IN THE RIGHT HAND (επ την δεξιαν). "Upon the right hand" (επ, not εν), the open palm. Anthropomorphic language drawn from Ezekiel 2:9.A BOOK (βιβλιον). Diminutive of βιβλος, but no longer so used, βιβλαριδιον occurring instead (Revelation 10:2).WRITTEN (γεγραμμενον). Perfect passive predicate... [ Continue Reading ]
A STRONG ANGEL (αγγελον ισχυρον). One needed (Revelation 10:1; Revelation 18:21) "whose call could reach to the farthest limits of the universe" (Beckwith) and so "with a great voice" (εν φωνη μεγαλη, in a great voice, as in Revelation 14:7; Revelation 14:9; Revelation 14:15, and without εν Revela... [ Continue Reading ]
Εν (in) with locative (ουρανω), επ (upon) with genitive (γης), υποκατω (under) with ablative (γης), as in verse Revelation 5:13, including the whole universe, as in Exodus 20:4 (Philippians 2:10). The MSS. vary in the negative conjunctions after ουδεις (no one) between ουδε--ουδε (continuative, and... [ Continue Reading ]
I WEPT MUCH (εγω εκλαιον πολυ). Imperfect active of κλαιω, picturesque, descriptive, I kept on weeping much; natural tense in these vivid visions (Revelation 1:12; Revelation 2:14; Revelation 5:4; Revelation 5:14; Revelation 6:8; Revelation 6:9; Revelation 10:10;... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE OF THE ELDERS (εις εκ των πρεσβυτερων). "One from among the elders" of Revelation 4:4; Revelation 4:10 (εκ with the ablative 8 times in the Apocalypse, 12 in the Fourth Gospel, 10 in rest of the N.T., in place of the mere partitive genitive). No particular reason for one elder as the agent ov... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAW (κα ειδον). Stirred by the words of the elder in verse Revelation 5:5 (ιδου, behold). "I beheld."IN THE MIDST (εν μεσω). See Revelation 4:6 for this idiom. It is not quite clear where the Lamb was standing in the vision, whether close to the throne or in the space between the throne an... [ Continue Reading ]
HE TAKETH (ειληφεν). Perfect active indicative of λαμβανω, not used for the aorist (cf. ηλθεν, he came), but vivid dramatic picture of the actual scene, "he has taken it.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HAD TAKEN (ελαβεν). Here John drops back to the narrative tense (the second aorist active indicative of λαμβανω), not the past perfect as the English rendering might indicate, merely "when he took." For like vivid variation (not confusion) of tenses with ειληφεν see Revelation 3:3; Revelation... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SING (αιδουσιν). Present active indicative of αιδω. Old verb, to chant with lyrical emotion (Colossians 3:16).A NEW SONG (ωιδην καινην). Cognate accusative for οιδε (ωιδη, song) is αοιδε from αειδω, that is αιδω (the verb used), old word already used (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19), calle... [ Continue Reading ]
MADEST (εποιησας). First aorist active indicative of ποιεω, a prophetic use anticipating the final result.A KINGDOM AND PRIESTS (βασιλειαν κα ιερεις). As the correct text in Revelation 1:6.THEY REIGN (βασιλευουσιν). Present active indicative, futuristic use, though Aleph P have the future βασ... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAW (κα ειδον). A new feature introduced by the outer and vaster circle (κυκλω) of angels who catch up the new song of redemption in antiphonal singing, answering the song of the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders. Some MSS. read ως (as if) before φωνην (voice). Ten thousand t... [ Continue Reading ]
WORTHY (αξιον). Agreeing in gender (grammatical neuter) with αρνιον, but some MSS. have αξιος (masculine, natural gender). Note change to third person εστιν instead of second ε. The point of the song is the same as that in verses Revelation 5:9; Revelation 5:10, but the language differs. Note the... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY CREATED THING (παν κτισμα). Every creature in a still wider antiphonal circle beyond the circle of angels (from κτιζω, for which see 1 Timothy 4:4; James 1:18), from all the four great fields of life (in heaven, upon the earth, under the earth as in verse Revelation 5:3, with on the sea επ τ... [ Continue Reading ]
AMEN (Αμην). The four living creatures give their approval to the doxology after the antiphonal songs.FELL DOWN AND WORSHIPPED (επεσαν κα προσεκυνησαν). In silent adoration that closes the whole service of praise to the One upon the throne and to the Lamb. As in Revelation 4:10 so here the repr... [ Continue Reading ]