1. Hallelujah (4Andovia). Hebrew. Praise ye the Lord. Only in the Apocalypse and in this chapter. Fifteen of the Psalms either begin or end with this word. The Jewish an- them of praise (Ps. civ.—cix.), sung chiefly at the feasts of the Passover and of Tabernacles, derived its title of the Great Hal- lel from the frequent use of that phrase.
Honor. Omit. On the doxologies in the Apocalypse, see on ch. i. 6.
2. True (adAn9ival). See on John i. 9.
Did corrupt (ép9epev). The imperfect tense denoting habit.
Avenged (éediencev). Exacted vengeance from (€§).
At her hand (é). Lit., “from her hand.” See on ch. ii. 7; xviii. 20.
3. Her smoke, etc. Compare Isa. xxxiv. 10.
5. All ye His servants—small and great. Compare Ps. exiv. 13; cxxxiv. 1.
7. The marriage of the Lamb. For the figure, compare Isa. liv. 1-8; Ezek. xvi. 7-14; Hos. ii. 19; Matt. ix.15; John iii. 29; Eph. v. 25.
8. Fine linen (Gvccwov). See on Luke xvi. 19. The four vestments of the ordinary Jewish priest were made of linen or byssus. Their symbolic meaning depended in part on the white-
ness and lustre of their substance (xaJapiv «al Napmpdv pure and bright).
Righteousness (Sixauipata). More strictly, as Rev., right- e0us acts.
10. See thou do it not (épa ym). See not (to do it).
The testimony of Jesus (7 paptupia rod “Incod). Some explain as the testimony which proceeds from Jesus. Jesus, by imparting this testimony to believers imparts to them the spirit of prophecy. Others, the witness which is borne to Jesus. The way of bearing this witness, the substance and essence of this testimony is the Spirit of prophecy.
11. A white horse. Compare ch. vi. 2. 12. Crowns (SiaS%para). See on 1 Pet. v. 4; Jas. i. 12.
13. Dipped (BeBappévov). The readings differ; some giving pepavricpévov sprinkled, others mepipepappévor sprinkled round. Rev., sprinkled. Compare Isa. lxiii. 2, 3.
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The Word of God (6 Aéyos tod @eod). This name for our Lord is found in the New Testament only in the writings of John. It is one of the links which connects the Apocalypse with John’s other writings. Compare John i. 1-14; 1 John i. 1. Some object to this on the ground that, in the Gospel of John, the term is used absolutely, the Word, whereas here it is qualified, the Word of God, which the Evangelist nowhere em- ploys, and in 1 John i. 1, the Word of life. But, as Alford observes: “It may be left to any fair-judging reader to decide whether it be not a far greater argument for identity that the remarkable designation 6 Adyos the Word is used, than for diver- sity, that, on the solemn occasion described in the Apocalypse, the hitherto unheard adjunct of God is added.” The idea of