Lit., which is mingled unmixed. From the universal custom of mixing wine with water for drinking, the word mingle came to be used in the general sense of prepare by putting into the cup. Hence, to pour out.

Cup of His anger

Compare Psalm 75:8.

Brimstone (θείῳ)

Commonly taken as the neuter of θεῖος divine; that is, divine incense, since burning brimstone was regarded as having power to purify and to avert contagion. By others it is referred to θύω to burn, and hence to sacrifice.

See on Matthew 4:23, Matthew 4:24; see vexed, 2 Peter 2:8.

Goeth up

See Isaiah 34:9, Isaiah 34:10; Genesis 19:28.

Rest (ἀνάπαυσιν)

See on give rest, Matthew 11:28, and see on resteth, 1 Peter 4:14.

Omit here are, and read, are, Rev., the patience of the saints, they that keep.

The faith of Jesus

Which has Jesus for its object.

See on Matthew 5:3.

From henceforth (ἀπ' ἄρτι)

See on John 13:33. To be joined as in A.V. and Rev., with die in the preceding clause, and not with blessed, nor with the following clause. Not from henceforth saith the Spirit. The meaning is variously explained. Some, from the beginning of the Christian age and onward to the end; others, from the moment of death, connecting henceforth with blessed; others from the time when the harvest of the earth is about to be reaped. Sophocles says: "Show all religious reverence to the gods, for all other things Father Zeus counts secondary; for the reward of piety follows men in death. Whether they live or die it passeth not away" ("Philoctetes," 1441-1444).

That they may rest (ἵνα ἀναπαύσωνται)

See on Matthew 11:28. The ἵνα that gives the ground of the blessed.

Labors (κόπων)

From κόπων to strike. Hence to beat the breast in grief. Κόπος is, therefore, primarily, a smiting as a sign of sorrow, and then sorrow itself. As labor, it is labor which involves weariness and sorrow.

Follow them (ἀκολουθεῖ μετ' αὐτῶν)

Rather, accompany. Rev., follow with them. Compare Matthew 4:25; Mark 3:7, etc. See on John 1:43.

Lit., send. Rev., send forth.

Harvest (θερισμὸς)

See on Luke 10:2.

Is ripe (ἐξηράνθη)

Lit., was dried. Compare Mark 11:20; John 15:6. Rev., is over-ripe.

Lit., cast.

Properly, sanctuary. See on Matthew 4:5.

See on Acts 17:23.

Which has power (ἔξων ἐξουσίαν)

Lit., having power. Some texts add the article ὁ. So Rev., "he that hath power."

Fire

In the Greek with the article, the fire.

Cry (κραυγῇ)

See on Luke 1:42.

Thy sharp sickle

Lit., thy sickle, the sharp.

Gather (τρύγησον)

From τρύγη dryness, included in the notion of ripeness, and hence the vintage, harvest. The verb means therefore to gather ripe fruit. It occurs only in this chapter and in Luke 6:44.

Grapes (σταφυλαὶ)

The noun in the singular means also a bunch of grapes.

continued...

The Greek student will note the masculine adjective with the feminine noun, possibly because the gender of the noun is doubtful. The Rev., in rendering more literally, is more forcible: the wine-press, the great wine-press. See on Matthew 21:33.

The furlong or stadium was 606 3/4 English feet.

Lit., seven plagues the last. Rev., "which are the last." See on Mark 3:10; see on Luke 10:30.

Is filled up (ἐτελέσθη)

More correctly, brought to an end (τέλος). Rev., finished. Lit., was finished, the prophetic aorist, which speaks of a thing foreseen and decided as if already done.

Rev., better, a glassy sea. See on Revelation 4:6.

Had gotten the victory over the beast (νικῶντας ἐκ τοῦ θηρίου)

The expression is peculiar. Lit., conquered out of The construction is unique in the New Testament. The phrase signifies, not as A.V., victory over, but coming triumphant out of (ἐκ). So Rev., that come victorious from the beast.

Over his mark

Omit.

Standing on (ἐπί)

Better, as Rev., by: on the shore of, as did the Israelites when they sang the song alluded to in Revelation 15:3.

The harps of God

Omit the. Instruments devoted wholly to His praise. Compare Revelation 5:8; Revelation 14:2.

See Exodus 15. Compare Deuteronomy 32; to which some refer this allusion.

The servant of God

See Exodus 14:31; Numbers 12:7; Psalm 105:26; Hebrews 3:5.

The song of the Lamb

There are not two distinct songs. The song of Moses is the song of the Lamb. The Old and the New Testament churches are one.

Great and marvellous are Thy works

Psalm 111:2; Psalm 139:14; 1 Chronicles 16:9.

Just and true are Thy ways

Rev., righteous for just. See Deuteronomy 32:4.

King of saints (βασιλεὺς τῶν ἁγίων)

The readings differ. Some read for saints, ἐθνῶν of the nations; others αἰώνων of the ages. So Rev. Compare Jeremiah 10:7.

See Jeremiah 10:7. Omit thee.

Holy (ὅσιος)

See on Luke 1:75. The term is applied to Christ in Acts 2:27, Acts 2:35; Hebrews 7:26. To God only here and Revelation 16:5, where the correct reading is ὁ ὅσιος thou holy one, instead of ὁ ἐσόμενος which shalt be.

All nations shall come

Compare Psalm 86:9; Isaiah 2:2-4; Isaiah 66:23; Micah 4:2.

Judgments (δικαιώματα)

Not merely divine decisions, but righteous acts generally. So Rev. Primarily, the word signifies that which has been deemed right so as to have the force of law. Hence an ordinance (Luke 1:6; Hebrews 9:1; Romans 1:32). A judicial decision for or against (Romans 5:16). A righteous deed. See Revelation 19:8.

Omit.

The temple of the tabernacle (ὁ ναὸς τῆς σκηνῆς)

The sanctuary of the tabernacle. See on Matthew 4:5.

Of the testimony

See Acts 7:44. The tabernacle was called "the Tabernacle of the Testimony" because it contained the ark with the law of God which testifies against sin. See Exodus 25:16, Exodus 25:21; Exodus 30:36; Exodus 34:29; Exodus 38:21. Compare Revelation 11:19.

The Rev. follows the reading λίθον stone, after the analogy of Ezekiel 28:13, "Every precious stone was thy covering." The idea is that of raiment studded with precious stones. See on Revelation 2:17.

White (λαυπρὸν)

Mostly applied in the New Testament to clothing, as Luke 23:11; Acts 10:30; James 2:2. Also to the water of life (Revelation 22:1), and the morning-star (Revelation 22:16). Rev., bright.

Girt round their breasts

As the Lord in the vision of Revelation 1:13; where, however, μαστοῖς paps is used instead of στήθη breasts.

Rev., bowls. See on Revelation 5:8.

Compare Exodus 40:34; 1 Kings 8:10; Psalm 18:8; Isaiah 6:4; Ezekiel 10:2-4.

None was able to enter

"God cannot be approached at the moment when He is revealing Himself in all the terrors of His indignation" (Milligan). See Exodus 19:21.