Revelation 5:8
What does Revelation 5:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 5:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 5:8 means
As soon as the Lamb takes the scroll, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders fall before Him in adoration. Each holds a harp, signaling praise, and golden bowls of incense, representing the prayers of the saints. The worship due to God now embraces the Lamb, affirming His divine status. The prayers of God’s people are not forgotten; they are fragrant before the Lamb at the very moment He moves to advance God’s purposes. Heaven’s liturgy links praise and prayer: the Lamb’s authority means the petitions of the saints will figure in the unfolding of judgments and salvation.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and the four and twenty rulers went down on their faces before the Lamb, having every one an instrument of music, and gold vessels full of perfumes, which are the prayers of the saints.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And when he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, having each one harps and golden vials full of perfumes, which are the prayers of the saints,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And when he had opened the book, the four living creatures and the four and twenty ancients fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And when it took the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, having each a harp and golden bowls full of incenses, which are the prayers of the saints.
Context
This verse marks heaven’s immediate response to the Lamb’s reception of the scroll. Before any seal is opened, worship frames the action. The living creatures and elders—introduced in chapter 4—now direct their homage to the Lamb, and the imagery of harps and incense sets the stage for the “new song” to be sung in verses 9–10. That song will explain why the Lamb is worthy and what His redemption has accomplished, before the scene widens to include the angelic host in verses 11–12.
v.7And he came, and he taketh it out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne.
v.8This passage
v.9And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 4:8
And the four living creatures, having each one of them six wings, are full of eyes round about and within: and they have no rest day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, isthe Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.
- Revelation 5:6
And 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.
- Revelation 15:7
And one of the four living creatures gave unto the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
- Philippians 2:9
Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name;
- Revelation 4:4
And round about the throne were four and twenty thrones: and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting, arrayed in white garments; and on their heads crowns of gold.
- Psalms 141:2
Let my prayer be set forth as incense before thee; The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
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