Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Revelation
Chapter 5: Worthy Is the Lamb That Was Slain
Revelation 5 stands at the heart of the throne room. In the right hand of God is a sealed book, the scroll of His purposes, and a mighty angel cries, 'Who is worthy to open the book?' No one in heaven or earth is found worthy, and John weeps. Then comes the answer: 'the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed.' Yet when John looks for a Lion, he sees 'a Lamb as it had been slain.' The One who conquered did so not by force but by sacrifice. The Lamb takes the book, and heaven erupts in a new song: 'Thou art worthy... for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood.' Angels beyond number join, and at last every creature worships 'him that sitteth upon the throne, and... the Lamb for ever and ever.' The slain Lamb receives the very worship of God, for He is God our Saviour, manifest in flesh.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of Revelation chapter 5. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Greek words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Here the search for one worthy to open the sealed book ends at the Lamb who was slain, the Lion of Juda who conquered by His own blood, and heaven answers with a new song and the worship of the Lamb together with Him that sits on the throne. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
Sealed With Seven Seals
The scroll of God's purposes, held in His right hand.
Who Is Worthy?
No one in heaven or earth is found worthy, and John weeps.
A Lamb as It Had Been Slain
The Lion of Juda conquers, not by force, but by sacrifice.
Worthy Is the Lamb
Heaven sings a new song of redemption by His blood.
The Lion Who Is the Lamb (Revelation 5:1-7)
A sealed book waits in God's hand, and no one is found worthy to open it, until the Lion of Juda appears as a Lamb slain, and takes the book from the throne.
The Lion of Juda, a Lamb as It Had Been Slain
"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. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 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. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne."
Word Study
"Lamb," Greek arnion (ἀρνίον). The word is a tender diminutive, "little lamb," the small, gentle sacrificial animal; it becomes the dominant title for Christ in Revelation, used nearly thirty times. The contrast is deliberate and overwhelming. John is told to behold "the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David," the mighty conquering King promised to Judah (Genesis 49:9-10) and to David's line (Isaiah 11:1, 10). He turns to look for a Lion, and instead sees "a Lamb as it had been slain." The Conqueror of Revelation triumphs not as a devouring lion but as a slaughtered Lamb; He "prevailed", He conquered, by dying. The marks of His death are visible still ("as it had been slain"), for the wounds of Calvary are His eternal glory. Yet this Lamb is no weak victim: He has "seven horns" (fullness of power) and "seven eyes... the seven Spirits of God" (fullness of the Spirit and of all-seeing knowledge, sent into all the earth). The slain Lamb possesses the complete power and the complete Spirit of God. He is the tender Lamb and the almighty Lord in one. So arnion reveals the whole Gospel in a single image: the God who saves us conquered sin and death by offering Himself as the Lamb, and now reigns in the fullness of divine power.
Explanation
In the hand of the enthroned God is a sealed scroll -- the title deed of history and its redemption -- and no one in heaven or earth is found worthy to open it, until John weeps. Then comes the answer: "the Lion of the tribe of Juda... hath prevailed." But when John looks for a lion, he sees "a Lamb as it had been slain" -- the conquering Lion is the crucified Lamb, who prevailed by dying. The Lamb takes the scroll from the right hand of God, the only one worthy to unfold history's purpose. Christ's victory is won not by force but by sacrifice; the slain Lamb is the Lord of history.
Gospel Focus
In the right hand of "him that sat on the throne" is "a book... sealed with seven seals," the scroll of God's full purpose for history, His plan of redemption and judgment, perfectly sealed and secure. But a sealed scroll must be opened by one worthy to open it, and the cry goes out, "Who is worthy?" The silence is total: "no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able." No angel, no saint, no power in all creation could take God's purposes into its hands. And John "wept much", the tears of every heart that longs to know that history has meaning and that God's promises will be fulfilled, yet finds no one able. Then the elder speaks the sweetest word: "Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed." One is worthy. And when John looks, the Lion is "a Lamb as it had been slain." Here is the great revelation of the throne room: the One at the center of heaven's worship is the crucified Saviour, still bearing the marks of His death, now standing in the midst of the throne. Notice where He stands, "in the midst of the throne", not beside it as a lesser being, but at its very center, sharing the throne of God. He "took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne," taking into His own hands the entire purpose of God. The One who was slain is the One who governs history. This is God our Saviour, the eternal Spirit manifest in flesh, who as the Lamb redeemed us, and as the Lamb now reigns.
Worthy Is the Lamb (Revelation 5:8-14)
Heaven answers with a new song of redemption, angels beyond number join, and at last every creature worships Him that sits on the throne and the Lamb together, for ever and ever.
Blessing Unto the Lamb For Ever and Ever
"And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 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; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever."
Word Study
"worthy," Greek axios (ἄξιος). The word originally meant "of weight," and so "having the weight or value that deserves," worthy, deserving, fitting. It is the key word of the throne room: in chapter 4 the elders confess the Creator "worthy" (4:11), and here the same word is given to the Lamb, "Thou art worthy" (5:9), "Worthy is the Lamb" (5:12). This is a truth of the highest importance. The identical worship, the identical worthiness, that heaven renders to "him that sitteth upon the throne" is rendered to the Lamb, and in verse 13 the two are joined in one act of praise: "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." Angels who would never let a man or an angel be worshiped (Revelation 19:10; 22:9) here worship the Lamb without hesitation, for the Lamb is God. This is not the worship of two gods, nor of a lesser being alongside the true God. The One on the throne and the Lamb are the one God seen in two aspects: the invisible eternal Spirit reigning, and that same God manifest in flesh, slain and risen, our Saviour. The Lamb is worthy of full divine worship because the Lamb is God our Redeemer. So axios declares the deity of the crucified Christ: He receives the worship due to God alone, for He is God with us.
Explanation
Heaven erupts in worship of the Lamb: the living creatures and elders sing "a new song," for He was slain and "hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." Then myriads of angels and "every creature" in the universe join to ascribe to the Lamb the same honor given to God on the throne -- "blessing, and honour, and glory, and power." The Lamb receives the worship due to God alone, for He is God the Redeemer. The book that will pour out judgment first establishes that the crucified Christ is worshipped with the Father, one in glory, the slain Lamb who purchased a people for God.
Gospel Focus
When the Lamb takes the book, heaven falls down in worship, and the reason for His worthiness is sung in "a new song": "for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." The Lamb is worthy not merely because He is powerful, but because He was slain and by His own blood purchased a people for God from every corner of the earth. Redemption is the theme of heaven's song. And He has "made us unto our God kings and priests," lifting the redeemed to reign and to serve in His presence, "and we shall reign on the earth." Then the circle of worship widens. First the elders and living creatures; then "many angels round about the throne," numberless, "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands," crying, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing", a sevenfold ascription of total praise. Finally "every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea" joins in one universal chorus: "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." The whole created order unites to worship the enthroned God and the slain Lamb as one. And the living creatures seal it with "Amen," while the elders fall down and worship "him that liveth for ever and ever." Heaven's deepest praise is reserved for the Lamb who was slain, the God who so loved us that He was manifest in flesh to redeem us by His blood, and who is worthy, for ever and ever, of all worship.
Chapter 5 in Review
Revelation 5 answers the great question of the throne room. In God's hand is a sealed book, and "Who is worthy to open the book?" No one in all creation is found worthy, and John weeps, until the elder points to "the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David," who "hath prevailed." Yet the Lion is "a Lamb as it had been slain," standing "in the midst of the throne," bearing full power ("seven horns") and the full Spirit of God ("seven eyes... the seven Spirits of God"). He takes the book, and heaven sings a new song: "Thou art worthy... for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood." Angels beyond number, and at last "every creature," worship "him that sitteth upon the throne, and... the Lamb for ever and ever."
For the Apostolic reader this chapter is the crown of the throne-room vision. The One worthy to unfold all of God's purposes is the crucified Saviour; history is governed by the Lamb who was slain. And the worship of chapter 5 is a clear declaration of Christ's deity. The very worthiness and worship rendered to "him that sitteth upon the throne" is rendered to the Lamb, and in verse 13 they are worshiped together in one breath. Angels who refuse all worship but God's worship the Lamb freely, for the Lamb is God. This is not two gods, nor a creature beside the Creator; it is the one God seen in two aspects, the eternal Spirit enthroned, and that same God manifest in flesh as the Lamb slain for our redemption. He conquered by dying, He redeemed us by His blood out of every nation, He made us kings and priests, and He is worthy of all worship for ever. So we join the new song with all creation: Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, for He is God our Saviour, and by His blood He has redeemed us to God.
- The sealed book is God's full purpose for history; only One is worthy to open it (5:1-4).
- The Lion of Juda conquers as "a Lamb as it had been slain", He prevailed by dying (5:5-6).
- The Lamb stands "in the midst of the throne," with full power and the full Spirit of God (5:6).
- Heaven's song is redemption: "thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood" (5:9).
- The Lamb receives the same worship as Him that sits on the throne, for the Lamb is God (5:13).
- Angels who refuse all other worship worship the Lamb without hesitation (5:11-14; 19:10).
Questions for Reflection
- Do you rest in knowing that history is held in the hands of the Lamb who was slain?
- What does it mean that Christ conquered not by force but by sacrifice?
- How does the worship of the Lamb as God shape your understanding of who Jesus is?
- Have you been redeemed "by thy blood," and do you live as one of His "kings and priests"?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Supporting passages are listed so every claim can be verified in its own setting. The sealed book and the search for one worthy: Revelation 5:1-4; Isaiah 29:11; Daniel 12:4, 9. The Lion of Juda, the Root of David, who is the slain Lamb: Revelation 5:5-7; Genesis 49:9-10; Isaiah 11:1, 10; John 1:29; Zechariah 4:10. The new song of redemption by blood; kings and priests: Revelation 5:8-10; Revelation 1:5-6; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Exodus 19:6. The worship of the Lamb with Him on the throne: Revelation 5:11-14; Daniel 7:10; Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 19:10; 22:9. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- The sealed book; no one worthy; John weeps: Revelation 5:1-4; Isaiah 29:11; Daniel 12:4.
- The Lion of Juda who is the Lamb slain, in the midst of the throne: Revelation 5:5-7; Genesis 49:9-10; John 1:29.
- The new song: redeemed to God by His blood; made kings and priests: Revelation 5:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 1:5-6.
- Every creature worships Him on the throne and the Lamb as one: Revelation 5:11-14; Philippians 2:9-11.