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10 You have appointed[a] them[b] as a kingdom and priests[c] to serve[d] our God, and they will reign[e] on the earth.”

11 Then[f] 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[g] number was ten thousand times ten thousand[h]—thousands times thousands— 12 all of whom[i] were singing[j] in a loud voice:

“Worthy is the lamb who was killed[k]
to receive power and wealth
and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and praise!”

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 5:10 tn The verb ἐποίησας (epoiēsas) is understood to mean “appointed” here. For an example of this use, see Mark 3:14.
  2. Revelation 5:10 tc The vast majority of witnesses have αὐτούς (autous, “them”) here, while the Textus Receptus reads ἡμᾶς (hēmas, “us”) with insignificant support (pc gig vgcl sa Prim Bea). There is no question that the original text read αὐτούς here.
  3. Revelation 5:10 tn The reference to “kingdom and priests” may be a hendiadys: “priestly kingdom.”
  4. Revelation 5:10 tn The words “to serve” are not in the Greek text, but are implied by the word “priests.”
  5. Revelation 5:10 tc The textual problem here between the present tense βασιλεύουσιν (basileuousin, “they are reigning”; so A 1006 1611 MK) and the future βασιλεύσουσιν (basileusousin, “they will reign”; so א 1854 2053 MA lat co) is a difficult one. Both readings have excellent support. On the one hand, the present tense seems to be the harder reading in this context. On the other hand, codex A elsewhere mistakes the future for the present (20:6). Further, the lunate sigma in majuscule script could have been overlooked by some scribes, resulting in the present tense. All things considered, there is a slight preference for the future.
  6. Revelation 5:11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
  7. Revelation 5:11 tn Grk “elders, and the number of them was.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  8. Revelation 5:11 tn Or “myriads of myriads.” Although μυριάς (murias) literally means “10,000,” the point of the combination here may simply be to indicate an incalculably huge number. See L&N 60.9.
  9. Revelation 5:12 tn The words “all of whom” are not in the Greek text, but have been supplied to indicate the resumption of the phrase “the voice of many angels” at the beginning of the verse.
  10. Revelation 5:12 tn Grk “saying.”
  11. Revelation 5:12 tn Or “slaughtered”; traditionally, “slain.”