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Rev_5:9. καὶ ᾷδουσιν , viz., they who have fallen down; i.e., the four beings and the twenty-four elders.[1937] Hengstenb. arbitrarily understands this: “That the elders come forward as the speakers of the chorus formed of them and the four beasts.”
ᾨΔΗΝ ΚΑΙΝῊΝ . Cf. Rev_14:3. Too indefinitely, N. de Lyra: “pertaining to the N. T.;” yet he has also the correct feeling that the new song refers to a new subject. Here this is not completed redemption,[1938] but as the succeeding song itself shows, and the express connection determines, the worthiness[1939] of the Lamb to open the book,[1940] acquired through the painful work[1941] of redemption. [See Note XLVII., p. 217.] ΛΈΓΟΝΤΕς introduces the song announced ( ᾌΔΟΥΣ . ᾨΔ . ΚΑΙΝ .). Cf. Rev_4:1; Rev_4:8.
ὉΤΙ ἘΣΦΆΓΗς . The Lamb himself is represented Ὡς ἘΣΦΑΓΜΈΝΟΝ .[1942] In the entire statement presenting the ground ( ὍΤΙ ἘΣΦ .) for the ἍΞΙΟς ΕἸ , Κ . Τ . Λ ., the aorists ἘΣΦΆΓΗς , ἨΓΌΡΑΣΑς , ἘΠΟΊΗΣΑς , are to be strictly observed: they refer to the definite fact that has once occurred, of the crucifying of the Lord ( ἘΣΦΆΓΗς ), and this one fact[1943] is described according to its effect: ἨΓΌΡΑΣΑς , Κ . Τ . Λ ., and ἘΠΟΊΗΣΑς . Incorrectly, Beng.: “And hast purchased us to be thy possession. This refers not to the redemption itself, which occurred when the Lamb was slaughtered and his blood was sprinkled, but to its fruit, and refers, therefore, to those saints who have finished their course, and who have been bought from the earth, Rev_14:3.” Bengel’s error is occasioned by the false reading ἡμᾶς .[1944]
Incorrectly, Ewald: “By his bloody death he redeemed them to God, delivering to them the doctrine, following which they could emerge from the servitude of vices.” How completely the ἠγόρασας concurs with the ἘΣΦΆΓΗς , is evident especially from the fact that the blood of the slain Lamb is designated as the price of the purchase.[1945] On the subject itself, cf. 1Co_6:20; 1Pe_1:18 sqq.; Act_20:28.
ἐκ πάσης φυλῆς καὶ γλώσσης καὶ λαοῦ καὶ ἔθνους . Object with the partitive ἐκ . Cf. 1Jn_4:13; Mat_25:8 (Act_2:17). In the connection of the four expressions, the progress from less to greater[1946] is of no significance, because unintentional; but what is of importance, and recurs uniformly in all similar passages, even though another expression[1947] be chosen, is the number four, which serves to mark[1948] the idea of universality.[1949] Every more definite reference, however, which is given any one of the four expressions,[1950] is consistent neither with the πάσης , nor with the intention of the entire manner of expression.
καὶ ἐποίησας αὐτοὺς βασιλείαν καὶ ἱερεῖς βασιλεύουσιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς . This passage is distinguished from what is said in Rev_1:6, first, by the καὶ before ἱερεῖς , and immediately afterwards by the important addition καὶ βασιλεύουσιν , κ . τ . λ . The latter would be superfluous, if either the reading received by Hengstenb., etc., were correct,[1951] or the βασιλείαν could have had the meaning stated by Hengstenb. on Rev_1:6, i.e., “a people invested with regal authority.” Three things are here expressed: first, that those purchased to be God’s property have been made into a βασιλεία , viz., of God,—i.e., they are gathered as God’s property into God’s kingdom; immediately afterwards ( καὶ ) that they are made priests; finally ( καὶ ), they themselves have been invested with regal authority. So Ebrard, correctly.[1952] The last, expressed in an independent member of the sentence, and so far distinguished from the two predicates βασιλείαν and ἱερεῖς , has its justification in the meaning of Rev_1:9; and it is a perversion to change the present βασιλεύουσιν into a future,[1953] or to take it in the sense of a future. It is especially appropriate that the heavenly beings into whose mouths the song of praise, Rev_5:9-10, is placed, should recognize in the contending and persecuting church the kings of the earth.
[1937] De Wette, etc.
[1938] C. a Lap., Beng., etc.
[1939] In violation of the context, Klief.: The reception and sealing of the book have to do with “the actual final accomplishment of the divine purpose.” The subject here has to do with the opening of the book only in order that the revelation of the mysteries therein contained may be communicated to the seer.
[1940] Cf. Vitr., who, at the same time, thinks of the new kind of song; Stern, Ebrard, Hengstenb.
[1941] Cf. also Rev_5:5.
[1942] Cf. Ew.
[1943] Cf. Rev_1:5 sqq.
[1944] See Critical Notes.
[1945] ἐν τ . αἱμ . σ . Cf. Winer, p. 365.
[1946] Rev_7:9, Rev_11:9, Rev_13:7, Rev_14:6; cf. Rev_10:11, Rev_17:15.
[1947] Rev_7:9, Rev_11:9, Rev_13:7, Rev_14:6; cf. Rev_10:11, Rev_17:15.
[1948] Beng., Hengstenb.
[1949] Beng., Hengstenb.
[1950] Beng. refers the φυλῆς , Züll. the λαοῦ , to the Jews.
[1951] See Critical Notes.
[1952] Cf. Beng.
[1953] See Critical Notes.
XLVII. Rev_5:9. ᾠδην καινὴν
[1993] Cf. De Apocalypsi Joannea ex rebus vatis aetate gestis explicanda disseruit. Ed. Böhmer. Fasc. 1, Hal. Sax., 1854.