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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Revelation 4:4 - 4:4
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Round about the throne (kuklothen tou thronou). Here as a preposition with the genitive, though only adverb in Rev 4:8 (only N.T. examples save Textus Rec. in Rev 5:11).
Four and twenty thrones (thronoi eikosi tessares). So P Q, but Aleph A have accusative thronous (supply eidon from Rev 4:1) and tessares (late accusative in ̇es). This further circle of thrones beyond the great throne.
I saw four and twenty elders (eikosi tessaras presbuterous). No eidon in the text, but the accusative case calls for it. Twenty-four as a symbolic number occurs only in this book and only for these elders (Rev 4:4, Rev 4:10; Rev 5:8; Rev 11:16; Rev 19:4). We do not really know why this number is chosen, perhaps two elders for each tribe, perhaps the twelve tribes and the twelve apostles (Judaism and Christianity), perhaps the twenty-four courses of the sons of Aaron (1 Chron 24:1-19), perhaps some angelic rank (Col 1:16) of which we know nothing. Cf. Eph 2:6.
Sitting (kathēmenous). Upon their thrones.
Arrayed (peribeblēmenous). Perfect passive participle of periballō (to throw around).
In white garments (himatiois leukois). Locative case here as in Rev 3:5 (with en), though accusative in Rev 7:9, Rev 7:13.
Crowns of gold (stephanous chrusous). Accusative case again like presbuterous after eidon (Rev 4:1), not idou. In Rev 19:14 echōn (having) is added. John uses diadēma (diadem) for the kingly crown in Rev 12:3; Rev 13:1; Rev 19:12, but it is not certain that the old distinction between diadem as the kingly crown and stephanos as the victor’s wreath is always observed in late Greek.