Revelation 5 · Verse 11

Revelation 5:11

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;
Revelation 5:11, King James Version

Revelation 5:11 in other translations

BSBThen 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.
WEBI looked, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders. The number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands,
ASVAnd 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;
YLTAnd I saw, and I heard the voice of many messengers round the throne, and the living creatures, and the elders--and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands--
DARBYAnd I saw, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and their number was ten thousands of ten thousands and thousands of thousands;
BBEAnd I saw, and there came to my ears the sound of a great number of angels round about the high seat and the beasts and the rulers; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
WebsterAnd I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and the living beings, and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

What does Revelation 5:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
11. 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."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 11. 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 honour 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 honour to the Lamb of God.

Round about the throne and the beasts and the elders. In a circle or area beyond that which was occupied by the throne, the living creatures, and the elders. They occupied the centre as it appeared to John, and this innumerable company of angels surrounded them. The angels are represented here, as they are everywhere in the Scriptures, as taking a deep interest in all that pertains to the redemption of men, and it is not surprising that they are here described as uniting with the representatives of the church in rendering honour to the Lamb of God. 1Pet 1:12.

And the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand. One hundred millions--a general term to denote either a countless number, or an exceedingly great number. We are not to suppose that it is to be taken literally.

And thousands of thousands. Implying that the number before specified was not large enough to comprehend all. Besides the "ten thousand times ten thousand," there was a vast, uncounted host which one could not attempt to enumerate. The language here would seem to be taken from Dan 7:10: "Thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him." Compare Ps 68:17: "The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels." See also De 33:2, 1Kgs 22:19.

(a) "number" Dan 7:10, Heb 12:22

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 5:8-14

It is matter of joy to all the world, to see that God deals with men in grace and mercy through the Redeemer. He governs the world, not merely as a Creator, but as our Saviour. The harps were instruments of praise; the vials were full of odours, or incense, which signify the prayers of the saints: prayer and praise should always go together. Christ has redeemed his people from the bondage of sin, guilt, and Satan…

Read the full comment on Revelation 5:8-14 →

Revelation 5:11 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.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532
εἶδονeidonI lookedG1492
καὶkaiandG2532
ἤκουσαēkousaI heardG191
φωνὴνphōnēn[the] voiceG5456
ἀγγέλωνangelōnof angelsG32
πολλῶνpollōnmanyG4183
κύκλῳkuklōsurroundingG2945
τοῦtoutheG3588
θρόνουthronouthroneG2362
καὶkaiandG2532
τῶνtōnof theG3588
ζῴωνzōōnliving creaturesG2226
καὶkaiandG2532
τῶνtōnof theG3588
πρεσβυτέρων.presbuterōnelders.G4245
καὶkaiandG2532
ἦνēnwasG1510
ὁhotheG3588
ἀριθμὸςarithmosnumberG706
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
μυριάδεςmuriadesmyriadsG3461
μυριάδωνmuriadōnof myriadsG3461
καὶkaiandG2532
χιλιάδεςchiliadesthousandsG5505
χιλιάδωνchiliadōnof thousandsG5505

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Revelation 5:11

  • Daniel 7:10

    A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

  • Hebrews 12:22

    But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

  • Revelation 4:6

    And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

  • Revelation 4:4

    And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

  • Psalms 148:2

    Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

  • Psalms 68:17

    The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

  • Revelation 19:6

    And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

  • Revelation 4:9-10

    And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

  • Revelation 5:14

    And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

  • 2 Kings 6:16-18

    And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

  • Revelation 5:6

    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.

  • Revelation 7:11

    And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
many.
7:11; 1Ki 22:19; 2Ki 6:16-18; Ps 103:20; 148:2
the throne.
4:4,6,9,10
was.
19:6; De 33:2; Ps 68:17; Da 7:10; Heb 12:22

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Revelation 5:10

    And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

  • Revelation 5:11

    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;

  • Revelation 5:12

    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.

Read all of Revelation 5

Revelation 5:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y miré, y oí voz de muchos ángeles alrededor del trono, y de los animales, y de los ancianos; y la multitud de ellos era millones de millones,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et je vis: et j’entendis une voix de beaucoup d’anges à l’entour du trône et des animaux et des anciens; et leur nombre était des myriades de myriades et des milliers de milliers,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und ich sah: und ich hörte eine Stimme vieler Engel um den Thron her und um die lebendigen Wesen und die Ältesten; und ihre Zahl war Zehntausende mal Zehntausende und Tausende mal Tausende,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et vidi, et audivi vocem angelorum multorum in circuitu throni, et animalium, et seniorum: et erat numerus eorum millia millium,