SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:1
¶ Y vi en la mano derecha del que estaba sentado sobre el trono un libro escrito de dentro y de fuera, sellado con siete sellos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Revelation 5:1
Verse 1. A book written within and on the back side] That is, the book was full of solemn contents within, but it was sealed; and on the back side was a superscription indicating its contents. It was a lHebelled book, or one written on each side of the skin, which was not usual. Sealed with seven seals.] As seven is a number of perfection, it may mean that the book was so sealed that the seals could neither be counterfeited nor broken; i.e., the matter of the book was so obscure and enigmatical and the work it enjoined and the facts it predicted so difficult and stupendous, that they could neither be known nor performed by human wisdom or power.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. And I saw on the right hand of him that sat on the throne , etc.] Of this throne, and who it was that sat upon it, (see Gill on Revelation 4:2); and who had in his right hand, or at, or upon his right hand, as the Syriac and Arabic versions render it, lying by, or near his right hand; though according to ( Revelation 5:7), the book appears to have been in his right hand, as our version, and others render it: a book written within, and on the backside, sealed with seven seals : this book was very much like Ezekiel's roll, ( Ezekiel 2:9,10); which was written rwjaw ynp , within and without, before and behind, and indeed it was in the form of a roll: the manner of writings in those times was on sheets of parchment, which, when finished, were rolled up in the form of a cylinder; hence a book is called a volume. This book seems to have consisted of seven rolls, to which was annexed seven seals; and there being not room enough within, contrary to the common way of writing, some things were written upon the backside of the outermost roll; and such writings were by the ancients called Opistographi: and the word is used by them sometimes for very prolix writings f146 . By this book some understand the Scriptures of the Old Testament, which were written in rolls; (see Hebrews 10:5 Luke 4:17,20); and which came out of the right hand of God, and were given forth by him; and being written within, and on the backside, may denote the fulness of them, they containing a variety of matter, useful and profitable, for different purposes; or else the literal and mystical, or spiritual meaning of some parts of them: or, as others think, the more clear explanation of the books of the Old Testament, by those of the New Testament; and its being sealed may signify the authenticity of those writings, having the seal of God's truth, and the impress of his wisdom, power, and goodness on them; and also the hidden sense and meaning of them, they being, especially in the prophetic and spiritual part of them, a sealed book to natural men, and of which Christ is the truest and best interpreter; but then this book was opened, and looked into, and read, and, in some measure, understood, even by the Old Testament saints, and had been before this time expounded by Christ, concerning himself; yea, he had opened the understandings of his disciples to understand those Scriptures, and had counted them, and others, worthy to open and explain this book to others, and had sent them into all the world for this purpose; and for the same reasons it cannot be understood of the Gospel published to Jews and Gentiles, the one within, and the other without; rather therefore the book of God's decrees is here meant, which respects all creatures, and all occurrences and events in the whole world, from the beginning to the end of time; and so Ezekiel's roll, according to the Targum on ( Ezekiel 2:10); which was written before and behind, signified that which was aywr m , from the beginning, and which apwsb ywhml dyt[d , shall be in the end, or hereafter. This book God holds in [his] right hand, as the rule and measure of all he does, and of the government of the world, and which he constantly fulfils and executes; and its being written within and without may denote the perfection and comprehensiveness of it, it reaching to all creatures and things, even the most minute; and its being sealed shows the certainty of its fulfilment, and the secrecy and hiddenness of it, until accomplished; though it seems best of all to understand it of that part of God's decrees relating to the church and world, particularly the Roman empire, which from henceforward, to the end of time, was to be fulfilled; and so is no other than the book of the Revelation itself, exhibited in the following scenes and visions; and this may be truly said to be in the right hand of God, and from thence taken by the Lamb, it being the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, ( Revelation 1:1); and may be said to be written, both within and on the backside, to show that it contains a large account of things, a long train of events to be accomplished; as also to signify, that it regards the church, and the members of it, who are those that are within, in the several ages of time, and the world, or those that are without; for this book prophecy regards both the state of the Roman empire, and of the Christian church; and its being sealed shows the authenticity, certainty, and also the obscurity of what was contained therein; and with seven seals, with respect to the seven periods of time, in which the prophecies in it are to be fulfilled.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - The apostle saw in the hand of Him that sat upon the throne, a roll of parchments in the form usual in those times, and sealed with seve seals. This represented the secret purposes of God about to be revealed. The designs and methods of Divine Providence, toward the church and the world, are stated, fixed, and made a matter of record The counsels of God are altogether hidden from the eye an understanding of the creature. The several parts are not unsealed an opened at once, but after each other, till the whole mystery of God' counsel and conduct is finished in the world. The creatures cannot ope it, nor read it; the Lord only can do so. Those who see most of God are most desirous to see more; and those who have seen his glory desire to know his will. But even good men may be too eager and hast to look into the mysteries of the Divine conduct. Such desires, if no soon answered, turn to grief and sorrow. If John wept much because he could not look into the book of God's decrees, what reason have many to shed floods of tears for their ignorance of the gospel of Christ! of that on which everlasting salvation depends! We need not weep that we cannot foresee future events respecting ourselves in this world; the eager expectation of future prospects, or the foresight of futur calamities, would alike unfit us for present duties and conflicts, or render our prosperous days distressing. Yet we may desire to learn from the promises and prophecies of Scripture, what will be the fina event to believers and to the church; and the Incarnate Son ha prevailed, that we should learn all that we need to know. Christ stand as Mediator between God and both ministers and people. He is called Lion, but he appears as a Lamb slain. He appears with the marks of his sufferings, to show that he pleads for us in heaven, in virtue of his satisfaction. He appears as a Lamb, having seven horns and seven eyes perfect power to execute all the will of God, and perfect wisdom to understand it, and to do it in the most effectual manner. The Fathe put the book of his eternal counsels into the hand of Christ, an Christ readily and gladly took it into his hand; for he delights to make known the will of his Father; and the Holy Spirit is given by his to reveal the truth and will of God.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 ειδον 1492 5627 επι 1909 την 3588 δεξιαν 1188 του 3588 καθημενου 2521 5740 επι 1909 του 3588 θρονου 2362 βιβλιον 975 γεγραμμενον 1125 5772 εσωθεν 2081 και 2532 οπισθεν 3693 κατεσφραγισμενον 2696 5772 σφραγισιν 4973 επτα 2033
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. In (epi). Lit., on. The book or roll lay upon the open hand. A Book (biblion). See on Matt. xix. 7; Mark x. 4; Luke iv. 17. Compare Ezek. ii. 9; Jer. xxxvi. 2; Zech. v. 1, 2.
Within and on the back side (eswqen kai opisqen). Compare Ezekiel ii. 10. Indicating the completeness of the divine counsels contained in the book. Rolls written on both sides were called opistographi. Pliny the younger says that his uncle, the elder Pliny, left him an hundred and sixty commentaries, most minutely written, and written on the back, by which this number is multiplied. Juvenal, inveighing against the poetasters who are declaiming their rubbish on all sides, says: "Shall that one then have recited to me his comedies, and this his elegies with impunity? Shall huge 'Telephus' with impunity have consumed a whole day; or - with the margin to the end of the book already filled -'Orestes,' written on the very back, and yet not concluded? "(i., 36).
Sealed (katesfragismenon). Only here in the New Testament. The preposition kata denotes sealed down. So Rev., close sealed. The roll is wound round a staff and fastened down to it with the seven seals. The unrolling of the parchment is nowhere indicated in the vision.
Commentators have puzzled themselves to explain the arrangement of the seals, so as to admit of the unrolling of a portion with the opening of each seal. Dsterdieck remarks that, With an incomparably more beautiful and powerful representation, the contents of the roll are successively symbolized by the vision which follows upon the opening of each seal. "The contents of the book leap forth in plastic symbols from the loosened seal." Milligan explains the seven seals as one seal, comparing the seven churches and the seven spirits as signifying one church and one spirit, and doubts if the number seven has here any mystical meaning. Others, as Alford, claim that the completeness of the divine purposes is indicated by the perfect number seven.
