And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
10. unto our God kings and priests ] See on the last verse for the true reading: on Rev 1:6 for the origin of the phrase.
we shall reign ] Authorities are nearly evenly divided between the readings “they reign” and “they shall reign.” Perhaps the present is to be preferred, as the more difficult in sense; the future could be easily understood of the millennial reign (Rev 20:4), whatever that means. If we accept the present, it can hardly be used for a future, every one must feel that Rev 2:22, &c. are not really parallel: rather, we may say that the faithful on earth are, even in their exile, kings de jure, as David was “when he was in the wilderness of Judah” (Psalms 63 ult. cf. title).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests – See the notes on Rev 1:6.
And we shall reign on the earth – The redeemed, of whom we are the representatives. The idea clearly is, in accordance with what is so frequently said in the Scriptures, that the dominion on the earth will be given to the saints; that is, that there will be such a prevalence of true religion, and the redeemed will be so much in the ascendency, that the affairs of the nations will be in their hands. Righteous people will hold the offices; will fill places of trust and responsibility; will have a controlling voice in all that pertains to human affairs. See the notes on Dan 7:27, and Rev 20:1-6 notes. To such a prevalence of religion all things are tending; and to this, in all the disorder and sin which now exist, are we permitted to look forward. It is not said that this will be a reign under the Saviour in a literal kingdom on the earth; nor is it said that the saints will descend from heaven, and occupy thrones of power under Christ as a visible king. The simple affirmation is, that they will reign on the earth; and as this seems to be spoken in the name of the redeemed, all that is necessary to be understood is, that there will be such a prevalence of true religion on the earth that it will become a vast kingdom of holiness, and that, instead of being in the minority, the saints will everywhere have the ascendency.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. Kings and priests] See Ex 19:6; 1Pe 2:5; 1Pe 2:9, and the notes there.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The four living creatures and four and twenty elders (by which are represented the ministers and members of the church of Christ) go on in showing why they had reason to proclaim Christ worthy to be the Prophet to his church, to open the counsels of God to them, viz. because of the great love he had showed to them, not only in redeeming them with his blood from the guilt and power of sin, but in making them kings and priests; giving them the same privileges that the Jewish church had, who were called a royal priesthood, Exo 19:6; giving them a power (as priests) to offer up not such bloody fleshly sacrifices as they offered, but) spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through the Beloved, 1Pe 2:5; and also (as kings) to rule over their lusts and sensitive appetite; and to
reign hereafter on the earth, judging the world {1Co 6:3} at the great day, with the great Judge of the quick and the dead.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. made usA, B, Aleph,Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic read, “them.” TheHebrew construction of the third person for the first, has agraphic relation to the redeemed, and also has a more modestsound than us, priests [BENGEL].
unto our GodSo B andAleph read. But A omits the clause.
kingsSo B reads. ButA, Aleph, Vulgate, Coptic, and CYPRIAN,read, “A kingdom.” Aleph reads also “apriesthood” for priests. They who cast their crownsbefore the throne, do not call themselves kings in the sightof the great King (Rev 4:10;Rev 4:11); though their priestlyaccess has such dignity that their reigning on earth cannot exceedit. So in Re 20:6 they are notcalled “kings” [BENGEL].
we shall reign on theearthThis is a new feature added to Re1:6. Aleph, Vulgate, and Coptic read, “Theyshall reign.” A and B read, “They reign.“ALFORD takes this readingand explains it of the Church EVENNOW, in Christ her Head, reigning on the earth: “allthings are being put under her feet, as under His; her kingly officeand rank are asserted, even in the midst of persecution.” Buteven if we read (I think the weightiest authority is against it),”They reign,” still it is the prophetical presentfor the future: the seer being transported into the future when thefull number of the redeemed (represented by the four livingcreatures) shall be complete and the visible kingdom begins.The saints do spiritually reign now; but certainly not as they shallwhen the prince of this world shall be bound (see on Re20:2-6). So far from reigning on the earth now, they are”made as the filth of the world and the offscouring of allthings.” In Rev 11:15;Rev 11:18, the locality and timeof the kingdom are marked. KELLYtranslates, “reign over the earth” (Greek,“epi tees gees“), which is justified by the Greek(Septuagint, Jdg 9:8;Mat 2:22). The elders, thoughruling over the earth, shall not necessarily (according tothis passage) remain on the earth. But English Versionis justified by Re 3:10. “Theelders were meek, but the flock of the meek independently ismuch larger” [BENGEL].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests,….
[See comments on Re 1:6]. The Alexandrian copy, and Complutensian edition, and the Syriac, Arabic, and the Ethiopic versions, read “them”, instead of “us”:
and we shall reign on the earth; meaning not merely in a spiritual sense, through grace reigning over sin and corruption, through Satan being bruised under their feet, and through the victory they have in Christ over the world, but in the millennium state, in the thousand years’ reign with Christ in the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness; see Re 20:4. The Alexandrian copy, and the Complutensian edition, Syriac and Arabic versions, read “they shall reign”.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Madest (). First aorist active indicative of , a prophetic use anticipating the final result.
A kingdom and priests ( ). As the correct text in 1:6.
They reign (). Present active indicative, futuristic use, though Aleph P have the future (shall reign) as in 20:6.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Us [] . Read aujtouv them.
Kings [] . Read, basileian a kingdom. See on chapter Rev 1:6. We shall reign [] . Read basileuousin they reign. Their reigning is not future, but present.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And hast made us unto our God,” (kai epoiesas autous to theo hemon) “And didst make them to our God,” in relationship to our God – something special 1Pe 2:5; 1Pe 2:9; He made us (the church) both a spiritual and royal priesthood to reign with him.
2) “Kings and priests,” (basileion kai hiereis) “A kingdom and (even) priests,” or a reigning administration of priests, to reign with him for him as joint heirs of the earth; Exo 19:6. The true people of God who carry on his program of worship and service under both the Old and New Testament covenants are referred to as a kingdom of kings and priests.
3) “And we shall reign on the earth,” (kai basileu sousin epi tes ges) “And they (will) reign upon (over) the earth,” Rev 1:6; Rev 3:21; The meek, obedient, and suffering for Christ in his church shall as surely reign with him as restored Israel, because of his redemption of the church as well as all believers, Mat 5:5; Act 20:28; Luk 19:17; 2Ti 2:12. During this era the twelve apostles (of the church) are to sit on twelve thrones or positions of jurisdiction giving him glory in and thru the church during the golden Millennial Age, Luk 22:28-30; Eph 3:21.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
10. Hast made Rather, didst make; coordinate with didst redeem, in Rev 5:9. Us Them, as said in our note on Rev 5:9.
Kings and priests The true reading seems to be, Thou didst make them, unto God, a kingdom, instead of kings and priests. We shall reign should read, and they reign on the earth. Not that we shall reign, in the future, but they, the redeemed, do now reign on earth.
The important changes made by textual criticisms in this song, suggest its reproduction thus: Thou art worthy to take the roll, and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and didst redeem to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. And didst make them unto our God a kingdom and priests, and they reign on earth.
These changes are important, as showing that the kingdom and the reign of the saints on earth are truly now already begun and existing, and waiting future enlargements, confirmations, and developments.
To this song of the cherubic beasts and the elders, there now comes, by a sublime surprise, a reenforcement of an innumerable company of angels. It begins to dawn upon us that we have at this great hour a fivefold song. It begins, first, with the trisagion, Rev 4:8, by the cherubim, which, second, is responded to by the elders. Third, the elders have just now celebrated the opening of the roll; and, fourth, peals the angelic anthem, and their peal wakens every creature in all parts of creation to a fifth and last reverberation.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Rev 5:10. And hast made uskings and priests, “We are robed in purity and majesty; we are crowned with gold; (ch. Rev 4:4.) and here we appear in those priestly offices which we perform with the splendor of princes; and we shall reign on earth. The Christian cause shall prevail through all ages; while the happy souls who have passed courageously through their trials upon earth, come hither in their appointed seasons, and share the honours of thy triumphant kingdom.” Christ and his church reign on earth, when the truth and purity of the Christian religion prevail against the opposition and corruption of the world. It is thus that the kingdom of Christ, which is not of this world, is set up in it, and the spiritual powers of his throne are established; which lays no claim to any coercive power of outward force incompatible with the dominion which alone consists in willing submission and voluntary obedience. But the latter clause has probably particular reference to the first resurrection and the consequences thereof, on which I shall enlarge hereafter.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Ver. 10. And we shall reign on the earth ] Reign over our lusts; reign with and in Christ over all our enemies by a spiritual, not secular sceptre; and at last judge the world, 1Co 6:2 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rev 5:10 . An allusion not so much to the idea of Rev 20:4 , where the literal sway of the saints (= life eternal, in substance) is confined to a certain section of them, or to Rev 22:5 (on the new earth, cf. Rev 21:1 ), as to Rev 2:26 . Compare the primitive patristic notion, reflected, e.g. , by Viet, on Rev 1:15 : adorabimus in loco ubi steterunt pedes eius, quoniam ubi illi primum steterunt et ecclesiam confirmauerunt, i.e. , in Juda, ibi omnes sancti conuenturi sunt et dominum suum adoraturi. The whole verse sets aside implicitly such a Jewish pretension as of Philo, who ( de Abrah. 19) hails Israel as the people .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
hast made = madest.
us. See Rev 5:9.
unto = to, or for.
kings = a kingdom, with all the texts.
priests. i.e. a priestly kingdom. See Rev 1:6 and Heb 12:28.
we. All texts read “they”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Rev 5:10. – ) See App. Crit., Ed. ii., on this passage. Comp. Mat 23:37, and Jud 1:24. So also , for , ch. Rev 18:24; , for , Isa 47:8; Isa 47:10. In this passage the Hebrew construction of the third person for the first has a graphic relation to the redeemed, and at the same time has a more modest sound, than us, priests,[67] etc.-) Thus the Alex. Lat. Cypria[68] read, as ch. Rev 1:6. The more recent copies here also have .[69] But they who cast their crowns before the throne do not call themselves kings, in the sight of the great King, although their priestly access has such dignity, that the power of reigning on earth cannot certainly exceed it. In like manner, in ch. Rev 20:6, they who have part in the first resurrection are called priests, and are said to be about to reign; and yet the name of kings is not given to them.- , upon the earth) here denotes locality, as ch. Rev 3:10 and everywhere: or rather power, as ch. Rev 2:26; as it is said, , Mat 2:22. And thus the Septuagint, Jdg 9:8; 1Sa 8:7; 1Sa 12:12; 1Sa 12:14; 2Ki 8:20; 2Ki 11:3. I should not therefore venture to assert, from this phrase, that these remain on the earth, though they rule over the earth. The elders were meek (comp. Mat 5:5): but the flock of the meek independently is much larger.
[67] AB Amiat. MS. of Vulg. Memph. Syr. read . Rec. Text, with h Cypr. 291, reads .-E.
[68] yprian (in the beginning and middle of the third century: a Latin father). Ed. Steph. Baluzii, Paris. 1726.
[69] Which reading, though it was preferred in Ed. maj., was yet thought inferior to the other, both in the Gnom. and in Ed. ii. and Vers. Germ.-E. B.
A Vulg. h, Memph. Cypr. read . B supports Rec. Text, .-E.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
kings: Rev 1:6, Rev 20:6, Rev 22:5, Exo 19:6, 1Pe 2:5-9
we: Rev 20:6, Dan 7:18, Dan 7:27
Reciprocal: Exo 28:2 – glory Exo 39:30 – Holiness Lev 8:13 – Moses Num 16:5 – who is holy Num 26:53 – General Deu 32:43 – Rejoice 1Sa 2:8 – set them 1Ch 15:12 – sanctify 2Ch 23:11 – put upon Psa 37:9 – inherit Psa 40:3 – And he Psa 45:16 – princes Psa 113:8 – General Psa 144:9 – sing a new Son 3:11 – his mother Isa 11:6 – General Isa 42:12 – General Isa 53:11 – see Isa 60:6 – they shall show Isa 60:21 – inherit Isa 61:6 – named Isa 66:21 – General Jer 30:21 – and I Jer 31:14 – satiate Jer 33:18 – General Jer 33:21 – and with Dan 7:22 – judgment Hos 11:12 – ruleth Zec 14:20 – HOLINESS Mal 3:3 – the sons Mat 25:34 – inherit Rom 5:17 – shall reign 1Co 4:8 – ye did 2Th 1:11 – our God 2Ti 2:12 – we suffer Heb 12:28 – a kingdom Jam 1:9 – in 1Pe 2:9 – a royal 2Pe 1:11 – everlasting
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rev 5:10. See the comments on Rev 1:6 for the explanation of this verse.
Comments by Foy E. Wallace
Verse 10.
9. “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth”–Rev 5:10.
Kings: This refers to the reign of Christ in the kingdom now present and existing–“made us”–it was of past performance and establishment; not a future kingdom, but present. The church is the priesthood now (1Pe 2:5; 1Pe 2:9), an analogy based on Exo 19:6. The church sustains a kingly relation to Christ, and of it the members “reign with Christ”; hence, they are kings in royalty with him. (Rom 8:17) It is a reference to the state of the church under the gospel–under the spiritual government of Christ. (1Ti 6:15) The term “king” signified a sovereign prince or ruler in a kingdom. (Pro 8:15) It is applied to God, the Supreme Ruler of the universe (Psa 44:4); and to Jesus Christ, the King and Head of the church (Psa 2:6; Psa 45:1; Eph 4:5); and to all true Christians who as heirs, reign with him in life. (Rom 8:17; Rom 5:17; 2Ti 2:12)
Priests: The church sustains a priestly relation to Christ, and its members participate in the offering of spiritual sacrifices. (Heb 13:15) The word priest is contracted from elder or presbyter, and was a general name for ministers of God’s service. (Heb 10:11) In all scriptures it denotes one who offers sacrifice. It is applied to Jesus Christ in the highest office, who offered himself for the sins of all men. (Heb 4:14; Heb 7:17; Heb 8:4; Heb 9:11-12) It applies to every true believer (Christian), who himself offers spiritual sacrifices. (Heb 13:15; 1Pe 2:5; Rev 1:6) Under the law the priest was a person consecrated and ordained to teach the people, pray for them and offer sacrifices. (Lev 4:5-6) Christians perform all of these services and functions now in the new priesthood, the church.
Reign: The word is variously used literally and figuratively. Commonly the word to reign means to rule, or to govern as a sovereign prince. (2Sa 5:4-5; Mat 2:6) God reigns as absolute monarch, he governs and disposes of all things in heaven and earth. (Psa 93:1); Christ reigns in this dispensation in his kingdom, the church (Luk 1:33; Mat 2:6; Rom 15:12; 1Co 15:24-25); Death reigned from Adam to Moses, Rom 5:15 –that is, prevailed, held sway, dominion; Sin reigns, when the motions of sin are obeyed, as one obeys the law or command of a king, when it exercises an absolute uncontrolled power over the soul (Rom 6:12); Grace reigns through righteousness, prevails through the gospel to abolish the rule and dominion of sin, as we are governed by what it teaches (Rom 5:21; Tit 2:11-12); and Christians reign in righteous living with Christ (Rom 5:17). All who receive grace in gift of righteousness (forgiveness in Christ), and partake of the spiritual life, whereby sin is conquered, reign with apostles in conforming to their teaching and example; and reign with Christ as in the sufferings with him in the death to sin and partaking of his suffering (2Ti 2:12)
We shall reign: Literally rendered the passage reads are reigning–referring in the Revelation context to their continuing conquests in the trials that were present.
What the four creatures and twenty-four elders were chanting in unison, as a complete representative company, was the prospect of a glorious triumph over their oppressors. It symbolized a reign of victory, a symbol that the oppressions to be revealed in the seals could not consume them; the wrath of monarchs could not destroy them; nor the power of kings and emperors defeat them. They would survive; they would live; they would reign on the earth, not in future glory, but reign there and then as conquerers and overcomers in an undefeated, triumphant cause. The church was symbolized as being complete and imperishable in conflict with their heathen oppressors.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
The redeemed are made a kingdom (ASV) and priests. ( Rev 1:6 ; 1Pe 2:9 ) We can also be said to be ruling with Christ who is King of kings. ( Mat 19:28 , where the regeneration would be the new birth.)
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
The third reason for praise is the creation of a kingdom and priests (a priestly kingdom) for God by the Lamb’s death (cf. 1Pe 2:5; 1Pe 2:9). Priesthood involves immediate access into God’s presence for praise and worship as well as the privilege of priestly service. The fourth reason for praise is the blessing of His people by allowing them to rule on the earth (during the Millennium and thereafter).
Some translations render this song in the first person ("You have redeemed us . . .," Rev 2:8, AV). Others put it in the third person ("You have redeemed men . . .," e.g., NASB, NIV). This variation reflects a difference in the Greek texts that underlie these translations. I prefer the text family used as a basis for the NASB and NIV translations. The second reading is better, and it harmonizes with the identification of all these creatures as angels. These creatures offer worship to God for man’s salvation.