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.
Fathers and councils · 4
Origen
- Origen, Against Celsus VIII.17Book VIII
“Therefore it is said by John in the Revelation, “The odours are the prayers of saints;” and by the Psalmist, “Let my prayer come up before Thee as incense.”” — editor's note: Rev. v. 8.
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Irenaeus of Lyons
- Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies Fragments from.37Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus
“For, “from the rising of the sun even to the setting my name has been glorified among the Gentiles, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure sacrifice;” as John also declares in the Apocalypse: “The incense is the prayers of the saints.”” — editor's note: Rev. v. 8. The same view of the eucharistic oblation, etc., is found in book iv. chap. xvii.: as also in Justin Martyr; see Trypho, cap. xli. supra in this…
Read the whole comment “Now John, in the Apocalypse, declares that the “incense” is “the prayers of the saints.”” — editor's note: Rev. v. 8. [Material incense seems to be always disclaimed by the primitive writers.]
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Cyprian of Carthage
“…every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation; and Thou hast made us a kingdom unto our God, and hast made us priests, and they shall reign upon the earth.”” — editor's note: Rev. v. 6–10.
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Cross-references · 6
Cited together in Against Celsus VIII.17.
Cited together in Against Heresies Fragments from.37.
Cited together in Against Heresies Fragments from.37.
Cited together in Against Heresies Fragments from.37.
Cited together in Against Heresies Fragments from.37.
Cited together in Against Heresies Fragments from.37.