A.T. Robertson Commentary


A.T. Robertson Commentary
"and the four living creatures, having each one of them six wings, are full of eyes round about and within: and they have no rest day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come." — Revelation 4:8 (ASV)
Each one of them (εν καθ' εν αυτων). "One by one of them," a vernacular idiom like εις κατα εις in Mr 14:19.
Having (εχων). Masculine participle again as in verse 7, though ζωον neuter.
Six wings (ανα πτερυγας εξ). Distributive use of ανα, "six wings apiece" as in Lu 10:1 (ανα δυο, by twos). Like Isa 6:2, not like Eze 1:6, where only four wings are given apiece.
Are full of (γεμουσιν). Plural verb, though ζωα neuter, to individualize each one.
Round about and within (κυκλοθεν κα εσωθεν). Perhaps before and behind (4:6) and under the wings, "pointing to the secret energies of nature" (Swete).
Rest (αναπαυσιν). See also 14:11. Old word (from αναπαυω, to relax), as in Mt 11:29. God and Christ cease not their activity (John 5:17). "This ceaseless activity of nature under the hand of God is a ceaseless tribute of praise" (Swete).
Day and night (ημερας κα νυκτος). Genitive of time, by day and by night.
Holy, holy, holy (αγιοσ, αγιοσ, αγιος). "The task of the Cherubim together with the Seraphim and Ophannim is to sing the praises of God" (Charles) in the τρισαγιον (triple repetition of αγιος).
Is the Lord God (Κυριος ο θεος). See Isa 6:3. The copula εστιν (is) is not expressed, but is implied.
The Almighty (ο παντοκρατωρ). See on 1:8.
Which was and which is and which is to come (ο ην κα ο ων κα ο ερχομενος). Just as in 1:4,8, but with the order changed.