Section 5:1–5

The Lamb was worthy to open the sealed scroll

In this section, John continued to describe his vision. In it he saw God holding a scroll. An angel asked who was worthy to open the scroll. The only one who was worthy was King David’s promised heir, whom John called “the Lamb” here.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

John saw a scroll sealed seven times
-or-
The scroll that was sealed seven times
-or-
The scroll ⌊that was sealed seven times⌋ and the Lamb ⌊who was worthy to open it⌋

Paragraph 5:1–5

5:1a

Then I saw: This phrase introduces the next scene in John’s vision.

a scroll: The word scroll refers to a long piece of writing material. After writing on it, it is rolled into a cylinder shape.

in the right hand of the One seated on the throne: God held the scroll in his right hand. In some languages it is more natural to add a verb here. For example:

⌊held/lying/resting⌋ in the right hand of him who sat on the throne
-or-
that the One who sat on the throne ⌊held⌋ in His right hand

the One seated on the throne: This phrase refers to God. If you used the word “God” in 4:2b, you may not need to do so again here. But in some languages it is more natural to refer to God again. For example:

God who sat on the throne

throne: See how you translated this word in 1:4 or 4:2.

5:1b

It had writing: This phrase indicates that someone had written words on the scroll. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

that was written (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
that had writing (Contemporary English Version)

on both sides: The Greek words are literally “inside and on the back.” People normally wrote on the side that is inside when the scroll is rolled up. But this scroll had writing on both sides of the paper. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

on back and front (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
on the inside and the outside (New Living Translation (2004))

5:1c

was sealed with seven seals: Someone wrote on the scroll, then rolled it up and sealed it. To seal a scroll, a person dripped hot wax over the loose end of the writing material on the outside of the scroll. When the wax cools and hardens, it is sealed. This indicates that only those with the proper authority were allowed to open the scroll. This scroll was sealed seven times, each seal in a different place along the scroll.

In some languages people are not familiar with this process of sealing scrolls. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use a word or phrase that refers to a process that has a similar meaning. It should indicate that the scroll is not to be opened except by the proper person. For example:

closed with seven drops of wax
-or-
it had seven fastenings
-or-
There were seven marks stuck to it ⌊so that it might not be opened except by the right person⌋

• Describe the process. Use a short description to indicate that others are prevented from opening the scroll. For example:

the edge of the paper had wax dripped on it in seven places ⌊to show that it should be opened only by those with the authority to do so⌋
-or-
its edge was glued seven times ⌊so that it could not be opened⌋

Whatever way you translate this phrase, you should indicate that there were seven of these seals.

General Comment on 5:1a–c

In this verse, John told where the scroll was (5:1a), and then he described it (5:1b–c). In some languages it is more natural to describe it first. For example:

Then I saw 1b a scroll with writing on both sides 1c and sealed with seven seals. 1a The one who sat on the throne ⌊held⌋ it in his right hand.

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