Revelation 5:8

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of them was holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ ὅτε ἔλαβεν τὸ βιβλίον, τὰ τέσσαρα ζῶα καὶ εἴκοσι τέσσαρες πρεσβύτεροι ἔπεσον ἐνώπιον τοῦ Ἀρνίου, ἔχοντες ἕκαστος κιθάρας, καὶ φιάλας χρυσᾶς γεμούσας θυμιαμάτων, αἵ εἰσιν αἱ προσευχαὶ τῶν ἁγίων.

Transliteration

And when he elaben the biblion, the four zōa and twenty-four presbyteroi epeson before the Arniou, echontes each one kitharas, and phialas chrysas gemousas of thymiamatōn, which eisin the proseuchai of the hagiōn.

Grammar Details

• *elaben*: aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular - took/received [point action]
• *biblion*: accusative, neuter, singular - scroll/book
• *zōa*: nominative, neuter, plural - living creatures/beings
• *presbyteroi*: nominative, masculine, plural - elders
• *epeson*: aorist active indicative, 3rd person plural - fell [point action]
• *Arniou*: genitive, neuter, singular - Lamb
• *echontes*: present active participle, nominative, masculine, plural - having/holding
• *kitharas*: accusative, feminine, plural - harps/lyres
• *phialas*: accusative, feminine, plural - bowls/vials
• *chrysas*: accusative, feminine, plural - golden
• *gemousas*: present active participle, accusative, feminine, plural - being full of/filled with
• *thymiamatōn*: genitive, neuter, plural - incense/fragrant substances
• *eisin*: present active indicative, 3rd person plural - are/exist
• *proseuchai*: nominative, feminine, plural - prayers
• *hagiōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - holy ones/saints

Word Meanings

• *zōa*: living creatures/living beings/living ones
• *epeson*: fell/fell down/prostrated themselves
• *kitharas*: harps/lyres/stringed instruments
• *phialas*: bowls/vials/shallow containers
• *thymiamatōn*: incense/fragrant substances/aromatic offerings
• *hagiōn*: holy ones/saints/consecrated ones

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down befo the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which a the prayers of saints.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And 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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G2532} when{G3753} he had taken{G2983} the book,{G975} the four{G5064} living creatures{G2226} and{G2532} the four{G5064} and twenty{G1501} elders{G4245} fell down{G4098} before{G1799} the Lamb,{G721} having{G2192} each{G1538} one a harp,{G2788} and{G2532} golden{G5552} bowls{G5357} full{G1073} of incense,{G2368} which{G3739} are{G1526} the prayers{G4335} of the saints.{G40}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G2532} when{G3753} he had taken{G2983}{(G5627)} the book{G975}, the four{G5064} beasts{G2226} and{G2532} four{G5064} and twenty{G1501} elders{G4245} fell down{G4098}{(G5627)} before{G1799} the Lamb{G721}, having{G2192}{(G5723)} every one of them{G1538} harps{G2788}, and{G2532} golden{G5552} vials{G5357} full{G1073}{(G5723)} of odours{G2368}, which{G3739} are{G1526}{(G5748)} the prayers{G4335} of saints{G40}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And when he had take the boke the.iiii. bestes and xxiiii. elders fell doune before the labe havynge harpes and golden vialles full of odoures which are the prayers of saynctes

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And when he had taken the boke, the foure beestes and the xxiiij. elders fell downe before the lambe, hauinge harpes and golden vialles full of odoures (which are ye prayers of the sayntes)

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And when he had taken ye Booke, ye foure beasts and the foure & twenty Elders fel downe before the Lambe, hauing euery one harps & golden vials full of odours, which are the praiers of the Saintes,

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And when he had taken the booke, the foure beastes and 24 elders fell downe before the lambe, hauyng euery one of them harpes, and golden vyals full of odours, which are the prayers of saintes:

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And 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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And 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,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And 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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And 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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And 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.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  and when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders threw themselves to the ground before the Lamb. Each of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense(which are the prayers of the saints).

Referenced Verses

• Ps 141:2 : 2 May my prayer be set before You like incense, and the lifting of my hands like the evening offering.
• Rev 5:14 : 14 The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the one who lives forever and ever.
• Rev 8:3-4 : 3 Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all God's people on the golden altar before the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God from the angel's hand.
• Rev 14:2-3 : 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of rushing waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
• Rev 15:2 : 2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast, its image, its mark, and the number of its name were standing by the sea of glass, holding harps given by God.
• Rev 4:10 : 10 The twenty-four elders will fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They will cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
• Rev 15:7 : 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.
• Rev 19:4 : 4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying, 'Amen. Hallelujah!'
• Rom 14:10-12 : 10 But you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 It is written: 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.' 12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
• Rev 4:4 : 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four thrones, and upon these thrones sat twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments and wearing golden crowns on their heads.
• Rev 4:8 : 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and were covered with eyes all around, even under their wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come."
• Phil 2:9-9 : 9 Therefore God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow—in heaven, on earth, and under the earth— 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
• Heb 1:6 : 6 And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, 'Let all God's angels worship Him.'
• Ps 150:3 : 3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the harp and lyre.
• John 5:23 : 23 'So that everyone may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.'
• Ps 33:2 : 2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; sing praises to Him with a ten-stringed instrument.
• Ps 43:4 : 4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and delight. I will praise You with the harp, O God, my God.
• Ps 81:2 : 2 Sing joyfully to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob.
• Rev 5:6 : 6 Then I saw a Lamb, standing as though it had been slain, in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. It had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
• Rev 7:10-12 : 10 And they cried out in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. They fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen!”