Go to Related Reading
About this book

Revelation

About this book
Chapter 5

1 Then I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the front and back and sealed with seven seals.⁠ 2 And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming in a loud voice: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it. 4 So I began weeping bitterly because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered;⁠ thus he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”⁠ 6 Then I saw standing in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been killed. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.⁠ 7 Then he came and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne, 8 and when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders threw themselves to the ground before the Lamb. Each of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense (which are the prayers of the saints). 9 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. 10 You have appointed them as a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”⁠ 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels in a circle around the throne, as well as the living creatures and the elders. Their number was ten thousand times ten thousand—thousands times thousands—⁠ 12 all of whom were singing in a loud voice: “Worthy is the lamb who was killed to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature—in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them—singing: “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures were saying “Amen,” and the elders threw themselves to the ground and worshiped.

Texts in conversation

Compare Revelation 5:9 and Targum Song of Solomon 1:1

New Testament · Targum

Share:

Summary

In Revelation, heaven sings a new song for the people the Lamb has redeemed. The Aramaic Targum Song of Songs counts ten great songs in Israel's history and saves the last one for the day the exiles are finally redeemed.

Passages

Revelation 5:9

New Testament
8 and when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders threw themselves to the ground before the Lamb. Each of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense (which are the prayers of the saints). 9 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. 10 You have appointed them as a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
92–96 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Revelation

Targum Song of Solomon 1:1

Targum · Targum Song of Songs
The eighth song David, king of Israel, said because of all the miracles which The Lord had performed for him. He opened his mouth and spoke a song, as it is written, “And David praised in prophecy before The Lord” (2Samuel 1). The ninth song Solomon, King of Israel, said by the Holy Spirit, before the Master of all the World, The Lord (Song of Songs). And the tenth song the children of the Exile are destined to say at the time they are redeemed from Exile, as it is written and explained by the hand of Isaiah the prophet, as it is written: “You shall have this song for joy, as on the night the feast of Passover is sanctified, and for gladness of heart, as the people who go to appear before The Lord three times a year with varieties of music and the sound of the drum, to come up to the mountain of The Lord and to worship before The Lord, the Strength of Israel” (Isaiah 29).
200–600 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Targum Song of Solomon

References

“... 5:9 A: They sang a new song. Israel will sing a new song only in the days of the Messiah as a song of praise for the wonders of his redemption. Targum Song of Songs 1:1 enumerates ten songs of Israel, among which the tenth and last is the song that “the sons of the exile will say at the time when they will go up from the exile” (to Jerusalem, so in the days of the Messiah). ‖ Targum Isaiah 26:1: “In that time a new song of praise will be sung in the land of the house of Judah: ‘We have a city of strength, salvation (redemption) is set on its walls and mercy.’ ” ...”
Hermann L. Strack and Paul Billerbeck, A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Midrash, Volume 3: Romans through Revelation (Bellingham, WA: Lexham, 2023), 1605.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

Your feedback

Revelation 5:9 and Targum Song of Solomon 1:1

Leave a comment

Your questions and comments are welcome!

Comments

Glossary

Search the Library