See on ch. 4:4.

Or, “stop weeping.” The Greek suggests that John was already in tears.

 This title is drawn from Isa. 11:1, 10, which speaks, literally, of the “shoot out of the stock [LXX, “root”] of Jesse” and the “root of Jesse,” David’s father. In Rom. 15:12 Paul applies the latter figure to Christ, implying that Christ is a second David. David was Israel’s greatest king and military hero. The Davidic concept of the Messiah was essentially that of a conqueror who would restore the kingdom to Israel (Matt. 21:9 cf. Acts 1:6). Although Christ did not restore a literal kingdom to the Jews, His victory in the great controversy with Satan does restore the kingdom in an infinitely greater and more important sense. Therefore, from the point of view of the present passage, this title is most fitting.

 Gr. nikaō, “to conquer,” “to be victorious.” This points directly to Christ’s victory in the great controversy with Satan, which is the basis of His right to open the book. Inasmuch as no one else in the entire universe could do this (v. 3), His victory is unique. An angel could not have taken Christ’s place, for the basic issue in the great controversy is the integrity of the character of God, which is expressed in His law. Neither angel nor man could have accomplished this vindication, for they themselves are subject to the law (see PP 66). Only Christ, who is God, and of whose character the law is an expression, could achieve such a vindication of the divine character. This fact is central to the thought of ch. 5 (see on vs. 9-13).

 This title is probably based on Gen. 49:9. Christ was born of the tribe of Judah (see on Matt. 1:2). The figure of a lion signifies strength (Rev. 9:8, 17; 10:3; 13:2, 5), and Christ has won the victory (see below on “hath prevailed”) in the great controversy with evil. This is what gives Him the right to open the book (see on ch. 5:7).

 It may be noted, further, that in the role of “the Lion of the tribe of Juda” Christ appears as the One who “prevailed,” the triumphant One, the One who champions the cause of His people. In v. 6 He appears as “a Lamb as it had been slain,” the One who had redeemed them.