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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - Revelation 5:10 - 5:10
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Rev 5:10. Αὐτοὺς-καὶ βασιλεύσουσιν) See App. Crit., Ed. ii., on this passage. Comp. Mat 23:37, and Jud 1:24. So also ἐν αὐτῇ, for ἐν σοὶ, ch. Rev 18:24; ἡ λέγουσα ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς, for σοῦ, Isa 47:8; Isa 47:10. In this passage the Hebrew construction of the third person for the first has a graphic relation to the redeemed, and at the same time has a more modest sound, than us, priests,[67] etc.-βασιλείαν) Thus the Alex. Lat. Cypria[68] read, as ch. Rev 1:6. The more recent copies here also have βασιλεῖς.[69] But they who cast their crowns before the throne do not call themselves kings, in the sight of the great King, although their priestly access has such dignity, that the power of reigning on earth cannot certainly exceed it. In like manner, in ch. Rev 20:6, they who have part in the first resurrection are called priests, and are said to be about to reign; and yet the name of kings is not given to them.-ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, upon the earth) Ἐπὶ here denotes locality, as ch. Rev 3:10 and everywhere: or rather power, as ch. Rev 2:26; as it is said, βασιλεύει ἐπὶ τῆς Ἰουδαίας, Mat 2:22. And thus the Septuagint, Jdg 9:8; 1Sa 8:7; 1Sa 12:12; 1Sa 12:14; 2Ki 8:20; 2Ki 11:3. I should not therefore venture to assert, from this phrase, that these remain on the earth, though they rule over the earth. The elders were meek (comp. Mat 5:5): but the flock of the meek independently is much larger.
[67] AB Amiat. MS. of Vulg. Memph. Syr. read αὐτούς. Rec. Text, with h Cypr. 291, reads ἡμᾶς.-E.
[68] yprian (in the beginning and middle of the third century: a Latin father). Ed. Steph. Baluzii, Paris. 1726.
[69] Which reading, though it was preferred in Ed. maj., was yet thought inferior to the other, both in the Gnom. and in Ed. ii. and Vers. Germ.-E. B.
A Vulg. h, Memph. Cypr. read βασιλείαν. B supports Rec. Text, βασιλεῖς.-E.