Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals.
Parallel translations
- WEB I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals.
- KJV 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.
- BSB Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.
- NKJV And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
- NASB I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
In God's right hand is a scroll sealed with seven seals, written front and back. It represents God's complete plan and purpose for history, secured under His authority.
Overview
The fully written, sealed scroll pictures God's sovereign decree for the unfolding of history and final redemption, held in His own hand. Seven seals indicate it is perfectly secured and not yet enacted. The drama of the chapter turns on who is worthy to open it and thus to bring God's saving and judging purposes to pass.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Ezek 2:9–10When I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me; and, behold, a scroll of a book was therein;
- Isa 29:11All vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is educated, saying, “Read this, please”; and he says, “I can’t, for it is sealed:”
- Rev 5:7Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
- Dan 12:4–9But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run back and forth, and knowledge shall be increased.”
- Rev 6:1I saw that the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, as with a voice of thunder, “Come and see!”
- Rev 10:2He had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land.
- Rev 5:13I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!”
- Rev 4:3that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at.
- Rev 10:8–11The voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.”
- Isa 8:16Wrap up the testimony. Seal the law among my disciples.
- Dan 8:26The vision of the evenings and mornings which has been told is true: but seal up the vision; for it belongs to many days to come.
- Isa 34:16Search in the book of Yahweh, and read: not one of these will be missing. none will lack her mate. For my mouth has commanded, and his Spirit has gathered them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 5:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.