Teks -- Revelation 4:5 (NET)

4:5 From the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning in front of the throne

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Rev 4:5 - Out of the throne

Out of the throne ( ek tou thronou ).

Back to the throne itself. The imagery is kin to that in Exo 19:16; Exo 24:9.; Eze 1:22, Eze 1:27.

Robertson: Rev 4:5 - Proceed

Proceed ( ekporeuontai ).

Graphic historical present.

Robertson: Rev 4:5 - Lightnings and voices and thunders

Lightnings and voices and thunders ( astrapai kai phōnai kai brontai ).

So exactly in Rev 11:19; Rev 16:18, but in Rev 8:5 with brontai first, astrapai last, all old and common words. "The thunderstorm is in Hebrew poetry a familiar symbol of the Divine power: cf., e.g., 1Sa 2:10; Psa 18:9.; Job 37:4."(Swete).

Robertson: Rev 4:5 - Seven lamps of fire

Seven lamps of fire ( hepta lampades puros ).

Return to the nominative (idou , not eidon ) with ēsan (were) understood. Metaphor drawn from Eze 1:13; Zec 4:12. Our word "lamp,"but here a torch as in Rev 8:10, identified with the Holy Spirit (the Seven Spirits of God) as in Rev 1:4; Rev 3:1, not luchniai (lampstands) as in Rev 1:12, Rev 1:20, nor luchnos a hand-lamp with oil (Mat 5:15). "These torches blaze perpetually before the throne of God"(Swete).

Vincent: Rev 4:5 - Proceeded

Proceeded ( ἐκπορεύονται )

Rev., proceed . The tense is graphically changed to the present.

Vincent: Rev 4:5 - Lightnings and thunderings and voices

Lightnings and thunderings and voices

Compare Exo 19:16. Variously interpreted of God's might , His judgment , His power over nature , and His indignation against the wicked .

Vincent: Rev 4:5 - Lamps

Lamps ( λαμπάδες )

The origin of our lamp , but, properly, a torch ; the word for lamp being λύχνος , a h and-lamp filled with oil (Mat 5:15; Luk 8:16; Joh 5:35). See on Mat 25:1. Trench says: " The true Hindoo way of lighting up, is by torches, held by men who feed the flame with oil from a sort of bottle constructed for the purpose."

Vincent: Rev 4:5 - Seven Spirits of God

Seven Spirits of God

See on Rev 1:4.

Wesley: Rev 4:5 - And out of the throne go forth lightnings

Which affect the sight.

Wesley: Rev 4:5 - Voices

Which affect the hearing.

Wesley: Rev 4:5 - Thunderings

Which cause the whole body to tremble. Weak men account all this terrible; but to the inhabitants of heaven it is a mere source of joy and pleasure, mixed with reverence to the Divine Majesty. Even to the saints on earth these convey light and protection; but to their enemies, terror and destruction.

JFB: Rev 4:5 - proceeded

Greek, "proceed."

JFB: Rev 4:5 - thunderings and voices

The two oldest manuscripts transpose, "voices and thunderings." Compare at the giving of the law on Sinai, Exo 19:16. "The thunderings express God's threats against the ungodly: there are voices in the thunders (Rev 10:3), that is, not only does He threaten generally, but also predicts special judgments" [GROTIUS].

JFB: Rev 4:5 - seven lamps . . . seven Spirits

The Holy Spirit in His sevenfold operation, as the light-and-life Giver (compare Rev 5:6, seven eyes . . . the seven Spirits of God; Rev 1:4; Rev 21:23; Psa 119:105) and fiery purifier of the godly, and consumer of the ungodly (Mat 3:11).

Clarke: Rev 4:5 - Seven lamps of fire

Seven lamps of fire - Seven angels, the attendants and ministers of the supreme King. See Rev 1:4, and the note there.

TSK: Rev 4:5 - proceeded // seven // the seven

proceeded : Rev 8:5, Rev 11:19, Rev 16:17, Rev 16:18; Exo 19:16, Exo 20:18; Psa 18:13, Psa 18:14, Psa 68:35; Joe 3:16; Heb 12:18-29

seven : Gen 15:7; Exo 37:23; 2Ch 4:20; Eze 1:13; Zec 4:2, Zec 4:11-14

the seven : Rev 1:4, Rev 3:1, Rev 5:6; Mat 3:11; Act 2:3; 1Co 12:4-11

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Rev 4:5 - And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices // the seven Spirits of God

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: these words denote a very glorious and terrible appearance of God, denoting his majesty, and power over his enemies. There is, possibly, an allusion to God’ s appearance at the giving of the law, Exo 19:16 ; only we read there but of one voice, and that of a trumpet, inarticulate. The lamps of fire before the throne, have a correspondence with the seven lamps of the tabernacle, which gave light to the whole house of God, Exo 27:20 ; and are here expounded to be

the seven Spirits of God that is, the Holy Spirit in his seven-fold (that is, manifold) dispensations of grace, 1Co 12:4,5 , by which he enlighteneth, quickeneth, healeth, and comforteth the several souls that are the true members of his church. See Poole on "Rev 1:4" .

PBC: Rev 4:5

This scene is strange! The lightning and thunderings seem to be reminding us of the giving of the law on Sinai. The word used for voices is (SGreek: 5456. phone), phone [fo-nay] a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial). The sacrifices contained in the Law were artificial when compared with the true Sacrifice provided by God. These voices annunciated plainly as did also the Law. We do not perceive these voices as being embodied, but they seem to be reminding[1] us of the demands of the Law. He who sits upon the throne has born the judgments of the law upon himself. Now all that is heard is the bestial shadowy groans which could not be satisfied by any other than by the blood of Jesus. He has fulfilled the law to a jot and to a tittle. The thunderings and groans are simply a reminder to those who stand before the throne of His great sacrifice for sin." .. and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God." These seven lamps (seven spirits of God) are never extinguished. God never slumbers nor does He sleep. This was to be the authority of John as he carried this message to the seven churches: " John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne." {Re 1:4} The same seven Spirits are mentioned in Re 3:1; 5:6. Also Peter may have had these in mind when he spoke of things which we were to add to our faith, " And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." {2Pe 1:5-7} These Spirits should always abound in the churches.— Eld. Charles Taylor

[1] 1Co 10:6 " Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted."

Haydock: Rev 4:5 - Lightnings // Seven lamps burning

Lightnings, a symbol of God's majesty and power. ---

Seven lamps burning, which signified the seven spirits of God, the chief spirits that attend his throne. See chap. i. 4. (Witham) ---

The lightnings, loud voices, and thunders, which come from the throne of God, announce alarms and severe hardships, such as persecutions, heresies, calamities, &c. by which he tries the fidelity of his servants on earth. And the seven spirits of God, who appear under the form of burning lamps, are seven Angels, as before mention, (Chap. i. 4.) standing ready to execute the Divine commands. (Walmesley)

Gill: Rev 4:5 - And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings // and voices // And there were seven lamps of burning fire before the throne // which are the seven spirits of God

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings,

and voices,.... Which may be understood either of the doctrines of the Gospel which come out of Zion, and out of Jerusalem, the church of God, where he has his throne; and which are comparable to "lightning", both for the light and knowledge they give, and for the swiftness with which they were spread over the world, by the apostles of Christ; and to "thunderings", for the awfulness, authority, and majesty of them, especially as they were delivered out by the Boanergeses, or sons of thunder; and as the prophesies of the prophets are called "the voices" of the prophets, Act 13:27; so may the doctrines of the Gospel be called "voices", as they are the voice of God, and of Christ, and of his ministers; and are voices of love, grace, mercy, peace, pardon, righteousness, and eternal life. The allusion is to the giving of the law on Mount Sinai, when such things were seen and heard, Exo 19:16 or else the judgments of God, and the punishments inflicted upon his enemies, and the enemies of his church and people, and his awful threatenings of them, may be designed; see Psa 18:13; with which compare Rev 8:5.

And there were seven lamps of burning fire before the throne,

which are the seven spirits of God; in allusion to the seven lamps in the tabernacle and temple, which were trimmed by the priests, and always kept burning, and are expressive of the Spirit, and his gifts; and these being signified by the number "seven", denote the fulness and perfection of them; and being said to be "before the throne", show that there is always a sufficiency of them for the supply of the churches in all ages, to fit and qualify proper persons to minister the word, and administer ordinances; and these being called "lamps of burning fire", point at the light the Spirit of God in his gifts communicates to the churches; and that warmth and heat, comfort and refreshment; conveyed to them, through the preaching of the Gospel, and the dispensation of the ordinances of it, under his illuminating and quickening influences.