Teks -- Revelation 4:11 (NET)

4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, since you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created!”

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

Robertson: Rev 4:11 - Our Lord and our God

Our Lord and our God ( ho kurios kai ho theos hēmōn ).

The nominative form here used as vocative as in Joh 20:28 and often.

Robertson: Rev 4:11 - To receive

To receive ( labein ).

Epexegetic second aorist active infinitive of lambanō with axios (worthy).

Robertson: Rev 4:11 - The glory

The glory ( tēn doxan ).

The article referring to doxan in Rev 4:9 and so with tēn timēn (the honour), though tēn dunamin (the power) is not in Rev 4:9, but is the power due to be ascribed to God.

Robertson: Rev 4:11 - Thou didst create

Thou didst create ( su ektisas ).

Emphasis on su (thou), first aorist active indicative of ktizō , the verb used about the act of creation by Paul in Col 1:16 (ektisthē , ektistai ), constative aorist giving a summary picture of the whole (not as a process).

Robertson: Rev 4:11 - Because of thy will

Because of thy will ( dia to thelēma sou ).

Reason for creation of the universe as in Heb 2:10 (di' hon ).

Robertson: Rev 4:11 - They were

They were ( ēsan ).

Imperfect tense with a cursory glance at the universe as a fact, possibly a potential existence in God’ s purpose in the eternal past before the actual creation in time.

Robertson: Rev 4:11 - And were created

And were created ( kai ektisthēsan ).

First aorist passive indicative of the same verb, ktizō , just used and in the plural, while Paul (Col 1:16) uses the singular ektisthē . See 1Co 8:6. God’ s will wrought through the Logos (Christ).

Vincent: Rev 4:11 - O Lord

O Lord ( κύριε )

Read ὁ κύριος καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν our Lord and our God . So Rev. See on Mat 21:3.

Vincent: Rev 4:11 - To receive

To receive ( λαβεῖν )

Or perhaps, better, to take , since the glory, honor, and power are the absolute possession of the Almighty. See on Joh 3:32.

Vincent: Rev 4:11 - Power

Power

Instead of the thanks in the ascription of the living creatures. In the excess of gratitude, self is forgotten. Their thanksgiving is a tribute to the creative power which called them into being. Note the articles, " the glory ," etc. (so Rev.), expressing the absoluteness and universality of these attributes. See on Rev 1:6.

Vincent: Rev 4:11 - All things

All things ( τὰ πάντα )

With the article signifying the universe .

Vincent: Rev 4:11 - For thy pleasure

For thy pleasure ( διὰ τὸ θέλημα σου )

Lit., because of thy will . So Rev. Alford justly remarks: " For thy pleasure of the A.V. introduces An element entirely strange to the context, and, however true in fact, most inappropriate here, where the ὅτι for renders a reason for the worthiness to take honor and glory and power."

Vincent: Rev 4:11 - They are

They are ( εἰσὶν )

Read ἦσαν they were . One of the great MSS., B, reads οὐκ ἦσαν they were not ; i.e., they were created out of nothing. The were is not came into being , but simply they existed . See on Joh 1:3; see on Joh 7:34; see on Joh 8:58. Some explain, they existed in contrast with their previous non-existence; in which case it would seem that the order of the two clauses should have been reversed; besides which it is not John's habit to apply this verb to temporary and passing objects. Professor Milligan refers it to the eternal type existing in the divine mind before anything was created, and in conformity with which it was made when the moment of creation arrived. Compare Heb 8:5. " Was the heaven then or the world, whether called by this or any other more acceptable name - assuming the name, I am asking a question which has to be asked at the beginning of every inquiry - was the world, I say, always in existence and without beginning, or created and having a beginning? Created, I reply, being visible and tangible and having a body, and therefore sensible; and all sensible things which are apprehended by opinion and sense are in a process of creation and created. Now that which is created must of necessity be created by a cause. But how can we find out the father and maker of all this universe? And when we have found him, to speak of his nature to all men is impossible. Yet one more question has to be asked about him, which of the patterns had the artificer in view when he made the world? - the pattern which is unchangeable, or that which is created? If the world be indeed fair and the artificer good, then, as is plain, he must have looked to that which is eternal. But if what cannot be said without blasphemy is true, then he looked to the created pattern. Every one will see that he must have looked to the eternal, for the world is the fairest of creations and he is the best of causes" (Plato, " Timaeus," 28, 29).

Wesley: Rev 4:11 - Worthy art thou to receive

This he receives not only when he is thus praised, but also when he destroys his enemies and glorifies himself anew.

Wesley: Rev 4:11 - The glory and the honour and the power

Answering the thrice - holy of the living creatures, Rev 4:9.

Wesley: Rev 4:11 - For thou hast created all things

Creation is the ground of all the works of God: therefore, for this, as well as for his other works, will he be praised to all eternity.

Wesley: Rev 4:11 - And through thy will they were

They began to be. It is to the free, gracious and powerfully - working will of Him who cannot possibly need anything that all things owe their first existence.

Wesley: Rev 4:11 - And are created

That is, continue in being ever since they were created.

JFB: Rev 4:9-11

The ground of praise here is God's eternity, and God's power and glory manifested in the creation of all things for His pleasure. Creation is the foundation of all God's other acts of power, wisdom, and love, and therefore forms the first theme of His creatures' thanksgivings. The four living creatures take the lead of the twenty-four elders, both in this anthem, and in that new song which follows on the ground of their redemption (Rev 5:8-10).

JFB: Rev 4:9-11 - when

That is, whensoever: as often as. A simultaneous giving of glory on the part of the beasts, and on the part of the elders.

JFB: Rev 4:9-11 - give

"shall give" in one oldest manuscript.

JFB: Rev 4:9-11 - for ever and ever

Greek, "unto the ages of the ages."

JFB: Rev 4:11 - O Lord

The two oldest manuscripts, A, B, Vulgate, and Syriac add, "and our God." "Our" by virtue of creation, and especially redemption. One oldest manuscript, B, and Syriac insert "the Holy One." But another, A, Vulgate, and Coptic omit this, as English Version does.

JFB: Rev 4:11 - glory, &c.

"the glory . . . the honour . . . the power."

JFB: Rev 4:11 - thou

Emphatic in the Greek: "It is THOU who didst create."

JFB: Rev 4:11 - all things

Greek, "the all things": the universe.

JFB: Rev 4:11 - for, &c.

Greek, "on account of"; "for the sake of Thy pleasure," or "will." English Version is good Greek. Though the context better suits, it was because of Thy will, that "they were" (so one oldest manuscript, A, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic read, instead of English Version "are": another oldest manuscript, B, reads, "They were not, and were created," were created out of nothing), that is, were existing, as contrasted with their previous non-existence. With God to will is to effect: to determine is to perform. So in Gen 1:3, "Let there be light, and there was light": in Hebrew an expressive tautology, the same word and tense and letters being used for "let there be," and "there was," marking the simultaneity and identity of the will and the effect. D. LONGINUS [On the Sublime, 9], a heathen, praises this description of God's power by "the lawgiver of the Jews, no ordinary man," as one worthy of the theme.

JFB: Rev 4:11 - were created

By Thy definite act of creation at a definite time.

Clarke: Rev 4:11 - Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive - Thus all creation acknowledges the supremacy of God; and we learn from this song that he made all things for his pleasure; and through the same motive he preserves. Hence it is most evident, that he hateth nothing that he has made, and could have made no intelligent creature with the design to make it eternally miserable. It is strange that a contrary supposition has ever entered into the heart of man; and it is high time that the benevolent nature of the Supreme God should be fully vindicated from aspersions of this kind.

Defender: Rev 4:11 - created all things

It is significant that this mighty accolade of praise to God from the elders (representing all the redeemed) centers first on Him as Creator, then later on Him as Redeemer (Rev 5:9). It is proper that our earthly worship and praise should follow this same pattern. The redeemed ones by this time will have received their crown rewards, as well as "praise and honour and glory" (1Pe 1:7), but then they will "cast their crowns" before Him (Rev 4:10), acknowledging that only He is truly worthy to receive "the glory and the honor and the power" (the article is in the original Greek). They were merely His creations, and all they might have accomplished on earth was by His grace.

Defender: Rev 4:11 - pleasure

"Pleasure" here is the Greek thelema, usually rendered "will." Its first occurrence is in Mat 6:10 where the Lord Jesus told us to pray: "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." The ultimate answer to this prayer is Christ's return. Here in this verse, where the final use of thelema occurs, that prayer is about to be answered.

Defender: Rev 4:11 - created

This verse explains why God created us. It was simply His good will and pleasure to do so. Note also Isa 43:7, "created him for my glory," and Pro 16:4, "made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." For more on God's will, study Rom 9:22-23; Rom 11:33-36; Eph 2:4-7; Eph 3:20, Eph 3:21."

TSK: Rev 4:11 - art // to receive // for thou // and for

art : Rev 5:2, Rev 5:9, Rev 5:12; 2Sa 22:4; Psa 18:3

to receive : Rev 14:7; Deu 32:4; 1Ch 16:28, 1Ch 16:29; Neh 9:5; Job 36:3; Psa 29:1, Psa 29:2, Psa 68:34; Psa 96:7, Psa 96:8

for thou : Rev 10:6; Gen 1:1; Exo 20:11; Isa 40:26, Isa 40:28; Jer 10:11, Jer 32:17; Joh 1:1-3; Act 17:24; Eph 3:9; Col 1:16, Col 1:17; Heb 1:2, Heb 1:10

and for : Pro 16:4; Rom 11:36

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

Poole: Rev 4:11

All the praises, homages, and acknowledgments of all the creatures is thy due; as then art he who gavest the first being to all creatures, and therefore gavest it them, that they might praise, honour, serve, and obey thee.

Gill: Rev 4:11 - Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory honour, and power // for thou hast created all things // and for thy pleasure they are and were created

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory honour, and power,.... The Alexandrian copy, and some others, the Complutensian edition, the Vulgate Latin version, and all the Oriental ones, read, "thou art worthy, O Lord, and our God, to receive"; that is, to receive the acknowledgment and ascription of glory, honour, and power; for otherwise God cannot be said to receive these from his creatures, than by their confessing and declaring that they belong unto him: and that for the reasons following,

for thou hast created all things; the whole universe, the heavens, the earth, and sea, and all that in them are:

and for thy pleasure they are and were created; God is the first cause, and the last end of all things; by his power they are made, and according to his will, and for his own glory, and therefore is worthy of such a doxology; see Pro 16:4. What is here said is contrary to a notion imbibed by the Jews ^z, that the world was not created but for the sake of the Israelites: and elsewhere ^a they say,

"the world was not created but for David; and one says for Moses; and Rabbi Jochanan says for the Messiah;''

which last is truest.