9. sung--Greek, "sing": it is their blessed occupation
continually. The theme of redemption is ever new, ever
suggesting fresh thoughts of praise, embodied in the "new song."
us to God--So manuscript B, Coptic, Vulgate, and CYPRIAN. But A omits "us": and Aleph reads
instead, "to our God."
out of--the present election-church gathered out of the
world, as distinguished from the peoples gathered to Christ as the
subjects, not of an election, but of a general and world-wide
conversion of all nations.
kindred . . . tongue . . . people
. . . nation--The number four marks world-wide
extension: the four quarters of the world. For "kindred," translate as
Greek, "tribe." This term and "people" are usually restricted to
Israel: "tongue and nation" to the Gentiles
(Re 7:9; 11:9; 13:7,
the oldest reading;
Re 14:6).
Thus there is here marked the election-Church gathered from Jews and
Gentiles. In
Re 10:11,
for "tribes," we find among the four terms "kings"; in
Re 17:15,
"multitudes."
JFB.
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