What Does Revelation 5:12 Mean in the King James?
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.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The slaughtered Lamb is named worthy to receive every form of power and honor, with the wound still at the center of his worth.
THE MEANING
The Lamb stands before you bearing the mark of slaughter, and the loud voice names him worthy to receive the full range of power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, weight, and blessing. The verse holds the wound and the highest recognition together.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that a figure marked by violence cannot bear power, honor, and blessing.
THE ROOT
ἐσφαγμένον
esphagmenon
GROWS FROM
σφαγ- (from σφάζω, sphazō)
To slaughter or cut down violently.
“slain” in this verse is esphagmenon. This word names slaughter, not an unspecified death. Its family also names a sacrificial victim, so the Lamb’s worthiness remains bound to a life violently taken.
ALSO GROWS
sphagē: Slaughter
σφαγή
This noun from the same word family keeps the violence in “slain” explicit.
sphagion: A victim offered in sacrifice
σφάγιον
This branch joins the slaughtered Lamb with the image of a sacrificial victim.
ἄξιος
axios
GROWS FROM
ἀξι-
axi-
Fit, deserving, or corresponding in worth.
“worthy” in this verse is axios. The Lamb is declared fit to receive the whole list. That recognition stands beside “slain,” locating worth in the same figure marked by violence.
ALSO GROWS
axioō: To consider or count worthy
ἀξιόω
This related verb shows worthiness as a judgment of value.
axiōma: Worth, dignity, or authority
ἀξίωμα
This branch connects worth with the honor and authority named in the verse.
δόξαν
doxan
GROWS FROM
δοκ- / δοξ- (dok- / dox-)
Regard or esteem; the standing accorded to someone.
The word rendered “glory” carries the sense of weight here: the Lamb’s acknowledged substance and value. Its word family moves from what is regarded to honoring, so the list voices that weight openly.
ALSO GROWS
dokeō: To think, seem, or regard
δοκέω
This related form points to the regard through which someone is esteemed.
doxazō: To honor or glorify
δοξάζω
This verb expresses the public act of recognizing and giving honor.
THE PATTERN
The one marked by death is named as the recipient of exaltation and honor.
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.THE THREAD
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;This verse repeats the Greek word for “worthy” (ἄξιος, axios) and the slaughter root (σφάζω, sphazō). It gives the reason for the Lamb’s worthiness, then verse 12 widens the response into the full sevenfold declaration.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us