Revelation 5:8

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.

📖 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 Let my prayer be set before you as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
• Rev 5:14 : 14 Then the four living creatures said, Amen. And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
• Rev 8:3-4 : 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, along with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.
• Rev 14:2-3 : 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of great thunder; and I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the one hundred forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.
• Rev 15:2 : 2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who had gained victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
• Rev 4:10 : 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
• Rev 15:7 : 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.
• Rev 19:4 : 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Hallelujah.
• Rom 14:10-12 : 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
• Rev 4:4 : 4 Around the throne were twenty-four seats, and upon the seats I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
• Rev 4:8 : 8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
• Phil 2:9-9 : 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
• Heb 1:6 : 6 And again, when He brings in the firstborn into the world, He says, And let all the angels of God worship Him.
• Ps 150:3 : 3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet; praise him with the lute and harp.
• Ps 33:2 : 2 Praise the LORD with the harp; sing to him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
• Ps 43:4 : 4 Then will I go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; yes, upon the harp I will praise you, O God my God.
• Ps 81:2 : 2 Take a psalm, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant harp with the lyre.
• Rev 5:6 : 6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
• Rev 7:10-12 : 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood around the throne, and around the elders and the four living creatures, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.