The Meaning of Revelation 5:4 Explained

Revelation 5:4

KJV: And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

YLT: And I was weeping much, because no one was found worthy to open and to read the scroll, nor to behold it,

Darby: And I wept much because no one had been found worthy to open the book nor to regard it.

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

Discover Revelation 5:4

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Revelation 5:4?

MEANING: What does Revelation 5:4 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Revelation 5:4 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Revelation 5:4?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  I  wept  much,  because  no man  was found  worthy  to open  and  to read  the book,  neither  to look  thereon. 

What does Revelation 5:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

John"s continual weeping reflected his sorrow that the revelation of God"s plans and their execution would remain hidden and postponed because no one had sufficient authority to open the scroll.
"He did not want to see God"s vindication of His people as a part of the OT Messianic hope deferred for an undetermined period ..." [1]

Context Summary

Revelation 5:1-8 - The Book With Seven Seals
This "book" is a roll of papyrus or parchment, written on each side to prevent unauthorized additions. Probably it contains the history of the successive steps to be taken to win the empire of the world for Christ. In other words, it tells of the successive stages of the coming of the kingdom of God. As the seals are opened, certain phenomena occur which in part reveal the mysteries hidden in the book, but the whole is in the hand of the Lamb of God. He alone knows the contents; He alone presides over their development. We must not weep because the future is unknown. "Jesus we know, and He is on the throne." We must trust our own future to Christ without fear or tears of foreboding. The Lamb who shed His blood to redeem may be trusted to order and perfect that which concerneth us.
What contrasts presented themselves! The Apostle looked for a lion, and behold, a lamb; for one who had overcome, and instead, one who had the appearance of having been slain; for one who had the majesty of a king, and instead, the emblem of humility. But in the lamb were the seven horns of perfect power, seven eyes of perfect wisdom, and seven spirits traversing the world, denoting omnipresence. What homage can be offered worthy of this combination of Redeemer and Creator? [source]

Chapter Summary: Revelation 5

1  The book sealed with seven seals,
9  which only the Lamb that was slain is worthy to open
12  Therefore the elders praise him, and confess that he redeemed them with his blood

Greek Commentary for Revelation 5:4

I wept much [εγω εκλαιον πολυ]
Imperfect active of κλαιω — klaiō picturesque, descriptive, I kept on weeping much; natural tense in these vivid visions (Revelation 1:12; Revelation 2:14; Revelation 5:4, Revelation 5:14; Revelation 6:8, Revelation 6:9; Revelation 10:10; Revelation 19:14; Revelation 21:15). Perhaps weeping aloud. [source]
Was found [ευρετη]
First aorist passive indicative of ευρισκω — heuriskō Predicative nominative after ευρετη — heurethē f0). [source]
I wept [ἔκλαιον]
Audible weeping. See on Luke 6:21. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 5:4

Revelation 5:4 I wept much [εγω εκλαιον πολυ]
Imperfect active of κλαιω — klaiō picturesque, descriptive, I kept on weeping much; natural tense in these vivid visions (Revelation 1:12; Revelation 2:14; Revelation 5:4, Revelation 5:14; Revelation 6:8, Revelation 6:9; Revelation 10:10; Revelation 19:14; Revelation 21:15). Perhaps weeping aloud. [source]

What do the individual words in Revelation 5:4 mean?

And I was weeping loudly because no one worthy was found to open the scroll nor to see it
καὶ ‹ἐγὼ› ἔκλαιον πολὺ ὅτι οὐδεὶς ἄξιος εὑρέθη ἀνοῖξαι τὸ βιβλίον οὔτε βλέπειν αὐτό

ἔκλαιον  was  weeping 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: κλαίω  
Sense: to mourn, weep, lament.
πολὺ  loudly 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.
ὅτι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
οὐδεὶς  no  one 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οὐδείς 
Sense: no one, nothing.
ἄξιος  worthy 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄξιος  
Sense: weighing, having weight, having the weight of another thing of like value, worth as much.
εὑρέθη  was  found 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εὑρίσκω  
Sense: to come upon, hit upon, to meet with.
ἀνοῖξαι  to  open 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ἀνοίγω 
Sense: to open.
βιβλίον  scroll 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: βιβλίον  
Sense: a small book, a scroll, a written document.
οὔτε  nor 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: οὔτε  
Sense: neither, and not.
βλέπειν  to  see 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: βλέπω  
Sense: to see, discern, of the bodily eye.

What are the major concepts related to Revelation 5:4?

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Similar Scriptures for Revelation 5:4

Daniel 12:8-9 [1]
Revelation 4:1 [0]