Revelation 5:8

⁶ Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

⁷ And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne.

When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

⁹ And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

¹⁰ You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
KJV: And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
WEB: Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
ASV: And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
DARBY: And when it took the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, having each a harp and golden bowls full of incenses, which are the prayers of the saints.
BLB: And when He took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each having a harp and golden bowls being full of incenses, which are the prayers of the saints.

ÅB: Og da det tok boken, falt de fire livsvesener og de fire og tyve eldste ned for Lammet, hver med sin harpe og med gullskåler, fulle av røkelse, som er de helliges bønner,
OTB: Da Han hadde tatt bokrullen, falt de fire livsvesenene og de tjuefire eldste ned foran Lammet. Hver av dem hadde en harpe og gullskåler fulle av røkelse, som er bønner fra Guds folk.
B1930: Og da det tok boken, falt de fire livsvesener og de fire og tyve eldste ned for Lammet, hver med sin harpe og med gullskåler, fulle av røkelse, som er de helliges bønner,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 141:2
May my prayer be set before You like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering.
Read in context
Revelation 8:3–4
Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.
Read in context
Philippians 2:9–11
Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,
Read in context
Revelation 4:10
the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
Read in context
Revelation 5:14
And the four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Read in context
Revelation 14:2–3
And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of many waters and the loud rumbling of thunder. And the sound I heard was like harpists strumming their harps.
Read in context
Revelation 4:4
Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.
Read in context
Psalms 33:2
Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him with ten strings.
Read in context