Revelation 5:14
in Revelation 5And the four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the elders fell down and worshipped.
KJV
And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
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This verse in Revelation 5
Commentary
9 notes on this verseThrough these, one flock and one church from angels and from men is indicated which has been formed through Christ, the God who united that which was separate and has destroyed the partition wall of separation. And so, as we have heard, with the four …
This site's exposition
every creature in heaven
on Revelation 5:13-14
Where verse 3 found no one, now every creature gives praise To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. One praise is given to both, and the elders fell down and worshiped.
This site's exposition
the elders fell down and worshiped
Clarke saw the elders fall down on their knees and then bow to the earth in worship. Andreas of Caesarea saw angels and men as one flock. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown saw the elders worship without a word after the living creatures said Amen.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
And the four living creatures said Amen, etc. As the people in the Church resound with praises to the Lord, the teachers confirm the same and, by the example of their lives, together worship the Lord.
And the four living creatures said: Amen. And the four and twenty ancients fell down on their faces, and adored him that liveth for ever and ever. Since the living creatures and the ancients are one, that is one Church, the living creatures fall down …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And the four beasts said, Amen,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The four beasts said, Amen - Acknowledged that what was attributed to Christ was his due. The four and twenty elders - The word εικοσιτεσσαρες, twenty-four, is wanting in the most eminent MSS. and versions. Fell down and worshipped - Επεσαν και προσεκυνησαν· Fell down on their knees, and then prostrated themselves before the throne. This is the eastern method of adoration: first, the person worshiping fell down on his knees; and then, bowing down touched the earth with his forehead. This latter act was prostration.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
But there, where the thanksgiving is expressed, the words are appropriate; but here less so, as their worship is that of silent prostration. "Worshipped" (namely, God and the Lamb). So in Re 11:1, "worship" is used absolutely. -- JFB66B.HTM --
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And the four beasts said, Amen - The voice of universal praise came to them from abroad, and they accorded with it, and ascribed honor to God. And the four and twenty elders fell down, ... - The living creatures and the elders began the work of praise Rev 5:8, and it was proper that it should conclude with them; that is, they give the last and final response (Prof. Stuart). The whole universe, therefore, is sublimely represented as in a state of profound adoration, waiting for the developments to follow on the opening of the mysterious volume. All feel an interest in it; all feel that the secret is with God; all feel that there is but One who can open this volume; and all gather around, in the most reverential posture, awaiting the disclosure of the great mystery. The truths taught in this chapter are the following: (1) The knowledge of the future is with God, Rev 5:1. It is as in a book held in his hand, fully written over, yet sealed with seven seals. (2) It is impossible for man or angel to penetrate the future, Rev 5:2-3. It seems to be a law of created being, that the ability to penetrate the future is placed beyond the reach of any of the faculties by which a creature is endowed. Of the past we have a record, and we can remember it; but no created being seems to have been formed with a power in reference to the future corresponding with that in reference to the past - with no faculty of foresight corresponding to memory. (3) It is natural that the mind should be deeply affected by the fact that we cannot penetrate the future, Rev 5:4. John wept in view of this; and how often is the mind borne down with heaviness in view of that fact! What things there are, there must be, in that future of interest to us! What changes there may be for us to experience; what trials to pass through; what happiness to enjoy; what scenes of glory to witness! […]
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τέσσαρα | tessara | four | G5064 → | 41 times |
| ζῷα | zoa | living creatures | G2226 → | 23 times |
| ἔλεγον· | elegon | were saying; | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| ἀμήν. | amen | Amen. | G281 → | 127 times |
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οἱ | hoi | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πρεσβύτεροι | presbuteroi | elders | G4245 → | 65 times |
| ἔπεσαν | epesan | fell down | G4098 → | 90 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| προσεκύνησαν | prosekunesan | they worshiped | G4352 → | 60 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
τέσσαραfour
tessaraG5064 →41 times
ζῷαliving creatures
zoaG2226 →23 times
ἔλεγον·were saying;
elegonG3004 →1325 times
ἀμήν.Amen.
amenG281 →127 times
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οἱthe
hoiG3588 →19766 times
πρεσβύτεροιelders
presbuteroiG4245 →65 times
ἔπεσανfell down
epesanG4098 →90 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
προσεκύνησανthey worshiped
prosekunesanG4352 →60 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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 5:8When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which…
it leads to
- Psalms 141:2
May my prayer be set before You like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering.
- Revelation 8:3–4
Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before…
- Philippians 2:9–11
Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,
- Revelation 4:10
the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
- Psalms 141:2
Through
Revelation 5:6Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven…
it leads to
- Zechariah 4:10
For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven eyes of the LORD, which scan the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.”
- Revelation 5:12
In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
- John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
- Zechariah 3:9
See the stone I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave on it an inscription, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will remove the iniquity…
- Zechariah 4:10
Where this verse is studied
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About Revelation

This page draws on 10 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; Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 5:14; Andreas of Caesarea, Commentary on the Apocalypse; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
