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Revelation 5:11

in Revelation 5

Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels and living creatures and elders encircling the throne, and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

KJV

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

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This verse in Revelation 5

Commentary

10 notes on this verse
And this which is written concerning the angels also is a marvel of unspeakable love: "A thousand thousand stand before Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand minister unto Him"; now this concerneth the Seraphim who stand above Him, having their wings spread out to …

This site's exposition

the voices of many angels

on Revelation 5:11-12

John hears angels numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands around the throne. They ascribe seven gifts to the Lamb, three of them the glory, honor and power given to the Creator at 4:11.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 550.

proposed

And not only do the elders say this, but also the angels and incorporeal powers sang a victory hymn to Christ. Moreover, the number now mentioned by them was also foretold by Daniel (Dan. 7:10).

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Alcuin of York

COMMENTARY ON REVELATION · Written before 804.

proposed

And I saw, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the living creatures, and the ancients. By saying that he heard the voice, he shows what kind of seeing this was; for he sees sounds and hears visions. Now …

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 735.

proposed

And their number was thousands upon thousands. Innumerable thousands of people flocking to the Church praise God.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

Round about the elders - So forming the third circle. It is remarkable, that men are represented through this whole vision as nearer to God than any of the angels. And the number of them was - At least two hundred millions, and two millions over.
And I beheld, and heard the voice of many angels,....
3 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

And I beheld - And I looked again. And I heard the voice of many angels - The inhabitants of heaven uniting with the representatives of the redeemed church in ascribing honor to the Lamb of God. The design is to show that there is universal sympathy and harmony in heaven, and that all worlds will unite in ascribing honor to the Lamb of God. Round about the throne and the beasts and the elders - In a circle or area beyond what was occupied by the throne, the living creatures, and the elders.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

I beheld--the angels: who form the outer circle, while the Church, the object of redemption, forms the inner circle nearest the throne. The heavenly hosts ranged around gaze with intense love and adoration at this crowning manifestation of God's love, wisdom, and power. ten thousand times ten thousand--Greek, "myriads of myriads."

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

The voice of many angels - These also are represented as joining in the chorus with redeemed mortals. Ten thousand times ten thousand - “Myriads of myriads and chiliads of chiliads;” that is, an infinite or innumerable multitude. This is in reference to Dan 7:10.

The words behind it

26 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.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Daniel 7:10A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.15 worksLuke 2:13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:11 worksHebrews 12:22Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels10 worksJob 38:7while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?10 worksDeuteronomy 33:2He said: “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned upon us from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran and came with myriads of holy ones, with flaming fire at His right hand.9 worksPsalms 68:17The chariots of God are tens of thousands— thousands of thousands are they; the Lord is in His sanctuary as He was at Sinai.8 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Revelation 4:4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.7 worksRevelation 4:6And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back.7 worksPsalms 148:2Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His heavenly hosts.7 works1 Peter 1:12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.7 worksRevelation 19:6And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.6 worksRevelation 7:11And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God,5 works2 Kings 6:16–18“Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”5 worksRevelation 4:9–10And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne who lives forever and ever,5 worksRevelation 5:14And the four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.5 worksRevelation 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 eyes, which represent the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.5 worksPsalms 103:20Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command.4 works1 Kings 22:19Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.3 works

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 4:4

    Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.

    it leads to

    • Matthew 19:28

      Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve…

    • Revelation 11:16

      And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God,

  • Through

    Revelation 4:6

    And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back.

    it leads to

    • Revelation 15:2

      And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, beside which stood those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name. They were holding harps…

    • Revelation 5:6

      Then 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…

  • Through

    Daniel 7:10

    A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 30:27

      Behold, the Name of the LORD comes from afar, with burning anger and dense smoke. His lips are full of fury, and His tongue is like a consuming fire.

    • Revelation 20:11–15

      Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.

    • Deuteronomy 33:2

      He said: “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned upon us from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran and came with myriads of holy ones, with flaming fire at His right hand.

  • Through

    Hebrews 12:22

    Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels

    it leads to

    • Philippians 3:20

      But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Where this verse is studied

About Revelation

The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, Jan and Hubert van Eyck, about 1430 to 1432. Public domain.
The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, Jan and Hubert van Eyck, about 1430 to 1432. Public domain.
Revelation: the study guide →Read Revelation 5 →
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alcuin of York, COMMENTARY ON REVELATION; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation and Philoxenus of Mabbug, 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 9 -- Second Discourse on Poverty.

Read on in Revelation 5 →