Devine Scripture

Revelation 5:5

What does Revelation 5:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 5:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 5:5 means

An elder stops John’s weeping by pointing to the Messiah: the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David. These titles identify Jesus as the promised royal Deliverer, the heir to David’s throne, strong to save. Crucially, He “has overcome,” meaning He has already won the decisive victory that qualifies Him to open the scroll and its seven seals. His conquest is not by earthly force but through His obedient suffering, death, and resurrection. Worthiness rests on His triumph over sin, death, and the devil. The announcement assures that God has provided a Champion who embodies both kingly authority and covenant faithfulness.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath overcome to open the book and the seven seals thereof.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath overcome to open the book and the seven seals thereof.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And one of the rulers said to me, Do not be sad: see, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome, and has power to undo the book and its seven stamps.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and one of the elders saith to me, `Weep not; lo, overcome did the Lion, who is of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, to open the scroll, and to loose the seven seals of it;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And one of the ancients said to 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.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And one of the elders says to me, Do not weep. Behold, the lion which [is] of the tribe of Juda, the root of David, has overcome [so as] to open the book, and its seven seals.

Context

After John’s sorrow, this is the turning point. One of the elders—part of the worshiping council—interprets the scene and directs John to look to the victorious Messiah. The next verse will surprise by showing the Lion as a Lamb who was slain, revealing the nature of His victory. This verse, therefore, names who is worthy, while the following vision will display how He achieved that worthiness and where He stands in relation to the throne.

v.4And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look thereon:

v.5This passage

v.6And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Isaiah 11:10

    And it shall come to pass in that day, that the root of Jesse, that standeth for an ensign of the peoples, unto him shall the nations seek; and his resting-place shall be glorious.

  • Jeremiah 23:5

    Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

  • Luke 23:28

    But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

  • Revelation 1:1

    The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John;

  • Isaiah 11:1

    And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.

  • Romans 1:3

    concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,

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