Teks -- Revelation 14:4 (NET)

14:4 These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from humanity as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb,

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

Robertson: Rev 14:4 - Were not defiled with women

Were not defiled with women ( meta gunaikōn ouk emolunthēsan ).

First aorist passive indicative of molunō , old verb, to stain, already in Rev 3:4, which see. The use of this word rules out marriage, which was not considered sinful.

Robertson: Rev 14:4 - For they are virgins

For they are virgins ( parthenoi gar eisin ).

Parthenos can be applied to men as well as women. Swete takes this language "metaphorically, as the symbolical character of the Book suggests."Charles considers it an interpolation in the interest of celibacy for both men and women. If taken literally, the words can refer only to adultery or fornication (Beckwith). Jesus recognised abstinence only for those able to receive it (Mat 19:12), as did Paul (1Co 7:1, 1Co 7:8, 1Co 7:32, 1Co 7:36). Marriage is approved by Paul in 1Ti 4:3 and by Heb 13:4. The New Testament exalts marriage and this passage should not be construed as degrading it.

Robertson: Rev 14:4 - Whithersoever he goeth

Whithersoever he goeth ( hopou an hupagei ).

Indefinite local clause with modal an and the present active indicative of hupagō . The Christian life is following the Lamb of God as Jesus taught (Mar 2:14; Mar 10:21; Luk 9:59; Joh 1:43; Joh 21:19, etc.) and as Peter taught (1Pe 2:21) and John (1Jo 2:6).

Robertson: Rev 14:4 - Were purchased from among men

Were purchased from among men ( ēgorasthēsan apo tōn anthrōpōn ).

First aorist passive indicative of agorazō , repeating the close of Rev 14:3.

Robertson: Rev 14:4 - First fruits

First fruits ( aparchē ).

See for this word 1Co 16:15; Rom 11:16; Rom 16:5. This seems to mean that the 144,000 represent not the whole, but only a portion of the great harvest to come (Mat 9:37), not only the first installment, but those marked by high spiritual service to God and the Lamb (Rom 12:1; Heb 13:15; 1Pe 2:5).

Vincent: Rev 14:4 - Were not defiled

Were not defiled ( οὐκ ἐμολύνθησαν )

The verb means properly to besmear or besmirch , and is never used in a good sense, as μιαίνειν (Joh 18:28; Jud 1:8), which in classical Greek is sometimes applied to staining with color. See on 1Pe 1:4.

Vincent: Rev 14:4 - Virgins

Virgins ( παρθένοι )

Either celibate or living in chastity whether in married or single life. See 1Co 7:1-7, 1Co 7:29; 2Co 11:2.

Vincent: Rev 14:4 - First-fruits

First-fruits ( ἀπαρχὴ )

See on Jam 1:18.

Wesley: Rev 14:4 - These are they who had not been defiled with women

It seems that the deepest defilement, and the most alluring temptation, is put for every other.

Wesley: Rev 14:4 - They are virgins

Unspotted souls; such as have preserved universal purity.

Wesley: Rev 14:4 - These are they who follow the Lamb

Who are nearest to him. This is not their character, but their reward Firstfruits - Of the glorified spirits. Who is ambitious to be of this number?

JFB: Rev 14:4 - virgins

Spiritually (Mat 25:1); in contrast to the apostate Church, Babylon (Rev 14:8), spiritually "a harlot" (Rev 17:1-5; Isa 1:21; contrast 2Co 11:2; Eph 5:25-27). Their not being defiled with women means they were not led astray from Christian faithfulness by the tempters who jointly constitute the spiritual "harlot."

JFB: Rev 14:4 - follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth

In glory, being especially near His person; the fitting reward of their following Him so fully on earth.

JFB: Rev 14:4 - redeemed

"purchased."

JFB: Rev 14:4 - being the

Rather, "as a first-fruit." Not merely a "first-fruit" in the sense in which all believers are so, but Israel's 144,000 elect are the first-fruit, the Jewish and Gentile elect Church is the harvest; in a further sense, the whole of the transfigured and translated Church which reigns with Christ at His coming, is the first-fruit, and the consequent general ingathering of Israel and the nations, ending in the last judgment, is the full and final harvest.

Clarke: Rev 14:4 - These are they which were not defiled with women

These are they which were not defiled with women - They are pure from idolatry, and are presented as unspotted virgins to their Lord and Savior Christ. See 2Co 11:2. There may be an allusion here to the Israelites committing idolatry, through the means of their criminal connection with the Midianitish women. See Num 25:1-4; Num 31:16

Clarke: Rev 14:4 - Follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth

Follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth - They go through good and through evil report, bear his reproach, and love not their lives even to the death

Clarke: Rev 14:4 - The first fruits unto God

The first fruits unto God - The reference appears to be to those Jews who were the first converts to Christianity.

Defender: Rev 14:4 - virgins

These will all apparently be young Israelite men, not yet married and having maintained their sexual purity throughout their lives. They will have been specially chosen and prepared by God for this special ministry, presumably being raised in Orthodox Jewish homes, with deep respect for the Old Testament Scriptures, especially the Mosaic laws. Somehow, after the rapture of all believers shortly before the tribulation begins, they will have been led to recognize Jesus as their Messiah and Savior and to dedicate their whole lives to Him at all costs. Then God will have them sealed for their future service (Rev 7:3).

Defender: Rev 14:4 - firstfruits

These will be the "firstfruits" of the future Israel. At the end of the tribulation, no doubt in large measure through their witness, "all Israel shall be saved" (Rom 11:26; Zec 12:10)."

TSK: Rev 14:4 - for // which follow // These were // redeemed

for : Psa 45:14; Son 1:3, Son 6:8; Mat 25:1; 1Co 7:25, 1Co 7:26, 1Co 7:28; 2Co 11:2; 1Ti 4:3

which follow : Rev 3:4, Rev 7:15-17, Rev 17:14; Mat 8:19; Luk 9:57-62; Joh 8:12, Joh 10:27, Joh 12:26; Joh 13:37

These were : Rev 5:9

redeemed : Gr. bought, Psa 74:2; Act 20:28; 1Co 6:20; Eph 1:14; 1Pe 2:9 *marg. the first fruits, Jer 2:3; Amo 6:1 *marg. 1Co 16:15; Jam 1:18

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

Poole: Rev 14:4 - These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins // Which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth // These were redeemed from among men // Being the first-fruits unto God and to the Lamb

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins that is, that would not comply with antichristian idolatry and superstition; for idolatry is all along in holy writ compared to whoredom and fornication.

Which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth that follow the Lord Christ fully, in all things keeping close to the rules of worship and life which he hath given.

These were redeemed from among men these show themselves to be redeemed by the blood of Christ from the vain conversation of men, whether towards God, in matters of worship, or towards men.

Being the first-fruits unto God and to the Lamb that are consecrated to, and accepted of God, as the first-fruits were, being the only part of the world that are not profane.

Haydock: Rev 14:4 - These are they

These are they, &c. In the style of the prophets, by fornication is meant idolatry, and virginity signifies cleanness from all sacrilegious worship. These, therefore, are virgins in this sense, who have not fallen into the impurities of creature worship. But others, as St. Augustine, understand it of persons who have lived in continency. The first, however, is the more literal sense. (Calmet)

Gill: Rev 14:4 - These are they which were not defiled with women // for they are virgins // these are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth // these were redeemed from among men // being the firstfruits unto God, and to the Lamb

These are they which were not defiled with women,.... With the whore of Rome, and her harlots, she is the mother of; while the kings and inhabitants of the earth were drunk with the wine of their fornication, or committed idolatry with them, which is spiritual fornication, and is here meant by being defiled with them, these were free from such pollutions, or idolatrous practices:

for they are virgins; for their beauty and comeliness in Christ, chastity, sincerity of their love, uncorruptness in doctrine and worship, and for the uprightness of conversation; See Gill on Mat 25:1;

these are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth; as the sheep follow the shepherd of the flock, and which is a character of Christ's sheep, Joh 10:4. These follow Christ in the exercise of the graces of humility, patience, and love; and in the performance of the several duties of religion, and subjection to ordinances, and in the path of sufferings; and in every way in which Christ the Lamb has gone before them, or in his word and providence leads and directs them to, whether it be grateful to the flesh or not; particularly they follow where he is preached, and his Word and ordinances are faithfully administered; and they follow him to heaven, where he is: it was part of the oath taken by the Roman soldiers, τοις στρατηγοις ακολουθειν οποι ποτ' αι αγωσι, "to follow the generals wherever they should lead" ⁿ, to which it is thought there is an allusion here; see 2Sa 15:21;

these were redeemed from among men; "by Jesus", as the Syriac and Arabic versions add, and so the Complutensian edition; by the blood of Christ, for all men are not redeemed by it; and in consequence of this they were called, and delivered from this present evil world, and the men of it, and from a vain, wicked, and idolatrous conversation with it:

being the firstfruits unto God, and to the Lamb; in allusion to the firstfruits under the law, which represented and sanctified the lump, and showed that harvest was coming; so these persons are called the firstfruits to God, and to the Lamb, being called by grace, and consecrated to their worship and service, with reference to the harvest of souls, or that large number of them which will be gathered in during the spiritual reign of Christ, which these persons will be at the beginning of; and as those who are first called and converted in a country or nation are said to be the firstfruits of it, Rom 16:5; so these being the first, in the period of time to which respect is had, bear this name; and as the converted Jews received the firstfruits of the Spirit, on the day of Pentecost, and at other times, so these will receive the firstfruits of the far greater pouring forth of the Spirit in the latter day, which will begin, and usher in the kingdom of Christ; see Rom 8:23.