Quotes & Notes
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John Wesley's Notes:
And they sing a new song-One which neither they nor any other had sung
before.
Thou hast redeemed us-So the living creatures also were of the number of
the redeemed. This does not so
much refer to the act of redemption, which was long before, as to the
fruit of it; and so more directly to those who had finished their
course, "who were redeemed from the earth," Re 14:1, out of every tribe,
and tongue, and people, and nation-That is, out of all mankind.
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:
* sung. Re 7:10-12; 14:3; Ps 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1; Isa
42:10
* Thou art. Re 5:2; 4:11
* for. Re 5:6; 13:8
* and hast. Re 14:4,6; Mt 20:28; 26:28; Ac 20:28; Ro 3:24-26; 1Co 6:20;
7:23 Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; Tit 2:14; Heb 11:14; 1Pe 1:18,19; 2Pe 2:1 1Jo
1:7; 2:2
* out. Re 7:9; 11:9; 14:6; Da 4:1; 6:25; Mr 16:15,16; Col 1:23
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Adam Clarke's Commentary:
A new song] Composed on the matters and blessings of the Gospel,
which was just now opened on earth. But new song may signify a most
excellent song; and by this the Gospel and its blessings are probably
signified. The Gospel is called a new song, Ps 96:1. And perhaps there
is an allusion in the harps here to Ps 144:9: I will sing a NEW SONG
unto thee, O God: upon a PSALTERY, and an INSTRUMENT of TEN STRINGS, &c.
The same form of speech is found, Isa 42:10: Sing unto the Lord a NEW
SONG, &c.; and there the prophet seems to have the Gospel dispensation
particularly in view.
Thou-hast redeemed us to God-out of every-nation] It appears, therefore,
that the living creatures and
the elders represent the aggregate of the followers of God; or
the Christian Church in all nations, and among all kinds of people, and
perhaps through the whole compass of time: and all these are said to be
redeemed by Christ's blood, plainly showing that his life was a
sacrificial offering for the sins of mankind.
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Family Bible Notes:
A new song; the song of
redeeming love, through the atonement and righteousness of
Christ.
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People's New Testament Commentary:
They sung a new song. To the music of their harps.
A song that could not be sung
until the Lamb had taken the book.
Didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, etc. See the
Revised Version. The Common Version is incorrect, as is now admitted by
all scholars. The song does not sing of what Christ has done for those
who are singing, but of what he has done for men. The singers are not of
those redeemed.
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Geneva Bible Notes:
And they sung a (b) new (11) song, saying, (12) Thou art worthy to take
the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast
redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and
people, and nation;
(b) No common song. (11) That is, composed according to the present
matter, the Lamb having received the book as it were with his feet and
opened it with his horns, as it is said in the Song of Solomon (12) The
song of the nobles or princes standing by the throne, consisting of a
publication of the praise of Christ and a confirmation of the same from
his blessings, both which we have received from him (as are the
suffering of his death, our redemption upon the cross by his blood, in
this verse: and our communion with him in kingdom and priesthood which
long ago he has granted to us with himself and which we hereafter hope
to obtain, as our kingdom to come, in Christ, Re 5:10.
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Robertson's Word Pictures:
They sing (âidousin). Present active indicative of âidô. Old verb,
to chant with lyrical emotion (Col 3:16). A new song (ôidên kainên).
Cognate accusative for oide (ôidê, song) is âoide from âeidô, that is
âidô (the verb used), old word already used (Col 3:16; Eph 5:19), called
kainên because a fresh song for new mercies (Isa 42:10; Ps 33:3; 40:3,
etc.), here in praise of redemption to Christ (Re 14:3) like the new
name (Re 2:17; 3:12), the new Jerusalem (Re 3:12; 21:2), the new heaven
and the new earth (Re 21:1), not the old song of creation (Re 4:8,11) to
God. For thou wast slain (hoti esphagês). Second aorist passive
indicative of sphazô. Agorazô used by Paul and Peter of our purchase
from sin by Christ (1Co 6:20; 7:23; Ga 3:13; 4:5; 2Pe 2:1; cf. 1Pe
1:18). Unto God (tôi theôi). Dative case of advantage as also in verse
Re 5:10. With thy blood (en tôi haimati sou). Instrumental use of en as
in Re 1:5. The blood of Christ
as the price of our redemption runs all through the Apocalypse.
This is the reason why Christ is worthy to "take the book and open its
seals." That is, he is worthy to receive adoration and worship (Re 4:11)
as the Father does. Men of every (ek pasês). No anthrôpous (men) or
tinas (some) before ek in the Greek. See a like ellipsis in Re 11:9 with
a like grouping of words for all mankind, representatives of all races
and nations (Re 7:9; 13:7; 14:6).
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Albert Barnes' Commentary:
And they sung a new song. Compare Re 14:3. New in the sense that it is a
song consequent on redemption, and distinguished therefore from the
songs sung in heaven before the work of redemption was consummated.
We may suppose that songs of
adoration have always been sung in heaven; we know that the praises of
God were celebrated by the angelic choirs when the foundations of the
earth were laid, (Job 38:7) but the song of redemption was a different
song, and is one that would never have been sung there if man had not
fallen, and if the Redeemer had not died. This song strikes notes
which the other songs do not strike, and refers to glories of the Divine
character which but for the work of redemption would not have been
brought into view. In this sense the song was new; it will continue to
be new in the sense that it will be sung afresh as redeemed millions
continue to ascend to heaven. Compare Ps 40:3; 96:1; 144:9; Isa 42:10.
Thou art worthy to take the book, etc. This was the occasion or ground
of the "new song," that by his coming and death he had acquired a right
to approach where no other one could approach, and to do what no other
one could do.
For thou wast slain. The language here is such as would be appropriate
to a lamb slain as a sacrifice. The idea is, that the fact that he was
thus slain constituted the ground of his worthiness to open the book. It
could not be meant that there was in him no other ground of worthiness,
but that this was that which was most conspicuous. It is just the
outburst of the grateful feeling resulting from redemption, that he who
has died to save the soul is worthy of all honour, and is fitted to
accomplish what no other being in the universe can do. However this may
appear to the inhabitants of other worlds, or however it may appear to
the dwellers on the earth who have no interest in the work of
redemption, yet all who are redeemed will agree in the sentiment that He
who has ransomed them with his blood has performed a work to do which
every other being was incompetent, and that now all honour in heaven and
on earth may appropriately be conferred on him.
And hast redeemed us. The word here used--agorazw--means properly to
purchase, to buy; and is thus employed to denote redemption, because
redemption was accomplished by the payment of a price. On the meaning of
the word, See Barnes for 2Pe 2:1.
To God. That is, so that we become his, and are to be henceforward
regarded as such; or so that he might possess us as his own. See Barnes
for 2Co 5:15. This is the true nature of redemption, that by the price
paid we are rescued from the servitude of Satan, and are henceforth to
regard ourselves as belonging unto God.
By thy blood. See Barnes for Ac 20:28. This is such language as they use
who believe in the doctrine of the atonement, and is such as would be
used by them alone. It would not be employed by those who believe that
Christ was a mere martyr, or that he lived and died merely as a teacher
of morality. If he was truly an stoning sacrifice, the language is full
of meaning; if not, it has no significance, and could not be understood.
Out of every kindred. Literally, "of every tribe"--fulhv. The word tribe
means properly a comparatively small division or class of people
associated together.--Professor Stuart. It refers to a family, or race,
having a common ancestor, and usually associated or banded together--as
one of the tribes of Israel; a tribe of Indians; a tribe of plants; a
tribe of animals, etc. This is such language as a Jew would use,
denoting one of the smaller divisions that made up a nation of people;
and the meaning would seem to be, that it will be found ultimately to be
true that the redeemed will have been taken from all such minor
divisions of the human family--not only from the different nations, but
from the smaller divisions of those nations. This can only be true from
the fact that the knowledge of the true religion will yet be diffused
among all those smaller portions of the human race; that is, that its
diffusion will be universal.
And tongue. People speaking all languages. The word here used would seem
to denote a division of the human family larger than a tribe but smaller
than a nation. It was formerly a fact that a nation might be made up of
those who spoke many different languages--as, for example, the Assyrian,
the Babylonian, or the Roman nations. Compare Da 3:29; 4:1. The meaning
here is, that no matter what language the component parts of the nations
speak, the gospel will be conveyed to them, and in their own tongue they
will learn the wonderful works of God. Compare Ac 2:8-11.
And people. The word here used--laov--properly denotes a people
considered as a mass, made up of smaller divisions--as an association of
smaller bodies--or as a multitude of such bodies united together. It is
distinguished from another word commonly applied to a people--dhmov--for
that is applied to a community of free citizens, considered as on a
level, or without reference to any minor divisions or distinctions. The
words here used would apply to an army, considered as made up of
regiments, battalions, or tribes; to a mass-meeting, made up of
societies of different trades or professions; to a nation, made up of
different associated communities, etc. It denotes a larger body of
people than the previous words; and the idea is, that no matter of what
people or nation, considered as made up of such separate portions, one
may be, he will not be excluded from the blessings of redemption. The
sense would be well expressed by saying, for instance, that there will
be found there those of the Gaelic race, the Celtic, the Anglo-Saxon,
the Mongolian, the African, etc.
And nation. eynouv. A word of still larger signification; the people in
a still wider sense; a people or nation considered as distinct from all
others. The word would embrace all who come under one sovereignty or
rule: as, for example, the British nation, however many minor tribes
there may be; however many different languages may be spoken; and
however many separate people there may be--as the Anglo-Saxon, the
Scottish, the Irish, the people of Hindustan, of Labrador, of New South
Wales, etc. The words here used by John would together denote nations of
every kind, great and small; and the sense is, that the blessings of
redemption will be extended to all parts of the earth.
{b} "new song" Re 13:3
{c} "blood" Ac 20:28; Eph 1:7; Heb 9:12; 1Pe 1:18,19
{d} "kindred" Re 7:9
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