And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
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Commentary
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Gill's Exposition
And I said unto him, sir, thou knowest,.... John replies in a very humble, modest, and respectful manner, to the elder, calling him "sir", according to the usage of the eastern people; and it is…
Barnes' Notes
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest - The word “sir” in this place - κύριέ kurie, “lord” - is a form of respectful address, such as would be used when speaking to a superior, Gen 43:20; Mat…
Adam Clarke
Sir, thou knowest - That is, I do not know, but thou canst inform me.
Came out of great tribulation - Persecutions of every kind.
And have washed their robes - Have obtained their pardon and purity,…
Here we have a description of the honour and happiness of those who have faithfully served the Lord Jesus Christ, and suffered for him. Observe,
I. A question asked by one of the elders, not for his…
Cambridge Bible
Sir Read, My lord: cf. Dan 10:16-17; Zec 4:5; Zec 4:13. In the latter place we have, as here, the heavenly interlocutor apparently assuming that the Seer ought to understand the vision without…
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