Robertson Word Pictures - Revelation 4:7 - 4:7

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Robertson Word Pictures - Revelation 4:7 - 4:7


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Like a lion (homoion leonti). Associative-instrumental case again. In Ezek (Rev 1:6, Rev 1:10) each zōon has four faces, but here each has a different face. “The four forms represent whatever is noblest, strongest, wisest, and swiftest in nature” (Swete). But it is not necessary to try to find a symbolism in each face here like the early baseless identification with the Four Evangelists (the lion for Mark, the man for Matthew, the calf for Luke, the eagle for John). Moschos is first a sprout, then the young of animals, then a calf (bullock or heifer) as in Luk 15:23, Luk 15:27, Luk 15:30, or a full-grown ox (Eze 1:10).

Had (echōn). Masculine singular (some MSS. echon neuter singular agreeing with zōon) present active participle of echō, changing the construction with the triton zōon almost like a finite verb as in Rev 4:8.

A face as of a man (prosōpon hōs anthrōpou). Shows that the likeness in each instance extended only to the face.

Like an eagle flying (homoion aetōi petomenōi). Present middle participle of petomai, to fly, old verb, in N.T. only in Rev 4:7; Rev 8:13; Rev 12:14; Rev 14:6; Rev 19:17. The aetos in Mat 24:28; Luk 17:37 may be a form of vulture going after carrion, but not in Rev 8:13; Rev 12:14.