Revelation 5:3

KJV

And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} no man {G3762} in {G1722} heaven {G3772}, nor {G3761} in {G1909} earth {G1093}, neither {G3761} under {G5270} the earth {G1093}, was able {G1410} to open {G455} the book {G975}, neither {G3761} to look {G991} thereon {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But no one in heaven, on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look inside it.

Berean Standard Bible

But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look inside it.

American Standard Version

And no one in the heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look thereon.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Revelation 5:3 depicts a profound cosmic crisis: despite a universal search, no created being in all of existence—neither in the celestial realms, on the earth, nor among the departed—was found worthy or capable of opening the divinely sealed scroll held by God. This stark declaration of universal incapacity establishes the immense gravity of the scroll's contents, underscoring the absolute sovereignty of God's redemptive plan and setting the stage for the unique worthiness of the Lamb.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a critical turning point within John's grand apocalyptic vision. It immediately follows the majestic and awe-inspiring throne room scene described in [Revelation 4](/revelation/4 "Revelation 4 - The Throne Room of God"), where John witnesses the worship of God the Father. In [Revelation 5:1](/revelation/5-1 "Revelation 5:1 - The Sealed Scroll"), John sees a scroll in the right hand of God, sealed with seven seals. The subsequent question posed by a mighty angel in [Revelation 5:2](/revelation/5-2 "Revelation 5:2 - The Angel's Proclamation")—"Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?"—creates an intense dramatic tension. Verse 3 delivers the crushing answer to this question, revealing the universal inability of any created being to fulfill this monumental task, thereby intensifying John's despair, as expressed in [Revelation 5:4](/revelation/5-4 "Revelation 5:4 - John Weeps"). This despair then serves as the perfect backdrop for the triumphant introduction of the Lamb in [Revelation 5:5](/revelation/5-5 "Revelation 5:5 - The Lamb Who is Worthy").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Scrolls were the primary form of written documents in the ancient world, often made of papyrus or parchment. Important documents, such as legal wills, deeds, or decrees, were frequently sealed to ensure their authenticity, privacy, and the authority of their contents. Multiple seals indicated a document of significant importance, often requiring the breaking of each seal in sequence to reveal the full content. The act of "opening" such a scroll implied not just physical access but the authority to understand, execute, or implement its contents. The three-tiered cosmic structure—heaven, earth, and under the earth—was a common ancient Near Eastern worldview, encompassing all realms of existence and all created beings, from angelic hosts to departed spirits. This universal scope emphasizes that the worthiness required was not merely human but transcended all created categories.
* **Key Themes:** Revelation 5:3 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Revelation and biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Sovereignty**, highlighting that God's ultimate plan for history, judgment, and redemption is entirely in His hands and beyond the grasp or manipulation of any created entity. It also underscores the **Universal Incapacity of Creation**, demonstrating that no angel, human, or spirit possesses the inherent worthiness or power to unveil or enact God's eschatological purposes. This universal inability serves to magnify the **Unique Worthiness of Christ**, as it creates a profound vacuum that only the Lamb of God can fill. The verse thus builds the dramatic tension necessary to introduce Jesus as the sole worthy one, setting the stage for the unfolding of God's redemptive and judgmental decrees, a theme central to the entire book, particularly in the subsequent chapters detailing the breaking of the seals and the trumpet and bowl judgments, as seen in [Revelation 6-16](/revelation/6 "Revelation 6-16 - The Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **no man (Greek, _oudeís'_):** Derived from "not even one," this term emphasizes an absolute and comprehensive negation. It signifies that literally "not one" individual, regardless of their status, power, or location within the created order, possessed the necessary qualification. This highlights the unique and unparalleled nature of the worthiness required.
* **was able (Greek, _dýnamai'_):** This verb denotes inherent power, capability, or possibility. Its use here indicates that the inability was not merely a lack of permission but a fundamental lack of intrinsic power or authority. No created being possessed the inherent might or moral qualification to perform the task of opening the scroll.
* **the book (Greek, _biblíon'_):** Referring to a "scroll" or "roll," this term signifies a written document. In this context, it is no ordinary scroll but symbolizes God's divine decrees, His sovereign plan for the ages, the title deed to creation, or the record of His redemptive and judgmental purposes. Its sealed nature implies that its contents are hidden until the appointed time and by the appointed one.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth,"**: This clause employs a figure of speech known as a merism, encompassing all possible realms of existence and all created beings within them. "In heaven" refers to angelic beings and glorified saints; "in earth" refers to all humanity; and "under the earth" refers to the spirits of the departed, whether righteous or unrighteous. The emphatic repetition of "nor... neither" underscores the absolute universality of this inability.
* **"was able to open the book,"**: This phrase identifies the specific action that no one could perform: to unroll and reveal the contents of the sealed scroll. "To open" implies not just physical access but the authority to break its seals, understand its divine purposes, and execute its decrees. This highlights the profound significance and sacredness of the scroll's contents, which are beyond the reach of any created power.
* **"neither to look thereon."**: This final clause further emphasizes the complete inaccessibility of the scroll. "To look thereon" (Greek: _blépō_) means more than a casual glance; it implies to gaze intently, to behold, to comprehend, or to understand. The inability to even look upon it suggests that its contents are too sacred, too profound, or too authoritative for any created being to grasp or interact with, let alone implement.

#### Literary Devices
Revelation 5:3 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological message. **Merism** is prominently featured in the phrase "in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth," which comprehensively covers all realms of existence and all created beings. This device emphasizes the absolute and universal nature of the incapacity described. The verse also utilizes **Symbolism**, with "the book" or "scroll" serving as a powerful symbol for God's sovereign plan, His divine decrees concerning redemption and judgment, or even the title deed to creation itself. The act of "opening" and "looking thereon" are symbolic actions representing the authority to unveil, comprehend, and execute God's ultimate purposes. Furthermore, the verse creates intense **Dramatic Tension** and **Foreshadowing**. By declaring that no one is worthy, it builds anticipation for the revelation of the one who *is* worthy, setting the stage for the triumphant appearance of the Lamb in the subsequent verses. This universal helplessness underscores the unique and unparalleled nature of Christ's authority and worthiness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Revelation 5:3 is a pivotal theological statement, establishing a cosmic dilemma that only the unique worthiness of Christ can resolve. It asserts the absolute transcendence and sovereignty of God's ultimate plan, which remains hidden and inaccessible to all created beings, whether angelic, human, or departed spirits. This universal inability to open or even look upon the scroll underscores the immense gravity of its contents—God's eschatological purposes for creation, redemption, and judgment. The verse thus highlights the profound chasm between the Creator and creation, emphasizing that divine authority and the power to enact God's ultimate will reside solely with the Godhead. This dramatic impasse serves to magnify the redemptive work and inherent glory of the Lamb, who alone possesses the unique qualifications to bridge this gap and execute the divine plan.

* [Daniel 12:4](/daniel/12-4 "The Sealed Book of Prophecy")
* [Isaiah 29:11](/isaiah/29-11 "The Sealed Book of Vision")
* [Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "Christ's Exaltation and Universal Lordship")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Revelation 5:3 offers profound insights for personal reflection and practical application. It confronts us with the sobering reality of our own limitations and the limitations of all creation in comprehending and controlling God's ultimate purposes. In a world that often seeks human solutions to spiritual problems, this verse is a powerful reminder that the most significant challenges and the unfolding of divine history are beyond our capacity. It calls us to humility, recognizing that our wisdom, power, and authority are finite compared to God's. However, this initial despair quickly gives way to immense hope. The universal inability of "no man" sets the stage for the singular worthiness of Christ. This should lead us to deepen our trust in God's sovereign plan, knowing that even when circumstances seem insurmountable or chaotic, there is a divine blueprint being perfectly executed by the only One truly capable. It encourages us to fix our gaze not on human efforts or earthly powers, but on the Lamb, who holds the keys to history and the future. Our hope is not in our ability to understand or control, but in His perfect wisdom and power to fulfill all of God's promises.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the universal inability described in Revelation 5:3 challenge your assumptions about human capacity or control over the future?**
* **What does this verse teach you about the absolute sovereignty of God and the unique authority of Christ?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to surrender control and trust more fully in God's hidden plan, knowing that only He and His Son are truly capable?**

### FAQ
**What is the "book" or "scroll" mentioned in Revelation 5:3?**

Answer: The "book" (Greek: _biblíon_) refers to a scroll, a common form of written document in the ancient world. In the context of [Revelation 5](/revelation/5 "Revelation 5 - The Lamb and the Scroll"), this scroll is no ordinary document but a highly symbolic representation of God's divine decrees, His sovereign plan for the ages, or even the title deed to creation itself. It contains the blueprint for future events, including God's judgments and the consummation of His redemptive purposes. Its seven seals indicate its supreme importance, security, and the necessity of a uniquely qualified individual to open it and reveal its contents.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Revelation 5:3, by declaring the universal inability of any created being to open the sealed scroll, powerfully sets the stage for the Christ-centered fulfillment found in the very next verses. The despair of "no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able" is precisely what magnifies the unparalleled worthiness of Jesus Christ. He is revealed as the "Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David," who "has triumphed, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals" ([Revelation 5:5](/revelation/5-5 "Revelation 5:5 - The Lion of Judah Triumphs")). This triumph is rooted in His perfect obedience, His sacrificial death on the cross where He declared, "[It is finished!](/john/19-30 "John 19:30 - Jesus' Triumphant Cry")," and His glorious resurrection and ascension, which exalted Him to the right hand of God ([Acts 2:33](/acts/2-33 "Acts 2:33 - Christ's Ascension and Exaltation")). Because He is both fully God and fully man, the sinless Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), He alone possesses the intrinsic authority, perfect righteousness, and redemptive power to execute God's ultimate plan. He is the sole Mediator between God and humanity ([1 Timothy 2:5](/1_timothy/2-5 "1 Timothy 2:5 - One Mediator, Christ Jesus")), the one through whom all things were created and in whom all things hold together ([Colossians 1:16-17](/colossians/1-16-17 "Colossians 1:16-17 - Christ's Supremacy in Creation and Sustenance")). Thus, Revelation 5:3 underscores that the unfolding of God's redemptive history is entirely dependent on the unique person and finished work of Jesus Christ, the worthy Lamb who is also the sovereign King of Kings and Lord of Lords ([Revelation 19:16](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - King of Kings and Lord of Lords")).

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

Revelation 5:13

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, [be] unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Isaiah 40:13

Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or [being] his counsellor hath taught him?

Isaiah 40:14

With whom took he counsel, and [who] instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?

Romans 11:34

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

Isaiah 41:28

For I beheld, and [there was] no man; even among them, and [there was] no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.