Revelation 5:9

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

and they sing a new song, saying - Worthy, art thou, to take the scroll and to open the seals thereof; because thou wast slain, and didst redeem unto God by thy blood men out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
And they all sang a new song to the Lamb: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were killed, and with your blood sacrifice you bought people for God from every tribe, language, race of people, and nation.

Revised Standard Version
and they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy art thou to take the scroll and to open its seals, for thou wast slain and by thy blood didst ransom men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and they songe a newe songe saynge: thou art worthy to take ye boke and to ope ye seales therof: for thou waste kylled and haste redemed vs by thy bloud out of all kynreddes and tonges and people and nacions

Hebrew Names Version
They sang a new song, saying, "You are worthy to take the book, And to open its seals: For you were killed, And bought us for God with your blood, Out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,

New American Standard Bible
And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

New Century Version
And they all sang a new song to the Lamb: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were killed, and with the blood of your death you bought people for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

Update Bible Version
And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy are you to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain, and purchased to God with your blood [men] of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,

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

World English Bible
They sang a new song, saying, "You are worthy to take the book, And to open its seals: For you were killed, And bought us for God with your blood, Out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou 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 tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,

Weymouth's New Testament
And now they sing a new song. "It is fitting," they say, "that Thou shouldst be the One to take the book And break its seals; Because Thou hast been offered in sacrifice, And hast purchased for God with Thine own blood Some out of every tribe and language and people and nation,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thei sungun a newe song, and seiden, Lord oure God, thou art worthi to take the book, and to opene the seelis of it; for thou were slayn, and ayenbouytist vs to God in thi blood, of ech lynage, `and tunge, and puple, and nacioun;

English Revised Version
And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,

Berean Standard Bible
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.

Contemporary English Version
Then they sang a new song, "You are worthy to receive the scroll and open its seals, because you were killed. And with your own blood you bought for God people from every tribe, language, nation, and race.

Amplified Bible
And they sang a new song [of glorious redemption], saying, "Worthy and deserving are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

American Standard Version
And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,

Bible in Basic English
And their voices are sounding in a new song, saying, It is right for you to take the book and to make it open: for you were put to death and have made an offering to God of your blood for men of every tribe, and language, and people, and nation,

Complete Jewish Bible
and they sang a new song, "You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals; because you were slaughtered; at the cost of blood you ransomed for God persons from every tribe, language, people and nation.

Darby Translation
And they sing a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open its seals; because thou hast been slain, and hast redeemed to God, by thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,

International Standard Version
They sang a new song:Psalm 40:3; Daniel 4:1; 6:25; Acts 20:28; Romans 3:24; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:12; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 4:6,11; 7:9; 11:9;">[xr] "You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slaughtered. With your blood you purchased peoplepeople">[fn] for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

Etheridge Translation
And they hymned a new hymn, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, And to open the seals thereof; Because thou wast slain, And hast redeemed us to Aloha by thy blood, From every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

Murdock Translation
And they sung a new anthem, saying: Competent art thou, to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; because thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation;

King James Version (1611)
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the Booke, and to open the seales thereof: for thou wast slaine, and hast redeemed vs to God by thy blood, out of euery kinred, and tongue, and people, and nation:

New Living Translation
And they sang a new song with these words: "You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

New Life Bible
They sang a new song, saying, "It is right for You to take the book and break its locks. It is because You were killed. Your blood has bought men for God from every family and from every language and from every kind of people and from every nation.

New Revised Standard
They sing a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation;

English Standard Version
And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,

Geneva Bible (1587)
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthie to take the Booke, and to open the seales thereof, because thou wast killed, and hast redeemed vs to God by thy blood out of euery kinred, and tongue, and people, and nation,

George Lamsa Translation
And they sang new praise saying. You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Douay-Rheims Bible
And they sung a new canticle, saying: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to take the book and to open the seals thereof: because thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God, in thy blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And they song a newe song, saying: Thou art worthy to take the booke and to open the seales therof: for thou wast kylled, and hast redeemed vs to God by thy blood, out of al kinrede, and tongue, and people, and nation:

Good News Translation
They sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to break open its seals. For you were killed, and by your sacrificial death you bought for God people from every tribe, language, nation, and race.

Christian Standard Bible®
And they sang a new song:

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;

Lexham English Bible
And they were singing a new song, saying, "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and bought people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation,

Literal Translation
And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy are You to receive the scroll, and to open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood purchased us to God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Young's Literal Translation
and they sing a new song, saying, `Worthy art thou to take the scroll, and to open the seals of it, because thou wast slain, and didst redeem us to God in thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and they songe a newe songe saynge: thou art worthy to take the boke & to ope the seales therof: for thou wast kylled, and hast redemed vs by thy bloud, out of all kynreddes, and toges, and people, and nacions,

Mace New Testament (1729)
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 tribe, and language, and people, and nation;

New English Translation
They were singing a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were killed, and at the cost of your own blood you have purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

New King James Version
And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Simplified Cowboy Version
A new song began, "You alone are worthy to open the seals. Your blood was used to purchase every person from every tribe and every nation. Your sacrifice was enough!

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

Contextual Overview

⁶ And I saw, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb, standing, showing that it had been slain, - having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. ⁷ And he came, and at once took it out of the right hand of him that was sitting upon the throne. ⁸ And, when he took the scroll, the four living creatures, and the four-and-twenty elders, fell down before the Lamb, having, each one, a harp, and bowls of gold full of incense, - which are the prayers of the saints; ⁹ and they sing a new song, saying - Worthy, art thou, to take the scroll and to open the seals thereof; because thou wast slain, and didst redeem unto God by thy blood men out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, ¹⁰ And didst make them, unto our God, a kingdom and priests, - and they reign on the earth. ¹¹ And I saw, and heard a voice of many messengers, round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders, - and the number of them was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands - ¹² saying with a loud voice - Worthy, is the Lamb that hath been slain, to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honour, and glory, and blessing. ¹³ And, every created thing which was in heaven, and upon the earth, and under the earth, and upon the sea, and, all the things in them, heard I, saying - Unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, be the blessing, and the honour, and the glory, and the dominion, unto the ages of ages! ¹⁴ And the four living creatures continued saying - Amen! And, the elders, fell down and did homage.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

sung: Revelation 7:10-12, Revelation 14:3, Psalms 33:3, Psalms 40:3, Psalms 96:1, Psalms 98:1, Psalms 144:9, Psalms 149:1, Isaiah 42:10

Thou art: Revelation 5:2, Revelation 5:3, Revelation 4:11

for: Revelation 5:6, Revelation 5:12, Revelation 13:8

and hast: Revelation 14:4, Revelation 14:6, Matthew 20:28, Matthew 26:28, Acts 20:28, Romans 3:24-26, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Corinthians 7:23, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 11:14, 1 Peter 1:18, 1 Peter 1:19, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:2

out: Revelation 7:9, Revelation 11:9, Revelation 14:6, Daniel 4:1, Daniel 6:25, Mark 16:15, Mark 16:16, Colossians 1:23

Reciprocal: Exodus 15:2 - exalt him Exodus 15:21 - Sing ye Exodus 29:38 - two lambs Leviticus 4:31 - a sweet Leviticus 4:32 - a lamb Leviticus 9:3 - Take ye Leviticus 25:25 - General Numbers 16:5 - who is holy Numbers 35:32 - General Deuteronomy 9:26 - which thou hast brought forth Deuteronomy 12:23 - the blood is Deuteronomy 32:43 - Rejoice 2 Samuel 7:23 - went 2 Samuel 22:40 - subdued 1 Chronicles 15:12 - sanctify Psalms 9:1 - praise Psalms 19:14 - redeemer Psalms 27:6 - I will Psalms 28:7 - with Psalms 31:5 - thou Psalms 34:22 - redeemeth Psalms 41:13 - Blessed Psalms 49:15 - God Psalms 71:23 - my soul Psalms 74:2 - redeemed Psalms 86:12 - praise Psalms 95:1 - sing Psalms 96:7 - O ye kindreds Psalms 98:3 - all the ends Psalms 103:4 - redeemeth Psalms 107:3 - gathered Psalms 111:9 - sent Psalms 113:8 - General Psalms 117:1 - praise him Psalms 130:7 - for with Psalms 147:1 - and praise Song of Solomon 3:11 - his mother Isaiah 11:6 - General Isaiah 11:12 - set up Isaiah 25:1 - thou art Isaiah 26:2 - righteous Isaiah 29:22 - who redeemed Isaiah 35:9 - but Isaiah 41:9 - whom Isaiah 41:14 - saith Isaiah 42:12 - General Isaiah 43:1 - Fear Isaiah 43:14 - the Lord Isaiah 44:24 - thy redeemer Isaiah 51:11 - the redeemed Isaiah 53:11 - see Isaiah 60:6 - they shall show Isaiah 62:12 - The redeemed Isaiah 63:9 - in his Jeremiah 30:21 - and I Zechariah 3:7 - I will Zechariah 4:7 - shoutings Zechariah 6:13 - bear Matthew 22:10 - and the Matthew 22:30 - as Mark 12:6 - They Mark 14:26 - sung Luke 19:38 - glory Luke 24:21 - General John 9:38 - Lord John 10:15 - and I John 11:52 - not John 12:28 - and will John 12:32 - all men John 13:31 - and God John 14:6 - no John 17:5 - glorify John 20:28 - My Lord Acts 3:25 - all Acts 15:11 - that Romans 3:25 - remission Romans 4:25 - Who was Romans 5:17 - shall reign Romans 16:27 - God 1 Corinthians 1:30 - redemption Galatians 1:4 - from Galatians 3:11 - that Galatians 3:13 - redeemed Galatians 4:5 - redeem Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed Ephesians 1:10 - he Ephesians 2:7 - show Ephesians 2:13 - are Ephesians 3:10 - intent Ephesians 3:21 - be Ephesians 5:2 - as Ephesians 5:23 - he Ephesians 5:25 - loved Colossians 1:18 - in all Colossians 2:10 - the head Colossians 3:16 - and spiritual 1 Timothy 1:12 - I thank 1 Timothy 1:15 - that 1 Timothy 1:17 - be 1 Timothy 2:6 - gave Hebrews 1:6 - And let Hebrews 2:9 - for every Hebrews 9:12 - by his Hebrews 9:15 - for Hebrews 9:23 - the heavenly Hebrews 13:15 - the sacrifice Hebrews 13:21 - to whom James 1:9 - in James 5:13 - let him sing 1 Peter 4:19 - a faithful 2 Peter 3:18 - To him 1 John 3:16 - perceive 1 John 5:6 - blood Revelation 3:7 - he that openeth Revelation 5:13 - and unto Revelation 6:5 - he had Revelation 7:14 - the blood Revelation 8:1 - And Revelation 15:3 - and the song Revelation 19:1 - Salvation Revelation 20:4 - and they

Cross-References

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared:

Luke 3:37
of Methuselah, of Enoch, of Jared, - of Mahalaleel, of Cainan:

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And they sung a new song,.... Upon a new occasion and subject, redemption by the blood of the Lamb, and his worthiness to open the sealed book; and in distinction from the old song of Moses and the children of Israel at the Red sea; and this was a most famous and excellent song, an unheard of one, and which none could learn, or sing, but the redeemed of the Lamb:

saying, thou art worthy to take the book, and open the seals thereof. The Arabic version reads, "thou, O Lamb"; the reasons why they ascribe such fitness, ability, and dignity to him, are as follow:

for thou wast slain: by men, and for the sins of men; whereby, as he became worthy in his priestly office to take away the sins of his people, and to have all the glory of their salvation, and, in his kingly office, to have all power and authority, and to be exalted above every name, so, in his prophetic office, to have perfect knowledge, as man and Mediator, of all the future events that were to befall his church and people, and to make them known, and fulfil them:

and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; this shows, that as the four living creatures, and four and twenty elders, were not angels, so they were not representatives of the Jewish church; or the patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament; not even the apostles of the New; for they were all Jews, and could not be said to be redeemed out of every tongue, nation, and people; and also that not the Jews only were redeemed by Christ, but the Gentiles also, and not all mankind, or every individual of human nature, but some out of all the nations of the earth; for God hath chosen some, both of Jews and Gentiles, and these Christ has redeemed and therefore the Gospel is sent unto all nations, that these among them may be called and saved. The redemption of them supposes them to have been in a state of slavery and bondage, as they are by nature, to sin, Satan, and the law; and signifies a deliverance from such a state, which Christ has obtained, not barely by power, but by price, as the word here used signifies, and may be rendered, "and hast bought us" and the price with which he has bought them in his own "blood", and which is of full and sufficient value, it being not only the blood of a man, of an innocent man, but of one that is God as well as man: and this price was paid "to God", and to his justice, against whom men have sinned, whose law they have broken, and whose justice they have injured and affronted, that he might reconcile them to God, bring them near to him, and that they might serve him in righteousness and true holiness.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And they sung a new song - Compare Revelation 14:3. New in the sense that it is a song consequent on redemption, and distinguished therefore from the songs sung in heaven before the work of redemption was consummated. We may suppose that songs of adoration have always been sung in heaven; we know that the praises of God were celebrated by the angelic choirs when the foundations of the earth were laid Job 38:7; but the song of redemption was a different song, and is one that would never have been sung there if man had not fallen, and if the Redeemer had not died. This song strikes notes which the ether songs do not strike, and refers to glories of the divine character which, but for the work of redemption, would not have been brought into view. In this sense the song was new; it will continue to be new in the sense that it will be sung afresh as redeemed million continue to ascend to heaven. Compare Psalms 40:3; Psalms 96:1; Psalms 144:9; Isaiah 42:10.

Thou art worthy to take the book, ... - This was the occasion or ground of the “new song,” that by his coming and death he had acquired a right to approach where no other one could approach, and to do what no other one could do.

For thou wast slain - The language here is such as would be appropriate to a lamb slain as a sacrifice. The idea is, that the fact that he was thus slain constituted the ground of his worthiness to open the book. It could not be meant that there was in him no other ground of worthiness, but that this was what was most conspicuous. It is just the outburst of the grateful feeling resulting from redemption, that he who has died to save the soul is worthy of all honor, and is suited to accomplish what no other being in the universe can do. However this may appear to the inhabitants of other worlds, or however it may appear to the dwellers on the earth who have no interest in the work of redemption, yet all who are redeemed will agree in the sentiment that He who has ransomed them with his blood has performed a work to do which every other being was incompetent, and that now all honor in heaven and on earth may appropriately be conferred on him.

And hast redeemed us - The word used here - ἀγοράζω agorazō - means properly to purchase, to buy; and is thus employed to denote redemption, because redemption was accomplished by the payment of a price. On the meaning of the word, see the notes on 2 Peter 2:1.

To God - That is, so that we become his, and are to be henceforward regarded as such; or so that he might possess us as his own. See the notes on 2 Corinthians 5:15. This is the true nature of redemption, that by the price paid we are rescued from the servitude of Satan, and are henceforth to regard ourselves as belonging unto God.

By thy blood - See the notes on Acts 20:28. This is such language as they use who believe in the doctrine of the atonement, and is such as would be used by them alone. It would not be employed by those who believe that Christ was a mere martyr, or that he lived and died merely as a teacher of morality. If he was truly an atoning sacrifice, the language is full of meaning; if not, it has no significance and could not be understood.

Out of every kindred - Literally, “of every tribe” - φυλῆς phulēs. The word “tribe” means properly a comparatively small division or class of people associated together (Prof. Stuart). It refers to a family, or race, having a common ancestor, and usually associated or banded together - as one of the tribes of Israel; a tribe of Indians; a tribe of plants; a tribe of animals, etc. This is such language as a Jew would use, denoting one of the smaller divisions that made up a nation of people; and the meaning would seem to be, that it will be found ultimately to be true that the redeemed will have been taken from all such minor divisions of the human family - not only from the different nations but from the smaller divisions of those nations. This can only be true from the fact that the knowledge of the true religion will yet be diffused among all those smaller portions of the human race; that is, that its diffusion will be universal.

And tongue - People speaking all languages. The word used here would seem to denote a division of the human family larger than a tribe, but smaller than a nation. It was formerly a fact that a nation might be made up of those who spoke many different languages - as, for example, the Assyrian, the Babylonian, or the Roman nations. Compare Daniel 3:29; Daniel 4:1. The meaning here is, that no matter what language the component parts of the nations speak, the gospel will be conveyed to them, and in their own tongue they will learn the wonderful works of God. Compare Acts 2:8-11.

And people - The word used here - λαός laos - properly denotes a people considered as a mass, made up of smaller divisions - as an association of smaller bodies - or as a multitude of such bodies united together. It is distinguished from another word commonly applied to a people - δῆμος dēmos - for that is applied to a community of free citizens, considered as on a level, or without reference to any minor divisions or distinctions. The words used here would apply to an army, considered as made up of regiments, battalions, or tribes; to a mass-meeting, made up of societies of different trades or professions; to a nation, made up of different associated communities, etc. It denotes a larger body of people than the previous words; and the idea is, that no matter of what people or nation, considered as made up of such separate portions, one may be, he will not be excluded from the blessings of redemption. The sense would be well expressed, by saying, for instance, that there will be found there those of the Gaelic race, the Celtic, the Anglo-Saxon, the Mongolian, the African, etc.

And nation - Εθνους Ethnous. A word of still larger signification; the people in a still wider sense; a people or nation considered as distinct from all others. The word would embrace all who come under one sovereignty or rule; as, for example, the British nation, however many rumor tribes there may be; however many different languages may be spoken; and however many separate people there may be - as the Anglo-Saxon, the Scottish, the Irish, the people of Hindustan, of Labrador, of New South Wales, etc. The words used here by John would together denote nations of every kind, great and small; and the sense is, that the blessings of redemption will be extended to all parts of the earth.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Revelation 5:9. A new song — Composed on the matters and blessings of the Gospel, which was just now opened on earth. But new song may signify a most excellent song; and by this the Gospel and its blessings are probably signified. The Gospel is called a new song, Psalms 96:1. And perhaps there is an allusion in the harps here to Psalms 144:9: I will sing a NEW SONG unto thee, O God: upon a PSALTERY, and an INSTRUMENT of TEN STRINGS, c. The same form of speech is found, Isaiah 42:10: Sing unto the Lord a NEW SONG, c. and there the prophet seems to have the Gospel dispensation particularly in view.

Thou-hast redeemed us to God - out of every - nation — It appears, therefore, that the living creatures and the elders represent the aggregate of the followers of God or the Christian Church in all nations, and among all kinds of people, and perhaps through the whole compass of time: and all these are said to be redeemed by Christ's blood, plainly showing that his life was a sacrificial offering for the sins of mankind.