The Meaning of Revelation 5:14 Explained

Revelation 5:14

KJV: And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

YLT: and the four living creatures said, 'Amen!' and the twenty-four elders fell down and they bow before Him who is living to the ages of the ages.

Darby: And the four living creatures said, Amen; and the elders fell down and did homage.

ASV: And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the elders fell down and worshipped.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  the four  beasts  said,  Amen.  And  the four  [and] twenty  elders  fell down  and  worshipped  him that liveth  for  ever  and ever. 

What does Revelation 5:14 Mean?

Study Notes

beasts
living creatures.
living creatures
The "living creatures" are identical with the Cherubim. The subject is somewhat obscure, but from the position of the Cherubim at the gate of Eden, upon the cover of the ark of the covenant, and in Revelation 4, it is clearly gathered that they have to do with vindication of the holiness of God as against the presumptuous pride of sinful man who, despite his sin, would "put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life" Genesis 3:22-24 . Upon the ark of the covenant, of one substance with the mercy-seat, they saw the sprinkled blood which, in type, spake of the perfect maintenance of the divine righteousness by the sacrifice of Christ Exodus 25:17-20 . (See Scofield " Romans 3:24 ") . See Scofield " Romans 3:25 ". See Scofield " Romans 3:26 ". The living creatures (or Cherubim) appear to be actual beings of the angelic order. Cf. See Scofield " Isaiah 6:2 ". The Cherubim or living creatures are not identical with the Seraphim. Isaiah 6:2-7 . They appear to have to do with the holiness of God as outraged by sin; the Seraphim with uncleanness in the people of God. The passage in Ezekiel is highly figurative, but the effect was the revelation to the prophet of the Shekinah glory of the Lord. Such revelations are connected invariably with new blessing and service. Cf.; Exodus 3:2-10 ; Isaiah 6:1-10 ; Daniel 10:5-14 ; Revelation 1:12-19 .

Verse Meaning

The worship culminated in John"s vision with the four creatures saying "Amen" repeatedly after the vast crowd fell silent. The elders worshipped by prostrating themselves before God"s throne (cf. Revelation 4:10). [1]
These chapters (4-5) present heaven, God"s dwelling place, as a real place. John saw God receiving great honor there surrounded by innumerable angelic worshippers. Even though John saw a vision, it was a vision of something that truly exists. We may be able to see it and the individuals said to be there someday.
In chapters4-20 , John described what he saw in heaven and on earth. The following chart identifies which place was in view in each of the sections that compose these chapters.
The Focus of John"s Visions in Chapters4-20In HeavenOn EarthThe heavenly throne (ch4)The Lamb on the throne (ch5)The first four seal judgments ( Revelation 6:1-8)The fifth seal judgment ( Revelation 6:9-11)The sixth seal judgment ( Revelation 6:12-17)The sealing of the144 ,000 witnesses ( Revelation 7:1-8)The great multitude ( Revelation 7:9-17)Preparations for the trumpet judgments ( Revelation 8:1-5)The first six trumpet judgments ( Revelation 8:6 to Revelation 9:21)The little book (ch10)The ministry of the two witnesses ( Revelation 11:1-14)The announcement of the seventh trumpet judgment ( Revelation 11:15-19)The expulsion of Satan ( Revelation 12:1-12)The activity of Satan ( Revelation 12:13-17)The activity of the two beasts (ch13)Judgment at the end of the Great Tribulation (ch14)The announcement of the seven last judgments (ch15)The seven bowl judgments (ch16)Religion in the Tribulation (ch17)Commerce in the Tribulation (ch18)Praise for judging ( Revelation 19:1-10)The second coming of Christ ( Revelation 19:11-21)The millennial reign of Christ (ch20)

Context Summary

Revelation 5:9-14 - The One Worthy To Open It
Jesus is worthy to unroll the mystic scroll of history, because He loved and loves our race as no other has ever done; and He is equally worthy to open each new phase of our lives. When He came into the world He said, "In the volume of the book it is written of me." We need not fear those pierced hands. If we are His purchased property, He will provide for us. If we are priests and kings in His ideal, we may trust Him so to arrange our life-plan as to secure the best exercise of those sacred functions.
Notice how the out-circling song of the redeemed reaches out in further and yet further response. It begins with the little group around the throne; then it spreads to the angels in their myriads; and thence it is borne forward and outward in concentric rings until the utmost shores of space are struck by the billows of song and it reverberates back to the living creatures and the elders. Heaven is full of the sacrificial side of our Savior's death. The heavenly beings describe themselves as His purchased chattels, and stand closer to Christ than the angels; but these bright ministers of God's will have learned their deepest lessons of God from His redemptive dealings with men. [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 5:14

Amen [Αμην]
The four living creatures give their approval to the doxology after the antiphonal songs. [source]
Fell down and worshipped [επεσαν και προσεκυνησαν]
In silent adoration that closes the whole service of praise to the One upon the throne and to the Lamb. As in Revelation 4:10 so here the representatives of the redeemed bow in silent worship. Pliny says that the Christians sing a song to Christ as to God. He is here worshipped by the universe (Philemon 2:10.). [source]
Four and twenty []
Omit. [source]
Worshipped []
In silent adoration. [source]
Him that liveth forever and ever []
Omit. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 5:14

2 John 1:1 The elder [ὁ πρεσβύτερος]
The word is used originally of seniority in age. So Luke 15:25. Afterward as a term of rank or office. Applied to members of the Sanhedrim (Matthew 16:21; Acts 6:12). Those who presided over the Christian assemblies or churches (Acts 11:30; 1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Timothy 5:19). The twenty-four members of the heavenly court in John's vision (Revelation 4:4, Revelation 4:10; Revelation 5:5, Revelation 5:6, Revelation 5:8, Revelation 5:11, Revelation 5:14). Here, with reference to official position, coupled, presumably, with age. [source]
Revelation 11:16 The four and twenty elders [οι εικοσι τεσσαρες πρεσβυτεροι]
They follow the living creatures (Revelation 11:15, if correctly interpreted) in their adoration, as in Revelation 4:9. Though seated on thrones of their own (Revelation 4:4), yet they fall upon their faces in every act of worship to God and Christ (Revelation 4:10; Revelation 5:8, Revelation 5:14; Revelation 19:4). Here επι τα προσωπα αυτων — epi ta prosōpa autōn (upon their faces) is added as in Revelation 7:11 about the angels. The elders here again represent the redeemed, as the four living creatures the forces of nature, in the great thanksgiving here (ευχαριστουμεν — eucharistoumen present active indicative of ευχαριστεω — eucharisteō). [source]
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]
Revelation 7:11 Round about [κυκλωι]
Preposition (in a circle) with genitive as in Revelation 4:6; Revelation 5:11. The angels here rejoice in the salvation of men (Luke 15:7, Luke 15:10; 1 Peter 1:12).Upon their faces (επι τα προσωπα αυτων — epi ta prosōpa autōn). In reverential worship of God as in Revelation 11:16. For this worship (fell and worshipped) see also Revelation 4:10; Revelation 5:14; Revelation 11:16; Revelation 19:4, Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:8. The dative τωι τεωι — tōi theōi (God) with προσκυνεω — proskuneō (to worship) is the usual construction for that meaning. When it means merely to do homage the accusative case is usual in this book (Charles). But in the Fourth Gospel the reverse order is true as to the cases with προσκυνεω — proskuneō (Abbott, Joh. Vocab. pp. 138-142). [source]
Revelation 7:11 Upon their faces [επι τα προσωπα αυτων]
In reverential worship of God as in Revelation 11:16. For this worship (fell and worshipped) see also Revelation 4:10; Revelation 5:14; Revelation 11:16; Revelation 19:4, Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:8. The dative τωι τεωι — tōi theōi (God) with προσκυνεω — proskuneō (to worship) is the usual construction for that meaning. When it means merely to do homage the accusative case is usual in this book (Charles). But in the Fourth Gospel the reverse order is true as to the cases with προσκυνεω — proskuneō (Abbott, Joh. Vocab. pp. 138-142). [source]

What do the individual words in Revelation 5:14 mean?

And the four living creatures kept saying Amen the elders fell down worshiped Him who lives for the ages of the ages
Καὶ τὰ τέσσαρα ζῷα ἔλεγον Ἀμήν οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ἔπεσαν προσεκύνησαν {ζῶντι εἰς τοὺς αἰωνας τῶν αἰώνων}

τέσσαρα  four 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: τέσσαρες  
Sense: four.
ζῷα  living  creatures 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: ζῷον  
Sense: a living being.
ἔλεγον  kept  saying 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
Ἀμήν  Amen 
Parse: Hebrew Word
Root: ἀμήν  
Sense: firm.
πρεσβύτεροι  elders 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: πρεσβύτερος  
Sense: elder, of age,.
ἔπεσαν  fell  down 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: πίπτω 
Sense: to descend from a higher place to a lower.
προσεκύνησαν  worshiped 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: προσκυνέω  
Sense: to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence.
{ζῶντι  Him  who  lives 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: ζάω  
Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).
αἰωνας  ages 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: αἰών  
Sense: for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity.
τῶν  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
αἰώνων}  ages 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: αἰών  
Sense: for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity.