Revelation of John 5:9

9They were singing a new song:
The redundant participle λέγοντες (legontes) has not been translated here.


“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals
because you were killed,
Or “slaughtered”; traditionally, “slain.”

and at the cost of your own blood
The preposition ἐν (en) is taken to indicate price here, like the Hebrew preposition ב (bet) does at times. BDAG 329 s.v. ἐν 5.b states, “The ἐν which takes the place of the gen. of price is also instrumental ἠγόρασας ἐν τῷ αἵματί σου Rv 5:9 (cp. 1 Ch 21:24 ἀγοράζω ἐν ἀργυρίῳ).”
you have purchased
The Greek text as it stands above (i.e., the reading τῷ θεῷ [tō qeō] alone) is found in codex A. א 2050 2344 Maj. sy add the term “us” (ἡμᾶς, hēmas), either before or after τῷ θεῷ, as an attempt to clarify the object of “purchased” (ἠγόρασας, ēgorasas). A few mss (1 vgms) delete the reference to God altogether and simply replace it with “us” (ἡμᾶς). This too is an attempt to remove ambiguity in the phrase and provide an object for “purchased.” The shorter reading, supported by the best witness for Revelation, best accounts for the other readings.
for God
persons
The word “persons” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
from every tribe, language,
Grk “and language,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
people, and nation.
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