Power (éfovcia). See on Mark ii. 10; 2 Pet. ii. 11. Rev., better, authority.
With the sword (év fouda/a). Another word for sword. Compare ver. 4, and see on Luke ii. 35.
With death (€v Javdrm). Or pestilence. The Hebrew deber, pestilence, is rendered by the Greek word for death in the Septuagint. See Jer. xiv. 12; xxi.7. Compare the term black-death applied to an Oriental plague which raged in the fourteenth century.
With the beasts (i776 rév Inpiwv). Rev., by. The prepos- ition uo by is used here instead of ev im or with, indicating more definitely the actual agent of destruction; while év de- notes the element in which the destruction takes place, and gives a general indication of the manner in which it was wrought. With these four judgments compare Ezek. xiv. 21.
9. Altar (Suctacrnpiov). See on Acts xvii. 23. The altar of sacrifice, as is indicated by slain; not the altar of incense. The imagery is from the tabernacle. Exod. xxxix. 39; xl. 29.
Souls (yuyas). Or lives. See on 3 John 2. He saw only blood, but blood and life were equivalent terms to the Hebrew.
Slain (é€ogaypévwv). See on ch. v. 6. The law commanded that the blood of sacrificed animals should be poured out at the bottom of the altar of burnt-offering (Lev. iv. 7).
They held (czyov). Not held fast, but bore the testimony
which was committed to them. 10. They cried (épafov). See on Mark v. 5.
How long (éws mére). Lit., wntil when. Compare Zech. i, 12.
O Lord (6 Secrrdrns). See on 2 Pet.ii.1. Only here in the Apocalypse. Addressed to God rather than to Christ, and Vou, I.—32