Revelation 5:12

In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Angels, living creatures, and elders (v. 11) cry this out to the Lamb immediately after he takes the scroll from the Father's right hand (v. 7). It is the first of two doxologies in this chapter, the second (v. 13) extending the praise to every creature.

The words — ἄξιον (axion) is the predicate: "worthy," a single word that carries the entire declaration. ἀρνίον (arnion) — "Lamb" — identifies the subject not by a title of power but by the act of being slain.

The thread — The same "worthy" formula appears in 5:9 (the elders' song) and 4:11 (the living creatures' doxology to the Father), and the attribute list echoes 19:1. The structure is deliberate: Father (4:11) → Lamb (5:12) → both together (5:13).

Why it lands — The seven attributes (power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, blessing) form a complete set; the verse asserts that the one who was killed possesses all of them. It asks the reader to hold two facts together without resolving them: the Lamb is both slain and sovereign.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Cross-references

Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
Revelation 19:1 After this I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude in heaven, shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God!
Revelation 4:11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”
John 17:2 For You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
Revelation 7:12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
John 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.
Philippians 2:9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,