Revelation 20:5
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Revelation 20:5 in other translations
| BSB | The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection. |
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| WEB | The rest of the dead didn’t live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. |
| ASV | The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished. This is the first resurrection. |
| YLT | and the rest of the dead did not live again till the thousand years may be finished; this is the first rising again. |
| DARBY | the rest of the dead did not live till the thousand years had been completed. This is the first resurrection. |
| BBE | The rest of the dead did not come to life again till the thousand years were ended. This is the first coming back from the dead. |
| Webster | But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. |
What does Revelation 20:5 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Revelation 20:4-5
4-5. they sat--the twelve apostles, and the saints in general. judgment was given unto there--(See on Da 7:22). The office of judging was given to them. Though in one sense having to stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, yet in another sense they "do not come into judgment (Greek), but have already passed from death unto life." souls--This term is made a plea for denying the literality of the first resurrection…
Barnes' Notes
Lived not. On the word lived, Rev 20:4. That is, they lived not during that period in the peculiar sense in which it is said (Rev 20:4) that the eminent saints and martyrs lived. They did not come into remembrance; their principles were not what then characterized the church; they did not see, as the martyrs did, their principles and mode of life in the ascendency, and consequently they had not the augmented happiness and honour which the more eminent saints and martyrs had.
Until the thousand years were finished. Then all who were truly the children of God, though some might be less eminent than others had been, would come into remembrance, and would have their proper place in the rewards of heaven. The language here is not necessarily to be interpreted as meaning that they would be raised up then, or would live then, whatever may be true on that point. It is merely an emphatic mode of affirming that up to that period they would not live in the sense in which it is affirmed that the others would. But it is not affirmed that they would even then "live" immediately. A long interval might elapse before that would occur in the general resurrection of the dead.
This is the first resurrection. The resurrection of the saints and martyrs, as specified in Rev 20:4. It is called the first resurrection in contradistinction from the second and last--the general resurrection--when all the dead will be literally raised up from their graves, and assembled for the judgment, Rev 20:12. It is not necessary to suppose that what is called here the "first resurrection" will resemble the real and literal resurrection in every respect. All that is meant is, that there will be such a resemblance as to make it proper to call it a resurrection--a coming to life again. This will be, as explained in Barnes on "Re 20:4", in the honour done to the martyrs; in the restoration of their principles as the great actuating principles of the church; and perhaps in the increased happiness conferred on them in heaven, and in their being employed in promoting the cause of truth in the world.
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 20:4-6
Here is an account of the reign of the saints, for the same space of time as Satan is bound. Those who suffer with Christ, shall reign with him in his spiritual and heavenly kingdom, in conformity to him in his wisdom, righteousness, and holiness: this is called the first resurrection, with which none but those who serve Christ, and suffer for him, shall be favoured. The happiness of these servants of God is…
Revelation 20:5 in the original Greek
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Revelation 20:5
- Philippians 3:11
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
- Revelation 11:15
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
- Ezekiel 37:2-14
And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: …
- Luke 14:14
And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
- Revelation 11:11
And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
- Romans 11:15
For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
- Revelation 20:8-9
And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
- Revelation 19:20-21
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Revelation 20:4
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
- Revelation 20:5
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
- Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Revelation 20:5 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Mas los otros muertos no tornaron á vivir hasta que sean cumplidos mil años. Esta es la primera resurrección. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | le reste des morts ne vécut pas jusqu’à ce que les 1 000 ans soient accomplis. C’est ici la première résurrection. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Die übrigen der Toten wurden nicht lebendig, bis die tausend Jahre vollendet waren. Dies ist die erste Auferstehung. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Ceteri mortuorum non vixerunt, donec consummentur mille anni. Hæc est resurrectio prima. |