Revelation 5:2

KJV

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} I saw {G1492} a strong {G2478} angel {G32} proclaiming {G2784} with a loud {G3173} voice {G5456}, Who {G5101} is {G2076} worthy {G514} to open {G455} the book {G975}, and {G2532} to loose {G3089} the seals {G4973} thereof {G846}?

Complete Jewish Bible

and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”

Berean Standard Bible

And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”

American Standard Version

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a great voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Revelation 5:2 presents a pivotal moment in John's heavenly vision, where a powerful angel issues a cosmic challenge, demanding to know who possesses the inherent worthiness and authority to unseal and open the divinely ordained scroll. This urgent proclamation sets the stage for the dramatic revelation of God's sovereign plan for history and redemption, highlighting the profound crisis that arises from the apparent absence of anyone qualified to execute such a monumental task.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the apocalyptic vision of God's heavenly throne room, which begins in [Revelation 4](/revelation/4 "Revelation 4 - The Heavenly Throne Room"). Chapter 4 establishes the awe-inspiring majesty and holiness of God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, surrounded by twenty-four elders and four living creatures in perpetual worship. [Revelation 5:1](/revelation/5-1 "Revelation 5:1 - The Sealed Scroll") immediately precedes our verse, introducing the central object of the cosmic drama: a scroll, written on both sides and sealed with seven seals, held in the right hand of God. This scroll undeniably represents God's ultimate plan, His decrees for judgment and salvation, and the unfolding of history. The "strong angel's" question in [Revelation 5:2](/revelation/5-2 "Revelation 5:2 - The Angel's Proclamation") thus serves as a dramatic turning point, creating intense suspense and emphasizing the critical importance of finding the one worthy to unlock these divine mysteries.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient world, scrolls were the primary medium for important documents, including legal wills, property deeds, and royal decrees. The practice of sealing a scroll, often with multiple seals, signified its authenticity, authority, and the confidentiality of its contents. Such seals would typically be broken only by the rightful heir, an authorized agent, or a designated official. A scroll written on both sides (opisthograph) was unusual and indicated that its contents were extensive and of utmost significance, often used for prophetic or legal documents of great weight. The "loud voice" of the angel reflects the ancient practice of public proclamations by heralds, ensuring that the message reached all within earshot, underscoring the universal scope and gravity of this heavenly inquiry. This cultural understanding amplifies the dramatic tension of the scene, as the sealed scroll represents God's unrevealed, authoritative plan, inaccessible to all but the uniquely qualified.
* **Key Themes:** The immediate context of [Revelation 5:2](/revelation/5-2 "Revelation 5:2 - The Angel's Proclamation") profoundly contributes to several overarching themes in Revelation and biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights the **Cosmic Dilemma** or **Universal Impasse**: the unfolding of God's sovereign plan for history and judgment is contingent upon someone worthy to open the scroll, yet no one in creation is initially found. This creates a moment of profound spiritual crisis and universal silence, underscoring the gravity of humanity's fallen state and the limitations of all created beings. Secondly, it emphasizes the theme of **Unique Worthiness and Divine Authority**: the question of "Who is worthy?" establishes an absolute standard of moral purity, inherent right, and divine qualification necessary to access and execute God's ultimate decrees. This sets the stage for the dramatic revelation of the Lamb. Finally, the scene powerfully reinforces **Divine Sovereignty**: the very existence of the sealed scroll, held by God on His throne, reiterates His ultimate control over all creation, history, and prophecy, even as the search for the one capable of enacting His will unfolds.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **strong (Greek, _ischyrós'_):** From G2478, meaning "forcible (literally or figuratively)." This word describes the angel, emphasizing his immense power and authority. He is not merely a messenger but one whose proclamation carries weight and resonance throughout the cosmos, fitting for the gravity of his inquiry.
* **proclaiming (Greek, _kērýssō'_):** From G2784, meaning "to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel)." The angel acts as a divine herald, making a public, authoritative declaration. This isn't a quiet inquiry but a resounding, universal challenge, underscoring the critical nature of the question and its implications for all creation.
* **worthy (Greek, _áxios'_):** From G514, meaning "deserving, comparable or suitable (as if drawing praise)." This is the pivotal word of the verse. It implies not just capability, but inherent merit, perfect qualification, and the moral and divine right to perform the monumental task of opening God's sealed decrees. The search is for one who is perfectly deserving of this unique privilege and responsibility.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And I saw a strong angel":** John's vision continues, now focusing on a specific, powerful angelic being. The description "strong" (G2478, _ischyrós_) immediately conveys the angel's immense authority and the significance of his role in this cosmic drama. This is not a casual observer but a figure of considerable might, whose actions will have universal ramifications.
* **"proclaiming with a loud voice":** The angel's action is a public, authoritative declaration (G2784, _kērýssō_). The "loud voice" (G3173, _mégas_ and G5456, _phōnḗ_) signifies that this message is meant to be heard throughout heaven and earth, emphasizing the universal scope and profound importance of the question being posed. It's a call to attention for all creation.
* **"Who is worthy to open the book":** This is the core question. The interrogative "Who" (G5101, _tís_) immediately establishes a search for a specific, uniquely qualified individual. The term "worthy" (G514, _áxios_) is crucial, demanding not just power or knowledge, but inherent merit, moral perfection, and the divine right to access and reveal the contents of the "book" (G975, _biblíon_), which is a scroll containing God's ultimate plan.
* **"and to loose the seals thereof?":** This clause clarifies the task. To "open" (G455, _anoígō_) the scroll necessarily involves "loosing" (G3089, _lýō_) its "seals" (G4973, _sphragís_). The seven seals signify the scroll's divine authority, security, and the sequential nature of God's unfolding plan. The one who can loose them must possess the authority to initiate the events contained within and reveal God's previously hidden purposes.

#### Literary Devices
Revelation 5:2 is rich with **Symbolism**, where the "strong angel" represents a divine messenger of immense power, and the "book" (scroll) with its "seals" symbolizes God's sovereign, predetermined plan for history, judgment, and redemption, whose contents are divinely protected and revealed only at the appointed time by the appropriate one. The angel's "loud voice" is a form of **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the universal reach and gravity of his proclamation, meant to resonate throughout all creation. The very nature of the verse is an **Interrogation**, a profound question posed to the entire cosmos, which creates intense **Dramatic Irony** for the reader who knows the answer (Jesus Christ) but witnesses the cosmic despair before His revelation. This also serves as powerful **Foreshadowing**, building anticipation for the subsequent introduction of the Lamb as the only one found worthy.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Revelation 5:2 introduces a profound theological dilemma: the unfolding of God's ultimate plan for creation and redemption is contingent upon a uniquely qualified individual, yet no one in the vastness of the cosmos is found worthy. This moment underscores the absolute sovereignty of God, who holds the sealed scroll of destiny, and simultaneously highlights the utter inadequacy of all created beings—whether human or angelic—to mediate or execute His perfect will. It sets the stage for the revelation of Christ's unparalleled worthiness, emphasizing that only one possessing divine nature and perfect righteousness can unlock the mysteries of God's redemptive purposes. The silence that follows the angel's question is a poignant theological statement about the universal need for a Savior who transcends all created limitations.

* [Revelation 5:1](/revelation/5-1 "Revelation 5:1 - The Sealed Scroll")
* [Revelation 5:3-4](/revelation/5-3-4 "Revelation 5:3-4 - The Search for Worthiness")
* [Revelation 5:5](/revelation/5-5 "Revelation 5:5 - The Lion of Judah is Worthy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Revelation 5:2, though set in a cosmic, apocalyptic vision, offers profound truths for our daily lives. The angel's resounding question, "Who is worthy?", reminds us that God's plan is not haphazard but meticulously ordered, yet it requires a perfect mediator. In moments of personal uncertainty, global turmoil, or when the future seems sealed and inscrutable, this verse invites us to remember that God holds the ultimate blueprint. The initial despair of finding no one worthy powerfully magnifies the subsequent revelation of Christ's unique qualifications. This should instill in us a deep sense of peace and trust: our hope is not in human efforts or earthly powers, but in the One who alone was found worthy to open the scroll of destiny. It encourages us to surrender our anxieties to Him, knowing that He is sovereignly unfolding His purposes, even when we cannot see the full picture. Our task is to worship Him, live in light of His ultimate victory, and confidently await the full revelation of His kingdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the "strong angel's" question in Revelation 5:2 make you feel about the gravity of God's plan for history?**
* **In what areas of your life do you struggle with trusting God's sovereign plan, especially when it seems "sealed" or unknown to you?**
* **How does the initial despair of finding no one worthy amplify your appreciation for Jesus Christ's unique role?**
* **What does this verse teach you about the absolute necessity of Christ's worthiness for our salvation and the unfolding of God's purposes?**

### FAQ
**What is the "book" or "scroll" mentioned in Revelation 5:2?**

Answer: The "book" (Greek: _biblíon_, meaning "scroll") is a highly symbolic object in Revelation 5:1-7. It represents God's sovereign plan for history, redemption, and judgment. Written on both sides and sealed with seven seals, it signifies the completeness, divine authority, and hidden nature of God's decrees. It contains the divine blueprint for the end times, the unfolding of God's kingdom, and the ultimate triumph over evil. Its contents are so significant that only one uniquely qualified can open it, thereby initiating the events it foretells.

**Why is it so important that someone be "worthy" to open the book and loose its seals?**

Answer: The concept of "worthiness" (Greek: _áxios_) in [Revelation 5:2](/revelation/5-2 "Revelation 5:2 - The Angel's Proclamation") is paramount. It implies inherent merit, perfect righteousness, and the divine right to execute God's ultimate plan. No mere creature, whether human or angelic, possesses the moral purity, authority, or redemptive power to access and implement God's sealed decrees. The inability of anyone in heaven or on earth to open the scroll highlights the universal fallenness and inadequacy of creation. This sets the stage for the unique revelation of Jesus Christ, the Lamb, who alone possesses the necessary worthiness through His atoning sacrifice and resurrection, as revealed in [Revelation 5:5-7](/revelation/5-5-7 "Revelation 5:5-7 - The Lamb Takes the Scroll").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Revelation 5:2, with its urgent cosmic inquiry, serves as a dramatic setup for the ultimate revelation of Jesus Christ as the only one truly worthy. The "strong angel's" question, "Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?", creates a profound vacuum of hope, underscoring the universal inadequacy of all creation. This desperate search is resolved in the subsequent verses by the introduction of the Lamb, who is Jesus Christ. He is worthy not by created power or angelic might, but by virtue of His unique identity as the "Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David" ([Revelation 5:5](/revelation/5-5 "Revelation 5:5 - The Lion of Judah is Worthy")), and supremely, by His atoning sacrifice: "for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation" ([Revelation 5:9](/revelation/5-9 "Revelation 5:9 - The Lamb's Redemption")). Christ's worthiness stems from His divine nature, His perfect obedience, and His victorious death and resurrection, through which He conquered sin and death ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph")). He alone possesses the authority to reveal and execute God's sovereign plan, bridging the gap between a holy God and a fallen humanity. Thus, the question posed in [Revelation 5:2](/revelation/5-2 "Revelation 5:2 - The Angel's Proclamation") finds its glorious and exclusive answer in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who holds the keys to death and Hades ([Revelation 1:18](/revelation/1-18 "Revelation 1:18 - Christ's Authority")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 29:11

And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which [men] deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it [is] sealed:

Isaiah 29:12

And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.

Revelation 5:5

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Revelation 10:1

¶ And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow [was] upon his head, and his face [was] as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

Isaiah 41:22

Let them bring [them] forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they [be], that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.

Isaiah 41:23

Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye [are] gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold [it] together.

Psalms 103:20

Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.