Revelation 5:2
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
Revelation 5:2 in other translations
| BSB | And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” |
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| WEB | I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?” |
| ASV | And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a great voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? |
| YLT | and I saw a strong messenger crying with a great voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose the seals of it?' |
| DARBY | And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals? |
| BBE | And I saw a strong angel saying in a loud voice, Who is able to make the book open, and to undo its stamps? |
| Webster | And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose its seals? |
What does Revelation 5:2 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
Proclaiming with a loud voice. That is, as a herald or crier. He is rather introduced here as appointed to this office than as self-moved. The design undoubtedly is to impress the mind with a sense of the importance of the disclosures about to be made, and at the same time with a sense of the impossibility of penetrating the future by any created power. That one of the highest angels should make such a proclamation would sufficiently show its importance; that such an one, by the mere act of making such a proclamation, should practically confess his own inability, and consequently the inability of all of similar rank, to make the disclosures, would show that the revelations of the future were beyond mere created power.
Who is worthy to open the book, etc. That is, who is "worthy" in the sense of having a rank so exalted, and attributes so comprehensive, as to authorize and enable him to do it. In other words, who has the requisite endowments of all kinds to enable him to do it? It would require moral qualities of an exalted character to justify him in approaching the seat of the holy God to take the book from his hands; it would require an ability beyond that of any created being to penetrate the future, and disclose the meaning of the symbols which were employed. The fact that the book was held in the hand of him that was on the throne, and sealed in this manner, was in itself a sufficient proof that it was not his purpose to make the disclosure directly, and the natural inquiry arose whether there was any one in the wide universe who, by rank, or character, or office, would be empowered to open the mysterious volume.
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 5:1-7
The apostle saw in the hand of Him that sat upon the throne, a roll of parchments in the form usual in those times, and sealed with seven seals. This represented the secret purposes of God about to be revealed. The designs and methods of Divine Providence, toward the church and the world, are stated, fixed, and made a matter of record. The counsels of God are altogether hidden from the eye and understanding of the…
Revelation 5:2 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 5:2
- Revelation 5:5
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.
- Isaiah 29:11-12
And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
- Revelation 10:1
And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
- Psalms 103:20
Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
- Isaiah 41:22-23
Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.
- Revelation 18:21
And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Revelation 5:1
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.
- Revelation 5:2
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
- Revelation 5:3
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
Revelation 5:2 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y vi un fuerte ángel predicando en alta voz: ¿Quién es digno de abrir el libro, y de desatar sus sellos? |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Et je vis un ange puissant, proclamant à haute voix: Qui est digne d’ouvrir le livre et d’en rompre les sceaux? |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Und ich sah einen starken Engel, der mit lauter Stimme ausrief: Wer ist würdig, das Buch zu öffnen und seine Siegel zu brechen? |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Et vidi angelum fortem, prædicantem voce magna: Quis est dignus aperire librum, et solvere signacula ejus? |