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Rev_5:5. One of the elders[1877] stills the weeping of John, by showing him Christ as the one able to open the book.
The deictic ἸΔΟΎ intensifies the pictorial vividness of the description. Corresponding to the ἸΔΟΎ is the ΚΑῚ ΕῚΔΟΝ , Κ . Τ . Λ ., Rev_5:6; there John directs his look to the Lamb, to whom the elders had pointed him.
ἘΝῚΚΗΣΕΝ . The explanation is divided into two parts. Grot.,[1878] Vitr., C. a Lap., Beng., Eichh., Heinr., Ew., etc., regarded[1879] the ἐνίκησεν in immediate combination with the ἀνοῖξαι , κ . τ . λ ., so that the latter appears as an object to the conception ἐνίκησεν .[1880] Others, as N. de Lyra, Calov., Boss., Ebrard, Klief.,[1881] have, on the other hand, referred the ἐνίκησεν to the triumphantly completed work of redemption,[1882] so that then the infinitive statement, ἀνοὶξαι , κ . τ . λ ., appears not in an objective relation to ἐνίκησεν , but as exegetical,[1883] and the ἐνίκησεν as absolute. The latter conception is correct, because the former combination of the ἐνίκησεν with the inf. is not so much “a new and poetic mode,”[1884] as is contradicted by the mode of statement in the Apoc.,[1885] and because not only the correlation of the designations of the victor, ὁ λέων , ὁ ἐκ τῆς φυλῆς Ἰοῦδα , ἡ ρίζα Δαυΐδ , but also the words, Rev_5:9, which may be regarded as an authentic interpretation of the mode of expression in Rev_5:5, are decisive for the second of the explanations previously mentioned. “The Lion of the tribe of Judah” is Christ,[1886] because in his bodily descent from Judah, as the true Messiah promised of old, he had victoriously fought. [See Note XLV., p. 216.] In the same sense, the designation ἡ ῥίζα Δαυἶδ [1887] represents him as a sprout growing from the root of David with fresh, triumphant power. Thus N. de Lyra, C. a Lap., Grot., Eichh., Ew., De Wette, Hengstenb., Ebrard, etc., correctly explain, recognizing the slight metonymy; and Calov. and others, incorrectly, because against the decisive fundamental passage: “Christ, according to his divine nature, is represented as the foundation and source of David himself.”[1888] The Christian fundamental view is presented, which not only in the same words, but also in the same tense ( ἐνίκησα , aor.), is expressed already in Rev_3:21, and is repeated immediately afterwards in Rev_5:9,[1889] only in another statement or explanation; viz., that, just because Christ has struggled and conquered in earthly humility,[1890] he is worthy to open the sealed book. It especially harmonizes with this view, that one of the elders, therefore one of those who have in themselves experienced the fruit of Christ’s victory, and with complete clearness know the entire meaning of this victory, directs the weeping John to the Lion of the tribe of Judah; not as though this elder had observed that Christ meanwhile had besought the enthroned God for permission to open the book, and had obtained it,[1891] but because the elder has the blessed assurance that the exalted Christ, since he is Lord and King of his kingdom, is also the Mediator of all revelation.
[1877] The attempt has been made also to determine who this elder is. Matthew is suggested, because in his Gospel (Mat_28:18) there is a declaration concerning the omnipotence of Christ. N. de Lyra prefers to understand Peter, who, however, had already met with a martyr’s death.
[1878] “He has obtained that which you thought must be despaired of.”
[1879] The older interpreters mostly, with a false parallel to æÈëÈä (Psa_51:6; LXX., νικᾶν ).
[1880] “He has attained, prevailed in a struggle, to open,” etc.
[1881] Cf. also De Wette, Hengstenb.
[1882] N. de Lyra. “Was victor in the resurrection.” Calov.: “Conquered the infernal lion.” Boss., Ebrard: “Victory over sin, death, and the Devil.” So also Hengstenb., who, however, at the same time confusedly falls into the first mode of exposition: “Overcoming the difficulties which opposed the opening of the book.”
[1883] Cf. Winer, p. 298 sq.
[1884] Ew.
[1885] Rev_2:7; Rev_2:11; Rev_2:17, etc.; especially Rev_3:21.
[1886] According to Gen_49:9.
[1887] From Isa_11:10. Cf. Rev_5:1.
[1888] Cf. also Vitr., Herd.
[1889] Cf. already Rev_5:6.
[1890] Because as the slain Lamb he has wrought redemption, Rev_5:13. Cf. Php_2:8 sq.; Isaiah 53.
[1891] As Ew. i. takes it, falling into an error contrary to both the word and sense of the text.
XLV. Rev_5:5. ὁ λέων ὁ ἐκ τῆς φυλῆς Ἰούδα , κ . τ . λ .