Robertson Word Pictures - Revelation 4:5 - 4:5

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Robertson Word Pictures - Revelation 4:5 - 4:5


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Out of the throne (ek tou thronou). Back to the throne itself. The imagery is kin to that in Exo 19:16; Exo 24:9.; Eze 1:22, Eze 1:27.

Proceed (ekporeuontai). Graphic historical present.

Lightnings and voices and thunders (astrapai kai phōnai kai brontai). So exactly in Rev 11:19; Rev 16:18, but in Rev 8:5 with brontai first, astrapai last, all old and common words. “The thunderstorm is in Hebrew poetry a familiar symbol of the Divine power: cf., e.g., 1Sa 2:10; Psa 18:9.; Job 37:4.” (Swete).

Seven lamps of fire (hepta lampades puros). Return to the nominative (idou, not eidon) with ēsan (were) understood. Metaphor drawn from Eze 1:13; Zec 4:12. Our word “lamp,” but here a torch as in Rev 8:10, identified with the Holy Spirit (the Seven Spirits of God) as in Rev 1:4; Rev 3:1, not luchniai (lampstands) as in Rev 1:12, Rev 1:20, nor luchnos a hand-lamp with oil (Mat 5:15). “These torches blaze perpetually before the throne of God” (Swete).