And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
3. no man ] Better, no one the term includes others as well as men.
under the earth ] i.e. in the world of the dead. In view of Rev 5:13, we can hardly make it mean “in the sea,” on the analogy of Exo 20:4 fin.
neither to look thereon ] Which would have enabled him to read some fragments of its contents, viz. as much as was written on the outer fold of the back of the roll.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And no man in heaven – No one – oudeis. There is no limitation in the original to man. The idea is, that there was no one in heaven – evidently alluding to the created beings there – who could open the volume. Is it not taught here that angels cannot penetrate the future, and disclose what is to come? Are not their faculties limited in this respect like those of man?
Nor in earth – Among all classes of people – sages, divines, prophets, philosophers – who among those have ever been able to penetrate the future, and disclose what is to come?
Neither under the earth – These divisions compose, in common language, the universe: what is in heaven above; what is on the earth; and whatever there is under the earth – the abodes of the dead. May there not be an allusion here to the supposed science of necromancy, and an assertion that even the dead cannot penetrate the future, and disclose what is to come? Compare the notes on Isa 8:19. In all these great realms no one advanced who was qualified to undertake the office of making a disclosure of what the mysterious scroll might contain.
Was able to open the book – Had ability – edunate – to do it. It was a task beyond their power. Even if anyone had been found who had a rank and a moral character which might have seemed to justify the effort, there was no one who had the power of reading what was recorded respecting coming events.
Neither to look thereon – That is, so to open the seals as to have a view of what was written therein. That it was not beyond their power merely to see the book is apparent from the fact that John himself saw it in the hand of him that sat on the throne; and it is evident also Rev 5:5 that in that sense the elders saw it. But no one could prevail to inspect the contents, or so have access to the interior of the volume as to be able to see what was written there. It could be seen, indeed Rev 5:1, that it was written on both sides of the parchment, but what the writing was no one could know.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. And no man] No person or being.
In heaven] Among all the angels of God.
Nor in the earth] No human being.
Neither under the earth] No disembodied spirit, nor any demon. Neither angels, men, nor devils, can fathom the decrees of God.
Neither to look thereon.] None can look into it unless it be opened, and none can open it unless the seals be unloosed.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
None of the angels in heaven, nor any man upon the
earth, nor any of them whose bodies are
under the earth and their souls in heaven, nor any infernal spirits; none was found sufficient
to open the book, and to look on it. There was none who replied to the angels question, Rev 5:2.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. no manGreek, “noone.” Not merely no man, but also no one ofany order of beings.
in earthGreek,“upon the earth.”
under the earthnamely,in Hades.
look thereonto lookupon the contents, so as to read them.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And no man in heaven,…. Or “no one in heaven”, whether angels, or the souls of departed saints; neither the one nor the other know anything of what is to come, until it is revealed unto them:
nor in earth: among all the men on earth, even those of the greatest sagacity and penetration, the wise, the prudent, the scribe, the disputer of this world, such who are most conversant with books, and have the greatest reach into the things of nature, or of grace:
neither under the earth; the dead buried there, good or bad; which may be said agreeably to the notions of the ancient Jews, who believed the immortality of souls, and that they were rewarded or punished, , “under the earth”, according to their virtue or vice in life d: or the devils in hell; or whoever on the earth are influenced by them, as magicians, sorcerers, soothsayers, and necromancers:
was able to open the book, neither to look thereon; or in it, so as to read it, understand it, and show to John what was in it; for the sense is, there was no creature in heaven, earth, or hell, who were masters of the deepest knowledge, and made pretensions to any, that were able to foresee and foretell things to come; or to exhibit the prophecies in this book, and represent them to John in the manner they afterwards were, and much less to accomplish them.
d Joseph. Antiqu. l. 18. c. 1. sect 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(in) with locative (), (upon) with genitive (), (under) with ablative (), as in verse 13, including the whole universe, as in Ex 20:4 (Php 2:10). The MSS. vary in the negative conjunctions after (no one) between — (continuative, and not–nor) and — (disjunctive, neither–nor).
To look thereon ( ). Into the contents of the book. The universe declines the challenge.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Under the earth. In Hades.
To look [] . See on Joh 1:29. To take a single look at the contents.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And no man was able,” (kai oudeis eclunato) “And no one (not even one) was able,” none had the power, ability, or right to lay hand on this Title Deed of Redemption scroll or Book of the Earth. For it is “not within man to direct his steps; and even angels, Michael and Gabriel and all their hosts kept silent.
2) “In heaven,” (en to ourano) “in the heaven,” where the throne place was set. All heaven was searched by the megaphone voice and neither man nor angel was found worthy to open the book.
3) “Nor in earth,” (oude epi tes ges) “Nor upon the earth;” Isa 63:5 is a fore-prophecy of this eventful time; none was morally or ethically or spiritually able or worthy to look upon, examine or open the scroll, Joh 1:27.
4) “Neither under the earth,” (oude hupokato tes ges) “Nor down underneath the earth;” in the realm of demons or departed spirits.
5) “To open the book,” (anoiksai to Biblion) “To open the scroll,” to break the seal, which was of divine ownership, belonging only to him who by his death purchased the redemption and restitution of all things.
6) “Neither to look thereon,” (oute blepein auto) “Nor even to look at it; nor even to look steadfastly at it, to examine its contents, 1Co 2:14.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(3) And no man . . . .Or, better, no one (for it is of more than mankind that the Apostle speaks) was able, in the heaven, nor on the earth, nor under the earth, nor even (still less?) to look thereon. The looking on the book is usually understood of the look cast on the book of one who would read the contents. If so, the thought is, none could open, still less read, the roll. It may, however, be that all who attempted to take the book were unable to face the glory in which it lay. When Christ revealed Himself to Saul he could not see for the glory of that light.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. No man The word man is not in the Greek, and is a most unauthorized limitation. No one, whether man, spirit, demon, angel, or archangel, in heaven, earth, or under the earth, dared answer the all-pervading voice.
Neither to look thereon That is, to inspect its rolled-up pages.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And no one in Heaven or earth or under the earth was able to open the book or read it.’
This is the great surprise. Having considered all the virtues, all the powers, all the authority of these heavenly beings they are found not to be able to open the scroll. And why is this? It is because it contains the future destiny of Heaven and earth, and only One Who has the right qualifications can fulfil that destiny, and with all their glory they do not have those specific qualifications.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
Ver. 3. Nor under the earth ] That is, in the sea, as Exo 20:4 .
Neither to look thereon ] Or, therein, because sealed up.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rev 5:3 . , the under-world of departed spirits or of daemons. Not even angels ( cf. Mar 13:32 ) can discharge this function; their rle in the Apocalypse is prominent but limited. Gunkel prefers to think of a magical background to the whole symbolism; the book defies the necromancy of the universe, but yields to the superior power of “the new god, the lord of the book”. For the mythological basis of the idea of an opened heavenly book cf. Winckler ( Alt-orient. Forsch. ii. 386) and Brandis ( Hermes , 1867, 283). The triple division of the universe was originally Babylonian but it had long ago become a popular religious idea, ( cf. Phi 2:10 ).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.
heaven = the heaven. See Rev 3:12.
nor, neither. Greek. oude.
earth. App-129.
under. Greek. hupokato. Occurs nine times (four in Rev.)
neither. Greek. oute.
look. App-133.:5.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Rev 5:13, Isa 40:13, Isa 40:14, Isa 41:28, Rom 11:34
Reciprocal: Exo 37:10 – General Job 41:15 – a close Rev 3:7 – he that openeth Rev 5:9 – Thou art
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rev 5:3. And no one in heaven, nor on the earth, nor under the earth, was able to open the roll, or to look thereon. As in Php 2:10, the universe is designated under the three divisions here mentioned. It is implied that no answer is given to the cry. Hence
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
There was no demon, man or angel who qualified to unlock the secrets to man’s need.
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
Verse 3
To look thereon; that is, upon the writing contained in it.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
5:3 {4} And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
(4) Thus neither of them that are in heaven, nor of them who are in the earth. Now this counting of parts, is sufficient to the denying of the whole; For of the creatures, one sort is in heaven, above the earth: another in the earth, and another under the earth in the sea, as is later declared in Rev 5:13 .
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
No created being (cf. Php 2:10) had authority to break the seals or even to learn of God’s plans contained in the scroll-no one in heaven, on earth, or in the place of departed spirits.
"What simpler and more sublime way of picturing God’s ultimate sovereignty over all history could be found than this picture of the scroll resting in the hand of God? However strong evil becomes, however fierce be the satanic evils that assail God’s people on earth, history still rests in God’s hand." [Note: Ladd, pp. 82-83.]