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Rev_6:1. Καὶ εἷδον ὅτε , κ . τ . λ ., does not mean, “I was a spectator when the Lamb opened a seal:”[2006] the opening of the seal is not designated as the object of the εἶδον .[2007] De Wette[2008] and Ebrard attach such a wide significance to the εἶδον , that it may include the hearing mentioned directly afterwards; the meaning is that the prophetic “beholding” properly consisted in “hearing.” It is more correct to say that what John sees when the seal is opened, he describes first in Rev_6:2, where the repeated καὶ εἱδον refers back to Rev_6:1. As in the vision itself, so also in its description, something heard is yet interposed.
μιαν . The cardinal number does not stand here for the ordinal,[2009] but here, as directly afterwards in the ἐνὸς τ . τ . ζ ., it is only expressed that one of the seals (beasts) is spoken of. The order of succession is not marked until afterwards (Rev_6:3; Rev_6:5; Rev_6:7).[2010]
ὡς φωνὴ βροντῆς . Loose construction. The voice of thunder belongs to all four beings, because they are alike superterrestrial.[2011] To the one of the four beings who speaks first, this voice is expressly ascribed, only because it is the first to speak. The thunder note of the voice has nothing to do with the contents of the first seal.[2012]
ἔρχου . Even if the addition καὶ βλέπε were genuine,[2013] a parallelizing of these words with Joh_1:40; Joh_1:47 would be inapplicable, and a critical inference as to the composition of the Apoc. by the Evangelist John would be without foundation.[2014] Not even is the note of Schöttgen[2015] here applicable: “This formula, occurring in the Holy Scriptures only in John, is the well-known áà åøàä of the rabbins.
They employ it, however, as often as at the close of a disputation one approaches who makes a declaration concerning the subject.” The command ἔρχου [2016] is very simple, and is seriously meant: “John is to come up;” viz., to see accurately what proceeds from the unsealed book. This is written immediately afterwards.
[2006] Hengstenb.
[2007] Luther, incorrectly: “I saw that”—
[2008] Otherwise than Rev_5:11.
[2009] Against Ew. ii., etc.
[2010] Cf. also Winer, p. 233.
[2011] Cf. Rev_1:10, Rev_10:3.
[2012] Against Hengstenb.
[2013] See Critical Notes.
[2014] Against Hengstenb.
[2015] On Joh_1:47.
[2016] Inconceivable, and in violation of the context, because of the immediately following καὶ εἶδον , is the reference of the ἔρχου here, as in Rev_6:3; Rev_6:5; Rev_6:7, to the appearance of the approaching horseman (against Klief.).