Charles Ellicott Commentary Revelation 1:13

"and in the midst of the candlesticks one like unto a son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about at the breasts with a golden girdle." — Revelation 1:13 (ASV)

In the midst of the seven candlesticks (the word “seven” is omitted in some of the best manuscripts) one like the Son of man.—“He who kindled the light to be a witness of Himself and of His own presence with men was indeed present.”

He was present, the same as He had been known on earth, yet different. He was the same, for He is seen as Son of Man; the same as He had been seen on the Resurrection evening; and the same as He appeared to Stephen. He was the same Jesus, caring for, helping, and counseling His people.

Yet He was different, for He is arrayed in the apparel of kingly and priestly dignity.

He is robed to the foot with the long garment of the high priest. Saint John uses the same word that is used in the Septuagint version of Exodus 28:31 to describe the robe of the Ephod. (Compare Zechariah 3:4.) It has been understood by some, however, to indicate the “ample robe of judicial and kingly power.” There is in the vision a combination of both thoughts.

He is the King-Priest who is seen by the Evangelist, the Melchizedek whom the Epistle to the Hebrews had so gloriously set forth (Hebrews 5:9–10; Hebrews 6:20).

He is girded about the breasts with a golden girdle. This girdle is not around the loins, as though He were ready for action and toil (Luke 12:35); instead, it is worn as by one who rests from toil in the “repose of sovereignty.”

According to Josephus (Antiquities iii. 7, § 2), the Levitical priests were also girdled. The girdle is of gold—not interwoven with gold, as was the high priest’s girdle (Exodus 28:8), but pure gold, the emblem of a royal presence. (Daniel 10:5; Ephesians 6:14.)