A.T. Robertson Commentary Revelation 11:8

A.T. Robertson Commentary

Revelation 11:8

1863–1934
Southern Baptist
A.T. Robertson
A.T. Robertson

A.T. Robertson Commentary

Revelation 11:8

1863–1934
Southern Baptist
SCRIPTURE

"And their dead bodies [lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified." — Revelation 11:8 (ASV)

Their dead bodies lie (το πτωμα αυτων). Old word from πιπτω (to fall), a fall, especially of bodies slain in battle, a corpse, a carcase (Matthew 14:12), here the singular (some MSS. πτωματα, plural) as belonging to each of the αυτων (their) like στοματος αυτων (their mouth) in verse 5. So also in verse 9. No word in the Greek for "lie."

In (επ). "Upon," as in verse 6, with genitive (της πλατειας), the broad way (οδου understood), from πλατυς (broad) as in Mt 6:5, old word (Revelation 21:21; Revelation 22:2).

Of the great city (της πολεως της μεγαλης). Clearly Jerusalem in view of the closing clause (οπου--εσταυρωθη), though not here called "the holy city" as in verse 2, and though elsewhere in the Apocalypse Babylon (Rome) is so described (14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2,10,16,18,19,21).

Which (ητις). Which very city, not "whichever."

Spiritually (πνευματικως). This late adverb from πνευματικος (spiritual) occurs in the N.T. only twice, in 1 Corinthians 2:14 for the help of the Holy Spirit in interpreting God's message and here in a hidden or mystical (allegorical sense). For this use of πνευματικος see 1 Corinthians 10:3f. Judah is called Sodom in Isa 1:9f.; Ezekiel 16:46,55. See also Mt 10:15; 11:23. Egypt is not applied to Israel in the O.T., but is "an obvious symbol of oppression and slavery" (Swete).

Where also their Lord was crucified (οπου κα ο κυριος αυτων εσταυρωθη). First aorist passive indicative of σταυροω, to crucify, a reference to the fact of Christ's crucifixion in Jerusalem. This item is one of the sins of Jerusalem and the disciple is not greater than the Master (John 15:20).