Two hundred thousand thousand (vo pupiddes pupiddav). Lit., two ten-thousands of ten-thousands. See on ch. v. 11. Rev., twice ten-thousand times ten-thousand. Compare Ps. Ixviii. 17; Dan. vii. 10; Heb. xii. 22; Jude 14.
17. Thus (odrs). After this manner.
In the vision (év 7H dpdoes). Or “in my vision.” See on Acts ii. 17. The reference to sight may be inserted because of I heard in ver. 16.
Of fire (wupivous). Rev., “as of fire.” Fiery red.
Of jacinth (saxwIlvous). “TaxuvSos hyacinth is the name of a flower and also of a precious stone. The noun occurs only Apoc. xxi. 20, and the adjective only here. According to classical mythology, the flower sprang up from the blood of Hy- acinthus, a beautiful Spartan youth, who was accidentally killed during a game of quoits. It was thought by some that the let- ters AI, AI, the exclamation of woe, could be traced on the petals, while others discovered the letter Y, the initial letter of ‘Ydxw9os. The story of the slaying of Hyacinthus is told by Ovid.
‘¢Lo, the blood Which, on the ground outpoured, had stained the sod, Ts blood no more. Brighter than Tyrian dye, Like to the lily’s shape a flower appears, Purple in hue as that is silvery white. Nor yet does such memorial content Phebus Apollo at whose word it rose. Upon its leaves he writes his own laments, And on the flower forever stands inscribed Al, AI.”
“‘ Metamorphoses,” x., 175 sqq.
As a stone, it is identified by some with the sapphire. As to color, the hyacinth of the Greeks seems to have comprehended the iris, gladiolus, and larkspur. Hence the different accounts of its color in classical writings, varying from red to black. A dull, dark blue seems to be meant here.