Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

Saying, Amen - Giving their most cordial and grateful assent to the praises attributed to God and the Lamb.

Blessing, and glory, etc. - There are here seven different species of praise attributed to God, as in Revelation 5:12; (note).

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Saying, Amen - See the notes on Revelation 1:7. The word “Amen” here is a word strongly affirming the truth of what is said, or expressing hearty assent to it. It may be uttered, as expressing this, either in the beginning or end of a sentence. Thus, wills are commonly commenced, “In the name of God, Amen.”

Blessing, and glory, … - Substantially the same ascription of praise occurs in Revelation 5:12. See the notes on that verse. The general idea is, that the highest kind of praise is to be ascribed to God; everything excellent in character is to be attributed to him; every blessing which is received is to be traced to him. The order of the words indeed is changed, but the sense is substantially the same. In the former case Revelation 5:12 the ascription of praise is to the Lamb - the Son of God; here it is to God. In both instances the worship is described as rendered in heaven; and the use of the language shows that God and the Lamb are regarded in heaven as entitled to equal praise. The only words found here which do not occur in Revelation 5:12 are thanksgiving and might - words which require no particular explanation.

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible

saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Amen ... Amen ... This usage of such an expression both to introduce and to close this sevenfold doxology is most impressive. See further comment on the use of "Amen" in this prophecy under Revelation 5:12f, above. The great doxology here is similar to the one recorded there.

Unto our God ... does not exclude either Christ or the Holy Spirit, but is inclusive of the entire Godhead.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Saying, Amen,.... As approving and confirming what the great multitude of men had said in Revelation 7:10; in ascribing the glory of salvation to God, and the Lamb: the angels, though they have no part in it themselves, yet highly approve of it as right and just, that men should give the glory of it where it is due.

Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. Here a seven fold praise is given to God by the angels, as to the Lamb, in Revelation 5:12, and in words much the same they rightly ascribe blessing to God, who is blessed in himself, and is the source of all blessedness to his creatures, angels and men. And also "glory"; the glory of his divine perfections, who is the God of glory; and of all his works of nature and providence, and especially of the salvation of men by Christ. "And wisdom"; he being the only wise God, whose wisdom is to be seen in all the works of creation, and in the government of the world, and in nothing more than in the scheme of redemption by the Son of God: "and thanksgiving": for all mercies and favours, temporal, spiritual, and eternal, enjoyed by angels, or by men: "and honour"; which is due to him from all his creatures, as he is the Creator of them; and from all his children, as he is their Father; and from all his servants, as he their master: "and power": which he has exerted, in making all things out of nothing, in supporting the whole universe in its being, and in saving and preserving his own people: "and might"; or "strength", he being the almighty God, the strength of Israel, and the rock of ages, in whom is everlasting strength; and the praise and ascription of all this, the angels wish to be given him by themselves and others, to all eternity; and as desiring that so it might be, and as believing that so it would be, they add their to it.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Greek, “The blessing, the glory, the wisdom, the thanksgiving, the honor, the power, the might [the doxology is sevenfold, implying its totality and completeness], unto the ages of the ages.”

Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament

Note αμην — amēn at the beginning and the close of the doxology. Note also separate feminine article with each of the seven attributes given God, as in Revelation 4:11; Revelation 5:12, Revelation 5:13.

Vincent's Word Studies

Blessing, etc.

On the doxologies, see on Revelation 1:6.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Amen — With this word all the angels confirm the words of the "great multitude;" but they likewise carry the praise much higher.

The blessing, and the glory, and the wisdom, and the thanksgiving, and the honour, and the power, and the strength, be unto our God for ever and ever — Before the Lamb began to open the seven seals, a sevenfold hymn of praise was brought him by many angels, Revelation 5:12. Now he is upon opening the last seal, and the seven angels are going to receive seven trumpets, in order to make the kingdoms of the world subject to God. All the angels give sevenfold praise to God.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Ver. 12. Amen; Blessing and glory, &c.] The angels assent to what the saints had said, and add much more, according to their greater measure of knowledge and love to God: write we after this fairer copy.

Johann Albrecht Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament

Revelation 7:12. (86) ἡ τιμὴ) The Apocalypse everywhere divides sevens into four and three, as we show in its proper place. Now, when all the angels say, ἡ εὐλογία καὶ ἡ δόξα καὶ ἡ σοφία καὶ ἡ εὐχαριστία, ( καὶ) ἡ τιμὴ καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ ἰσχὺς τῷ θεῷ ἡμῶν, the first four acclamations have reference to the trumpet of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth angel; the remaining three, to the trumpet of the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh angel. Therefore if καὶ is omitted before ἡ τιμὴ, the sentiment begins as it were afresh. The Latin, indeed, omits the particle “and,” and with him Ambrose Ansbert. Nor does that appear worthy of neglect: for often, in a passage containing many connecting conjunctions, some clauses are put without a conjunction: Exodus 23:23; Exodus 32:2; Jeremiah 1:10. The Greek copyists easily supplied καὶ: and in this passage befittingly in the seven words,—the hymn is distinguished into a set of four and a set of three. I definitively decide nothing in this case. Let the reader judge. [Moreover, this hymn is appropriately inserted in the description of the multitude adorned with white robes: when immediately afterwards the trumpets are delivered to the seven angels.—V. g.]

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

These words only signify the union and harmony of the angels and saints in praising God: See Poole on "Revelation 5:12".

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture

благословение’ и крепость См. пояснение к 5:12.

Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament

Blessing-and might; notice again the number seven, as in chap Revelation 5:12.

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable

This is one of many doxologies in Revelation. "Blessing" or "praise" (Gr. eulogia) is what God deserves because of what he will do for these people (cf. Revelation 5:12-13). It is "that spontaneous act of thanks which men utter when they realize more vividly than ever before their happiness." [Note: R. H. Preston and A. T. Hanson, The Revelation of Saint John the Divine, p47.] "Glory" (doxa) is the honor due Him because of His good reputation, specifically for delivering them (cf. Revelation 1:6; Revelation 4:11; Revelation 5:12-13; Revelation 19:1). [Note: W. E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, p158.] "Wisdom" (sophia) is God"s infinite knowledge displayed in His plan of deliverance (cf. Revelation 5:12). "Thanksgiving" (eucharistia) literally means "well" and "to give freely," but it denotes an expression of gratitude for a favor rendered ( Revelation 4:9). [Note: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, p190.] "Honor" or "esteem" (time) is what God deserves because He has planned and provided this salvation ( Revelation 4:11; Revelation 5:12-13). [Note: F. C. Jennings, Studies in Revelation, p230.] "Power" (dynamis) reflects God"s omnipotence that enables Him to overcome all opposition ( Revelation 4:11; Revelation 5:12; Revelation 19:1). "Might" or "strength" (ischys) refers to God"s inherent power that enabled Him to deliver this multitude from their enemies ( Revelation 5:12). [Note: Thomas, Revelation 1-7, pp491-92.] God is worthy of this worship throughout eternity. "Amen" underlines the truthfulness of this sevenfold ascription (cf. Revelation 5:13).

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

Amen. See Revelation 1:6.

Blessing, &c. A sevenfold (App-10) ascription. Compare Revelation 5:12, where it is to the Lamb, while here it is to God. Prefix the def. art. to each term.

for . . . ever. See Revelation 1:6.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

'The blessing, the glory, the wisdom, the thanksgiving, the honour, the power. the might (sevenfold doxology, implying its completeness), unto the ages of the ages.'

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Amen

1:18; 5:13,14; 19:4; Psalms 41:13; 72:19; 89:52; 106:48; Matthew 6:13; Jude 1:25

Blessing

5:12,13

thanksgiving

Nehemiah 12:8,46; Psalms 50:14; 95:2; 100:4; 107:22; 116:17; 147:7; Isaiah 51:3; Jeremiah 33:9,11; Jonah 2:9; 2 Corinthians 4:15; 9:11,12; Colossians 2:7; 3:17

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 16:29 - the glory;  Psalm 30:12 - I will;  Psalm 96:7 - glory;  Psalm 138:5 - for great;  Isaiah 25:1 - thou art;  Matthew 11:19 - But;  2 Corinthians 1:20 - unto;  2 Corinthians 2:14 - thanks;  Galatians 1:5 - whom;  Ephesians 1:17 - the Father;  Ephesians 3:21 - be;  Philippians 4:20 - unto;  Colossians 3:15 - and be;  2 Thessalonians 1:10 - to be glorified;  1 Timothy 1:17 - be;  1 Timothy 6:16 - to whom;  Revelation 4:9 - when;  Revelation 14:11 - for

E.M. Zerr's Commentary on Selected Books of the New Testament

Saying. Amen. Thayer says that at the beginning of a discourse the word means, "Surely, of a truth, truly." Thus the angels were announcing that they were about to utter something that would surely be the truth, namely, that all the good qualities mentioned in the verse should truly be ascribed to God. The declaration was made emphatic still more by closing it with .amen.

Hanserd Knollys' Commentary on Revelation

Revelation 7:12

Revelation 7:12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and Wisdom of Solomon, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Saying, Amen.

That Isaiah, first, the holy angels gave their approbation unto the thanksgiving, which the church and saints of God gave to Him. { Revelation 7:10} Secondly, the angels all ascribed those attributes to God; that Isaiah,

Blessings, and glory, and Wisdom of Solomon, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might be unto our God;

See the exposition of Revelation 4:9-11 and Revelation 5:11-13.

See KNOLLYS: Revelation 4:9See KNOLLYS: Revelation 4:10

See KNOLLYS: Revelation 4:11

See KNOLLYS: Revelation 5:11

See KNOLLYS: Revelation 5:12

See KNOLLYS: Revelation 5:13

For ever and ever;

that Isaiah, always, to all eternity; for revealing and making known unto them by the church the manifold wisdom of God. { Ephesians 3:10} That unto him might be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end, Amen. { Ephesians 3:21}

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

12.Amen—Their profound assent to the loud voice of the great multitude.

Blessing—We have here the seven ascriptions; the first three headed by blessing, the remaining four by thanksgiving. The former refer more to the moral attributes of God—his glory and his wisdom; the latter to his physical attributes, his , preciousness or infinite worth; his power in manifestation, his intrinsic strength.

Be unto our God—Both in our ascription and in their intrinsic reality.