Revelation 5:8 (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.
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Revelation 5:8 (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.
Key words
- αἱ προσευχαὶ τῶν ἁγίωνhai proseuchai tōn hagiōn · Greek
- 'the prayers of saints' — presented before the Lamb by the elders in heaven as incense.
Why it matters
The elders in heaven present the prayers of the saints to the Lamb. Pitre cites this beside James 5:16 (p 85): those in heaven are involved in the prayers of those on earth, so intercession does not stop at death. The queen mother who brought petitions to the Davidic king is alive in heaven and still brings them.