Revelation 7:13
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And one of the elders answered, saying to me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and from where came they?
American King James Version (AKJV)
And one of the elders answered, saying to me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and from where came they?
American Standard Version (ASV)
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, These that are arrayed in white robes, who are they, and whence came they?
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And one of the rulers made answer, saying to me, These who have on white robes, who are they, and where did they come from?
Webster's Revision
And one of the elders answered, saying to me, Who are these that are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
World English Bible
One of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who are arrayed in white robes, who are they, and from where did they come?"
English Revised Version (ERV)
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, These which are arrayed in the white robes, who are they, and whence came they?
Definitions for Revelation 7:13
Clarke's Revelation 7:13 Bible Commentary
One of the elders answered - A Hebraism for spoke. The question is here asked, that the proposer may have the opportunity of answering it.
Barnes's Revelation 7:13 Bible Commentary
And one of the elders - See the notes on Revelation 4:4. That is, as there understood, one of the representatives of the church before the throne.
Answered - The word "answer," with us, means "to reply to something which has been said." In the Bible, however, the word is not infrequently used in the beginning of a speech, where nothing has been said - as if it were a reply to something that might be said on the subject; or to something that is passing through the mind of another; or to something in the case under consideration which suggests an inquiry. Compare Isaiah 65:24; Daniel 2:26; Acts 5:8. Thus it is used here. John was looking on the host, and reflecting on the state of things; and to the train of thought passing through his mind the angel answered by an inquiry as to a part of that host. Prof. Stuart renders it accosted me.
What are these which are arrayed in white robes? - Who are these? The object evidently is to bring the case of these persons more particularly into view. The vast host with branches of palm had attracted the attention of John, but it was the object of the speaker to turn his thoughts to a particular part of the host - the martyrs who stood among them. He would seem, therefore, to have turned to a particular portion of the immense multitude of the redeemed, and by an emphasis on the word these - "Who are these" - to have fixed the eye upon them. All those who are before the throne are represented as clothed in white robes Revelation 7:9, but the eye might be directed to a particular part of them as grouped together, and as having something special in their position or appearance. There was a propriety in thus directing the mind of John to the martyrs as triumphing in heaven in a time when the churches were suffering persecution, and in view of the vision which he had had of times of darkness and calamity coming upon the world at the opening of the sixth seal. Beyond all the scenes of sorrow and grief, he was permitted to see the martyrs triumphing in heaven.
Arrayed in white robes - See the notes on Revelation 7:9.
And whence came they? - The object is to fix the attention more distinctly on what is said of them, that they came up out of great tribulation.
Wesley's Revelation 7:13 Bible Commentary
7:13 And one of the elders - What stands, verses 13 - 17, Revelation 7:13- 17 might have immediately followed the tenth verse;but that the praise of the angels, which was at the same time with that of the "great multitude," came in between. Answered - He answered St. John's desire to know, not any words that hespoke.