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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The four living creatures and twenty-four elders, holding harps and golden bowls of incense, sing to the Lamb immediately after He takes the scroll from the throne.

The words — ἄξιος (axios), "worthy," is the song's central verdict: the Lamb alone qualifies to open the scroll. ἠγόρασας (ēgorasas), "you purchased," is marketplace language for buying back what was lost.

The thread — 1 Peter 1:18–19 states the same purchase explicitly: redeemed "not with perishable things… but with the precious blood of Christ." Matthew 26:28 and 1 John 1:7 both tie the blood to covenant and cleansing.

Why it lands — The reader is named inside the object of the purchase: "those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation." The verse asks the reader to accept that their standing before God rests on a transaction they did not perform.

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

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Cross-references

1 Peter 1:18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Matthew 26:28 This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Romans 3:24 and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Psalms 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
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!”
Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying overhead, with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation and tribe and tongue and people.
1 Corinthians 6:20 you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.
Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.