xi. 5). Compare Eph. vi. 14, where the girdle of the Christian panoply is ¢ruth, which binds together the whole array of graces as the girdle does the upper and lower parts of the armor. The girdle suits equally Christ’s kingly and priestly office. The gir- dle of the High-Priest was not golden, but only inwrought with
gold. See Exod. xxviii. 8: “curious girdle:” Rev., “cunningly woven band.” So Exod. xxix. 5.
14. White (Aevxai). See on Luke ix. 29. Compare Dan. vii. 9.
Wool—snow. ‘This combination to represent whiteness oc- curs in Dan. vii. 9, and Isa. i. 18. Snow, in Ps. Lie
Flame of fire. Compare Dan x. 6. Fire, in Scripture, is the expression of divine anger. The figure may include the thought of the clear and penetrating insight of the Son of Man; but it also expresses His indignation at the sin which His divine insight detects. Compare xix. 11, 12. So Homer, of Agamem- non in a rage: “His eyes were like shining fire” (“ TIliad,” 1, 104); also of Athene, when she appears to Achilles: ‘ Her eyes appeared dreadful to him” (‘‘Tliad,” i., 200).
15. Fine brass (yadxomBdve). Rev., burnished brass. Only here and ch. ii. 18. Compare Dan. x. 6; Ezek. i. 7. The meaning of the word is uncertain. Some explain electrum, an alloy of gold and silver: others, brass of Lebanon (AtBavos) : others, brass of the color of frankincense (AiBavos): others again, that it is an hybrid compound of the Greek yadkos brass, and the Hebrew labdn to make white. Dean Plumptre observes: “ Such technical words were likely enough to be cur- rent in a population like that of Ephesus, consisting largely of workers in metal, some of whom were no doubt Jews ” (“‘ Epis- tles to the Seven Churches of Asia”).
Many waters. Compare Ezek. i, 245 xliii. 25 Isa. xvii. 12. See also Apoe. xiv. 2; xix. 6.
16. A sharp, two-edged sword (poudata Sicropos o€eta). The Greek order is a sword, two-edged, sharp. For the peculiar