“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”
King James Version (KJV)
5:9 And they sing a new song - One which neither they nor any other had sung before. Thou hast redeemed us - So the living creatures also were of the number of the redeemed. This does not so much refer to the act of redemption, which was long before, as to the fruit of it; and so more directly to those who had finished their course, who were redeemed from the earth, #Rev 14:1|, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation - That is, out of all mankind.
Re 5:9 They sung a new song. To the music of their harps. A song that could not be sung until the Lamb had taken the book. For thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred. "Didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe" (Revised Version). The Common Version ("hast redeemed us to God") is incorrect, as is now admitted by all scholars. The song does not sing of what Christ has done for those who are singing, but of what he has done for men. The singers are not of those redeemed.