beja, Commentary (church-history corpus); Apringius of Beja, TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 5:1; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Bonaventure, Breviloquium, Part 2, Chapter 11; Caesarius of Arles, Commentary (church-history corpus); Caesarius of Arles, EXPOSITION OF THE APOCALYPSE 5:1, HOMILY 4; Cyprian, Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews; Hugh of Saint-Cher, Commentary (church-history corpus); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Letter 53.5; Jerome, St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER TWELVE; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Nerses of Lambron, Commentary (church-history corpus); Nicholas of Gorran, Commentary (church-history corpus); Nicholas of Lyra, Commentary (church-history corpus); Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 5.6; Primasius of Hadrumetum, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 5:1 and Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John.