1
Καὶ εἶδον ἄλλον ἄγγελον ἰσχυρὸν καταβαίνοντα ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, περιβεβλημένον νεφέλην, καὶ ἡ ἶρις ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡς ὁ ἥλιος, καὶ οἱ πόδες αὐτοῦ ὡς στῦλοι πυρός,
And I saw another mighty angel coming down out of heaven, wrapped in a cloud, and the rainbow was over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire,
The interlude opens with John's characteristic καὶ εἶδον ('and I saw'), introducing 'another mighty angel' (ἄλλον — distinguishing him from the strong angel of 5:2). The description piles up the attributes of theophany: the cloud, the rainbow (cf. 4:3 and Ezek 1:28), the sun-face, the fiery legs — imagery so divine that some have taken the figure for Christ; better, an angel bearing the radiance of the One who sends him.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
Καὶandnarrative connective
εἶδονI sawAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (vision report)→ constative aorist (seer's perception)ὁράω: 'see'; the recurring καὶ εἶδον that segments the Apocalypse into its vision-units.
ἄλλονanotherAccusativeattributive adjectiveἄλλος: 'another (of the same kind)'; sets this angel beside the 'strong angel' of 5:2, not over against the trumpet-angels.
ἄγγελονangelAccusativedirect object of εἶδονἄγγελος: 'messenger, angel'; the towering herald who dominates the interlude.
ἰσχυρὸνmightyAccusativeattributive adjectiveἰσχυρός: 'strong, mighty'; the standing epithet of this colossal angel (cf. 5:2; 18:21).
καταβαίνονταcoming downPres Act Ptc · Acc Sg Masc · καταβαίνωattributive participle (modifies ἄγγελον)→ present (vivid, ongoing descent)καταβαίνω: 'come down, descend'; the angel descends from the heavenly realm to straddle earth and sea.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
οὐρανοῦheavenGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source)οὐρανός: 'heaven, sky'; the divine sphere from which the messenger descends.
περιβεβλημένονwrappedPerf Pass Ptc · Acc Sg Masc · περιβάλλωattributive/circumstantial participle (modifies ἄγγελον)→ resultative perfect (a settled clothing)περιβάλλω: 'clothe, wrap around'; the perfect pictures him robed and remaining so — clothed with a cloud, a mark of divine presence (cf. Ps 104:3).
νεφέληνa cloudAccusativeaccusative of clothing (w/ περιβεβλημένον)νεφέλη: 'cloud'; the OT vehicle and veil of theophany — here the angel's garment.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἡtheNominativearticle
ἶριςrainbowNominativesubject of an elliptical clause (verbless)ἶρις: 'rainbow, halo'; the bow recalls the throne-vision (4:3) and the covenant sign of Gen 9 — mercy crowning the messenger of judgment. The grammar shifts abruptly to the nominative, a Johannine roughness.
ἐπὶover/uponpreposition + genitive (position)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
κεφαλῆςheadGenitiveobject of ἐπί (location)κεφαλή: 'head'; the bow arches over him as a crowning halo.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὸtheNominativearticle
πρόσωπονfaceNominativesubject of an elliptical clauseπρόσωπον: 'face, countenance'; its sun-brightness echoes the glorified Son of Man (1:16).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
ὡςlikecomparative particleὡς: 'as, like'; the apocalyptic comparative that strains to describe the heavenly with earthly images.
ὁtheNominativearticle
ἥλιοςsunNominativeobject of comparison (ὡς)ἥλιος: 'sun'; radiant glory.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
οἱtheNominativearticle
πόδεςlegs/feetNominativesubject of an elliptical clauseπούς: 'foot, leg'; the fiery pillars recall the wilderness pillar of fire and the bronze feet of 1:15.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
ὡςlikecomparative particle
στῦλοιpillarsNominativeobject of comparison (ὡς)στῦλος: 'pillar, column'; the angel stands like a colossus on legs of fire.
πυρόςof fireGenitivegenitive of material/qualityπῦρ: 'fire'; the substance of the pillars — judgment and the divine presence.
2
καὶ ἔχων ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ βιβλαρίδιον ἠνεῳγμένον. καὶ ἔθηκεν τὸν πόδα αὐτοῦ τὸν δεξιὸν ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης, τὸν δὲ εὐώνυμον ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς,
and he had in his hand a little scroll, opened. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left on the land,
The participle ἔχων ('having') hangs in a loose nominative, one of the chapter's deliberate grammatical roughnesses, continuing the description from v.1. The 'little scroll' (βιβλαρίδιον) lies open in his hand — unlike the sealed scroll of ch. 5, this one is already unrolled, its message ready to be consumed. Planting one foot on sea and one on land claims the whole created order as the stage for the oath about to follow.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἔχωνhavingPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἔχωcircumstantial participle (loose nominative)→ present (concurrent state)ἔχω: 'have, hold'; the nominative participle continues the accusative description of v.1, a Johannine anacoluthon.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)
τῇtheDativearticle
χειρὶhandDativeobject of ἐν (location)χείρ: 'hand'; the hand that holds the scroll and is soon raised to swear (v.5).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
βιβλαρίδιονa little scrollAccusativedirect object of ἔχωνβιβλαρίδιον: 'little scroll/booklet,' a double diminutive of βίβλος; the small open scroll John will eat (vv.9–10), distinct from the great sealed βιβλίον of ch. 5.
ἠνεῳγμένονopenedPerf Pass Ptc · Acc Sg Neut · ἀνοίγωattributive participle (modifies βιβλαρίδιον)→ resultative perfect (already unsealed and open)ἀνοίγω: 'open'; the perfect stresses the abiding result — the scroll lies open, its contents accessible, in contrast to the sealed scroll only the Lamb could open.
καὶandnarrative connective
ἔθηκενhe setAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίθημιmain verb→ constative aorist (decisive act)τίθημι: 'place, set'; the angel plants his feet, taking possession of land and sea.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
πόδαfootAccusativedirect object of ἔθηκενπούς: 'foot'; here the singular right foot.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
δεξιὸνrightAccusativeattributive adjectiveδεξιός: 'right (hand/foot)'; the right foot on the sea.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (position)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
θαλάσσηςseaGenitiveobject of ἐπί (location)θάλασσα: 'sea'; one half of the created order the angel bestrides.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
δὲand/butconnective particle (contrast)
εὐώνυμονleftAccusativeattributive adjective (πόδα implied)εὐώνυμος: lit. 'of good name,' a euphemism for 'left'; the left foot on the land.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (position)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
γῆςland/earthGenitiveobject of ἐπί (location)γῆ: 'earth, land'; the other half — sea and land together signify the whole creation.
3
καὶ ἔκραξεν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ὥσπερ λέων μυκᾶται. καὶ ὅτε ἔκραξεν, ἐλάλησαν αἱ ἑπτὰ βρονταὶ τὰς ἑαυτῶν φωνάς.
and he cried out with a loud voice, as a lion roars. And when he cried out, the seven thunders sounded their voices.
The angel's lion-like roar (cf. Amos 3:8; Hos 11:10) triggers the answer of 'the seven thunders' — the definite article presupposes a known group (perhaps echoing the sevenfold 'voice of the LORD' in Ps 29). That the thunders 'speak' articulate words sets up the prohibition of v.4: their message, though heard, is withheld.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative connective
ἔκραξενhe cried outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κράζωmain verb→ constative aorist (the great shout)κράζω: 'cry out, shout'; the loud heralding cry that summons the thunders.
φωνῇwith a voiceDativedative of manner/instrumentφωνή: 'voice, sound'; the keyword of the chapter (vv.3, 4, 7, 8), spanning angelic cry, thunder, and heavenly command.
μεγάλῃloud/greatDativeattributive adjectiveμέγας: 'great, loud'; the volume of the heraldic cry.
ὥσπερjust ascomparative particleὥσπερ: 'just as, even as'; introducing the lion simile.
λέωνa lionNominativesubject of μυκᾶταιλέων: 'lion'; the OT image of the roaring God whose voice none can ignore (Amos 3:8).
μυκᾶταιroarsPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · μυκάομαιverb of the comparative clause→ present (gnomic/characteristic)μυκάομαι: 'roar, bellow'; properly of lions and cattle — the gnomic present states what a lion characteristically does.
καὶandnarrative connective
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunctionὅτε: 'when'; marks the thunders' response as immediate upon the cry.
ἔκραξενhe cried outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κράζωverb of the temporal clause→ constative aoristκράζω: 'cry out'; resumptive, anchoring the thunders' answer to the cry.
ἐλάλησανspoke/soundedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαλέωmain verb→ constative aorist (articulate utterance)λαλέω: 'speak'; the thunders do not merely rumble but 'speak' intelligible words John could write down.
αἱtheNominativearticle
ἑπτὰsevenindeclinable numeral (attributive)ἑπτά: 'seven'; the number of completeness — a full, sealed sevenfold revelation deliberately left unwritten.
βρονταὶthundersNominativesubject of ἐλάλησανβροντή: 'thunder'; the definite 'the seven thunders' presupposes a known heavenly phenomenon (cf. Ps 29's sevenfold 'voice of the LORD').
τὰςtheAccusativearticle
ἑαυτῶνtheir ownGenitivereflexive possessive (modifies φωνάς)ἑαυτοῦ: 'one's own'; the thunders utter their own distinct voices.
φωνάςvoicesAccusativecognate accusative (w/ ἐλάλησαν)φωνή: 'voice'; the cognate object — they 'spoke their voices,' i.e. uttered their message.
4
καὶ ὅτε ἐλάλησαν αἱ ἑπτὰ βρονταί, ἤμελλον γράφειν· καὶ ἤκουσα φωνὴν ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ λέγουσαν· σφράγισον ἃ ἐλάλησαν αἱ ἑπτὰ βρονταί, καὶ μὴ αὐτὰ γράψῃς.
And when the seven thunders had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down."
John, as a faithful seer, is poised to record what he heard, but a heavenly voice forbids it — the sole content of Revelation explicitly sealed and suppressed (contrast 22:10, 'do not seal the words of this book'). The point is not a hidden code but the reminder that not all of God's purposes are disclosed; some judgments remain his secret. The pair of commands — σφράγισον (seal) and μὴ ... γράψῃς (do not write) — say the same thing positively and negatively.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative connective
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunctionὅτε: 'when'; resuming the thunders' utterance as the cue for John's reaction.
ἐλάλησανhad spokenAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαλέωverb of the temporal clause→ constative aoristλαλέω: 'speak'; the completed utterance of the thunders.
αἱtheNominativearticle
ἑπτὰsevenindeclinable numeral (attributive)ἑπτά: 'seven'; the sealed, complete revelation.
βρονταίthundersNominativesubject of ἐλάλησανβροντή: 'thunder'.
ἤμελλονI was aboutImpf Act Indic 1 Sg · μέλλωmain verb (periphrastic future intent)→ imperfect (incipient/intended action interrupted)μέλλω: 'be about to, intend'; the imperfect captures the action begun-but-arrested — John reaches for the pen and is stopped.
γράφεινto writePres Act Inf · γράφωcomplementary infinitive (w/ ἤμελλον)→ present (the act about to begin)γράφω: 'write'; the seer's normal duty (cf. 1:11, 19), here forbidden.
καὶandnarrative connective
ἤκουσαI heardAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb→ constative aorist (the seer's audition)ἀκούω: 'hear'; the complement to εἶδον — John both sees and hears the revelation.
φωνὴνa voiceAccusativedirect object of ἤκουσαφωνή: 'voice'; the unidentified heavenly voice (cf. v.8), the authority that overrides the seer's intent.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
οὐρανοῦheavenGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source)οὐρανός: 'heaven'; the voice's origin marks its divine authority.
λέγουσανsayingPres Act Ptc · Acc Sg Fem · λέγωattributive participle (modifies φωνήν)→ present (the speaking heard)λέγω: 'say'; the participle introduces direct speech, as regularly in Revelation.
σφράγισονseal upAor Act Impv 2 Sg · σφραγίζωimperative (command)→ ingressive/constative aorist imperativeσφραγίζω: 'seal'; to keep secret and inviolate — the inverse of 22:10. What is sealed is deliberately withheld.
ἃwhatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of σφράγισον)ὅς: relative 'which, what'; the content of the thunders, the object of the prohibition.
ἐλάλησανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαλέωverb of the relative clause→ constative aoristλαλέω: 'speak'.
αἱtheNominativearticle
ἑπτὰsevenindeclinable numeral (attributive)ἑπτά: 'seven'.
βρονταίthundersNominativesubject of ἐλάλησανβροντή: 'thunder'.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
μὴnotnegative (w/ prohibitive subjunctive)μή: the negative of prohibition, with the aorist subjunctive forming a prohibition.
αὐτὰthem/itAccusativedirect object (fronted) of γράψῃςαὐτός: 'it, them'; resumes the thunders' words as the thing not to be written.
γράψῃςyou writeAor Act Subj 2 Sg · γράφωprohibitive subjunctive (μὴ + aor. subj.)→ ingressive aorist (prohibition: do not start to write)γράφω: 'write'; μὴ γράψῃς forbids the very act of recording the thunders' message.
5
Καὶ ὁ ἄγγελος, ὃν εἶδον ἑστῶτα ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ἦρεν τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ τὴν δεξιὰν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν
And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven
The narrative resumes the angel of vv.1–2 by relative clause and brings him to the solemn gesture of oath. Raising the right hand to heaven is the OT oath-stance (Deut 32:40; Dan 12:7, which this scene closely echoes). The perfect participle ἑστῶτα ('standing') fixes him astride sea and land as he swears.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
Καὶandnarrative connective
ὁtheNominativearticle
ἄγγελοςangelNominativesubject of ἦρενἄγγελος: 'angel'; the mighty angel of vv.1–2, resumed for the oath.
ὃνwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of εἶδον)ὅς: relative 'whom'; reidentifies the angel by his earlier-described posture.
εἶδονI sawAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὁράωverb of the relative clause→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see'.
ἑστῶταstandingPerf Act Ptc · Acc Sg Masc · ἵστημιsupplementary participle (w/ εἶδον)→ perfect with present sense (a fixed stance)ἵστημι: 'stand'; the intransitive perfect of ἵστημι functions as a present — he stands, planted, astride sea and land.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (position)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
θαλάσσηςseaGenitiveobject of ἐπί (location)θάλασσα: 'sea'.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (position)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
γῆςlandGenitiveobject of ἐπί (location)γῆ: 'earth, land'.
ἦρενraisedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · αἴρωmain verb→ constative aorist (the oath gesture)αἴρω: 'lift, raise'; the formal gesture of swearing (Dan 12:7; Deut 32:40).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
χεῖραhandAccusativedirect object of ἦρενχείρ: 'hand'; raised in oath.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
δεξιὰνrightAccusativeattributive adjectiveδεξιός: 'right'; the right hand, the proper organ of oath.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
οὐρανὸνheavenAccusativeobject of εἰς (direction)οὐρανός: 'heaven'; toward the dwelling of the God by whom he swears.
6
καὶ ὤμοσεν ἐν τῷ ζῶντι εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων, ὃς ἔκτισεν τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὰ ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ καὶ τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ, ὅτι χρόνος οὐκέτι ἔσται,
and swore by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay,
The oath is sworn 'by the one who lives forever and ever, who created' the threefold cosmos — the same Creator-by-whom of Dan 12:7, here expanded with a full creation formula. Its content (ὅτι): χρόνος οὐκέτι ἔσται. Despite the KJV's 'there should be time no longer,' the idiom (with v.7) means 'there will be no more delay' — the interval before the End, the answer to the martyrs' 'how long?' (6:10), is over.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 words
καὶandnarrative connective
ὤμοσενhe sworeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὀμνύωmain verb→ constative aorist (the oath)ὀμνύω: 'swear an oath'; with ἐν + dative naming the one by whom one swears (a Hebraism).
ἐνbypreposition + dative (oath formula)ἐν: here the Semitic 'by' of the oath (cf. Matt 5:34–36).
τῷthe oneDativearticle (substantival w/ participle)
ζῶντιwho livesPres Act Ptc · Dat Sg Masc · ζάωsubstantival participle (object of ἐν)→ present (continuous, eternal life)ζάω: 'live'; 'the one who lives forever and ever' — the living God, by whom the oath is sworn (cf. 4:9; Dan 12:7).
εἰςfor/untopreposition + accusative (extent of time)
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle
αἰῶναςagesAccusativeobject of εἰς (extent of time)αἰών: 'age'; in the doxological idiom 'unto the ages of the ages' = forever.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle
αἰώνωνagesGenitiveattributive/superlative genitiveαἰών: the genitive doubling intensifies — 'the ages of the ages,' i.e. unending eternity.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἔκτισεν)ὅς: relative 'who'; introduces the Creator-clause that grounds the oath's authority.
ἔκτισενcreatedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κτίζωverb of the relative clause→ constative aorist (the act of creation)κτίζω: 'create'; the Creator of the threefold cosmos has the right to declare its consummation.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
οὐρανὸνheavenAccusativedirect object of ἔκτισενοὐρανός: 'heaven'; first member of the creation triad.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὰthe thingsAccusativearticle (substantival w/ ἐν αὐτῷ)
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)
αὐτῷitDativeobject of ἐν (refers to οὐρανόν)αὐτός: 'it'; 'the things in it' — all heaven contains.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
γῆνearthAccusativedirect object of ἔκτισενγῆ: 'earth'; second member of the triad.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὰthe thingsAccusativearticle (substantival)
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)
αὐτῇitDativeobject of ἐν (refers to γῆν)αὐτός: 'it'; all the earth contains.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
θάλασσανseaAccusativedirect object of ἔκτισενθάλασσα: 'sea'; third member, completing heaven-earth-sea (Exod 20:11).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὰthe thingsAccusativearticle (substantival)
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)
αὐτῇitDativeobject of ἐν (refers to θάλασσαν)αὐτός: 'it'; all the sea contains.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of the oath)ὅτι: 'that'; introduces the sworn declaration.
χρόνοςdelay/timeNominativesubject of ἔσταιχρόνος: 'time, interval, delay'; here, with v.7, the meaning is the interval before the End — 'there will be no more delay' rather than the cessation of time as such.
οὐκέτιno longeradverb of time (negation)οὐκέτι: 'no longer, no more'; the decisive 'no more' that ends the postponement.
ἔσταιwill beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of the ὅτι-clause→ future (predictive, the certain end of delay)εἰμί: 'be'; the future of the deponent — 'there will be.'
7
ἀλλ' ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις τῆς φωνῆς τοῦ ἑβδόμου ἀγγέλου, ὅταν μέλλῃ σαλπίζειν, καὶ ἐτελέσθη τὸ μυστήριον τοῦ θεοῦ, ὡς εὐηγγέλισεν τοὺς ἑαυτοῦ δούλους τοὺς προφήτας.
but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound his trumpet, then the mystery of God is brought to completion, as he announced to his servants the prophets.
The oath's positive side: 'but' — instead of more delay — in the days of the seventh trumpet 'the mystery of God' will be completed. The aorist ἐτελέσθη after ὅταν μέλλῃ is a proleptic/prophetic aorist (Semitic), treating the future event as already accomplished. The 'mystery of God' is the long-hidden plan of the end (Dan 12; Amos 3:7), now to be fully disclosed. εὐηγγέλισεν here governs an accusative of the persons evangelized — God 'gospelled' it to his prophets.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
ἀλλ'butadversative conjunctionἀλλά: 'but'; the strong contrast — not delay, but completion at the seventh trumpet.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (time)
ταῖςtheDativearticle
ἡμέραιςdaysDativeobject of ἐν (temporal)ἡμέρα: 'day'; 'in the days of the voice' — the period of the seventh trumpet, not an instant.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
φωνῆςvoice/soundGenitivegenitive (of the trumpet's sound)φωνή: 'voice, sound'; the blast of the seventh trumpet.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
ἑβδόμουseventhGenitiveattributive ordinalἕβδομος: 'seventh'; the last trumpet, which 11:15 will sound.
ἀγγέλουangelGenitivegenitive (possessor of the φωνή)ἄγγελος: 'angel'; the seventh trumpet-angel.
ὅτανwhentemporal conjunction (+ subjunctive)ὅταν: 'whenever, when'; with the subjunctive of an anticipated moment.
μέλλῃhe is aboutPres Act Subj 3 Sg · μέλλωsubjunctive (in ὅταν-clause)→ present subjunctive (imminence)μέλλω: 'be about to'; the seventh angel is poised, on the verge of sounding.
σαλπίζεινto sound the trumpetPres Act Inf · σαλπίζωcomplementary infinitive (w/ μέλλῃ)→ present (the act of trumpeting)σαλπίζω: 'sound a trumpet'; the seventh and climactic trumpet-blast.
καὶthenconsecutive/apodotic καίκαί: here apodotic 'then,' answering the temporal clause (a Semitic idiom).
ἐτελέσθηis completedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · τελέωmain verb (proleptic aorist)→ proleptic/prophetic aorist (future seen as done)τελέω: 'complete, finish, fulfill'; the aorist after a future construction views the consummation as already accomplished — God's plan is as good as done.
τὸtheNominativearticle
μυστήριονmysteryNominativesubject of ἐτελέσθημυστήριον: 'mystery'; the hidden purpose of God for the end of history, now to be disclosed and fulfilled (cf. Dan 2:28–29; Rom 16:25).
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive (author of the mystery)θεός: 'God'; whose secret saving plan reaches its goal.
ὡςascomparative conjunctionὡς: 'as, just as'; introducing the manner — in accord with the prophetic announcement.
εὐηγγέλισενhe announcedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὐαγγελίζωverb of the comparative clause→ constative aorist (the prophetic announcement)εὐαγγελίζω: 'announce good news'; here with an accusative of persons — God 'gospelled' his servants the prophets with this hope (cf. Amos 3:7).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle
ἑαυτοῦhis ownGenitivereflexive possessiveἑαυτοῦ: 'his own'; God's own servants.
δούλουςservantsAccusativedirect object of εὐηγγέλισενδοῦλος: 'slave, servant'; the prophets as God's bondservants (Amos 3:7; cf. Rev 11:18).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle
προφήταςprophetsAccusativeapposition to δούλουςπροφήτης: 'prophet'; to whom God disclosed the mystery in advance.
8
Καὶ ἡ φωνὴ ἣν ἤκουσα ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ πάλιν λαλοῦσαν μετ' ἐμοῦ καὶ λέγουσαν· ὕπαγε λάβε τὸ βιβλίον τὸ ἠνεῳγμένον ἐν τῇ χειρὶ τοῦ ἀγγέλου τοῦ ἑστῶτος ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
And the voice that I had heard from heaven was speaking with me again, and saying, "Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."
The voice of v.4 speaks again, now commanding John to act. The syntax is broken: the nominative ἡ φωνή stands as an anacoluthon with no finite verb of its own, then the participles λαλοῦσαν ... λέγουσαν shift to the accusative as if governed by ἤκουσα. The double imperative ὕπαγε λάβε ('go, take') sets John's part of the Ezekiel-shaped scene in motion (cf. Ezek 2:8–3:3).
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
Καὶandnarrative connective
ἡtheNominativearticle
φωνὴvoiceNominativenominative absolute / anacoluthonφωνή: 'voice'; the same heavenly voice as v.4, left hanging in the nominative — a Johannine roughness.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἤκουσα)ὅς: relative 'which'.
ἤκουσαI heardAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀκούωverb of the relative clause→ constative aoristἀκούω: 'hear'.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
οὐρανοῦheavenGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source)οὐρανός: 'heaven'.
πάλινagainadverbπάλιν: 'again'; the voice resumes its address (after v.4).
λαλοῦσανspeakingPres Act Ptc · Acc Sg Fem · λαλέωsupplementary participle (case-attracted to ἤκουσα)→ present (ongoing speech)λαλέω: 'speak'; the accusative participle continues from ἤκουσα, in tension with the nominative φωνή.
μετ'withpreposition + genitive (association)μετά: 'with'; 'speaking with me' (a Semitic-flavored construction).
ἐμοῦmeGenitiveobject of μετάἐγώ: 'I, me'; the seer.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
λέγουσανsayingPres Act Ptc · Acc Sg Fem · λέγωsupplementary participle (introduces speech)→ present (the command spoken)λέγω: 'say'; introducing the direct command.
ὕπαγεgoPres Act Impv 2 Sg · ὑπάγωimperative (command)→ present imperative (set out)ὑπάγω: 'go, depart'; the first of the paired commands moving John to act.
λάβεtakeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαμβάνωimperative (command)→ aorist imperative (do it now)λαμβάνω: 'take, receive'; John is to take the open scroll, as Ezekiel was told to receive his (Ezek 2:8).
τὸtheAccusativearticle
βιβλίονscrollAccusativedirect object of λάβεβιβλίον: 'scroll, book'; here used of the same little scroll called βιβλαρίδιον in vv.2, 9, 10.
τὸtheAccusativearticle
ἠνεῳγμένονopenedPerf Pass Ptc · Acc Sg Neut · ἀνοίγωattributive participle (modifies βιβλίον)→ resultative perfect (lying open)ἀνοίγω: 'open'; the scroll is already open, ready to be eaten.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)
τῇtheDativearticle
χειρὶhandDativeobject of ἐν (location)χείρ: 'hand'.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
ἀγγέλουangelGenitivegenitive of possessionἄγγελος: 'angel'; the mighty angel of vv.1–6.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
ἑστῶτοςstandingPerf Act Ptc · Gen Sg Masc · ἵστημιattributive participle (modifies ἀγγέλου)→ perfect with present sense (fixed stance)ἵστημι: 'stand'; the perfect again pictures the angel planted astride sea and land.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (position)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
θαλάσσηςseaGenitiveobject of ἐπί (location)θάλασσα: 'sea'.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (position)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
γῆςlandGenitiveobject of ἐπί (location)γῆ: 'earth, land'.
9
καὶ ἀπῆλθα πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον λέγων αὐτῷ δοῦναί μοι τὸ βιβλαρίδιον. καὶ λέγει μοι· λάβε καὶ κατάφαγε αὐτό, καὶ πικρανεῖ σου τὴν κοιλίαν, ἀλλ' ἐν τῷ στόματί σου ἔσται γλυκὺ ὡς μέλι.
And I went away to the angel, telling him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, "Take and eat it up; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey."
John obeys: he goes to the angel and asks for the scroll. The angel's command κατάφαγε ('eat it up,' the intensive of ἐσθίω) and his prediction of the sweet-then-bitter effect rework Ezek 3:1–3, where the scroll was sweet. Here the order in the telling is bitter-then-sweet, but the eating (v.10) reverses to sweet-then-bitter: the word of God is delightful to receive yet costly to digest — judgment and suffering lie in its message.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative connective
ἀπῆλθαI went awayAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aorist (obedient action)ἀπέρχομαι: 'go away, depart'; John acts on the command ὕπαγε.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
ἄγγελονangelAccusativeobject of πρόςἄγγελος: 'angel'.
λέγωνsaying/tellingPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · λέγωcircumstantial participle (manner/means)→ present (concurrent speech)λέγω: 'say, tell'; introduces John's request.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object of λέγωναὐτός: 'him'; the angel.
δοῦναίto giveAor Act Inf · δίδωμιinfinitive of indirect command (content of request)→ constative aorist (the requested act)δίδωμι: 'give'; John asks the angel to hand over the scroll.
μοιmeDativeindirect object of δοῦναιἐγώ: 'me'.
τὸtheAccusativearticle
βιβλαρίδιονlittle scrollAccusativedirect object of δοῦναιβιβλαρίδιον: 'little scroll'; the diminutive resumes vv.2 (after βιβλίον in v.8).
καὶandnarrative connective
λέγειhe saysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (historic present)→ historic present (vivid)λέγω: 'say'; the vivid present brings the angel's reply into the foreground.
μοιto meDativeindirect objectἐγώ: 'me'.
λάβεtakeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαμβάνωimperative (command)→ aorist imperativeλαμβάνω: 'take'; receive the scroll.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
κατάφαγεeat upAor Act Impv 2 Sg · κατεσθίωimperative (command)→ aorist imperative (complete the eating)κατεσθίω: 'eat up, devour'; the intensive κατα- — consume it wholly, as Ezekiel ate his scroll (Ezek 3:1–3).
αὐτόitAccusativedirect object of κατάφαγεαὐτός: 'it'; the scroll.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πικρανεῖit will make bitterFut Act Indic 3 Sg · πικραίνωmain verb (prediction)→ future (predictive effect)πικραίνω: 'make bitter'; the scroll will turn the stomach bitter — the painful aftertaste of a message of judgment.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitiveσύ: 'your'.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
κοιλίανstomach/bellyAccusativedirect object of πικρανεῖκοιλία: 'belly, stomach'; where the scroll turns bitter once digested.
ἀλλ'butadversative conjunctionἀλλά: 'but'; contrasting belly with mouth, bitter with sweet.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)
τῷtheDativearticle
στόματίmouthDativeobject of ἐν (location)στόμα: 'mouth'; where the scroll first tastes sweet.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitiveσύ: 'your'.
ἔσταιit will beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (prediction)→ future (predictive)εἰμί: 'be'; 'it will be sweet.'
γλυκὺsweetNominativepredicate adjective (w/ ἔσται)γλυκύς: 'sweet'; the word of God delights on receiving (Ps 19:10; 119:103; Ezek 3:3).
ὡςascomparative particleὡς: 'as, like'.
μέλιhoneyNominativeobject of comparison (ὡς)μέλι: 'honey'; the standard image of the sweetness of God's word.
10
καὶ ἔλαβον τὸ βιβλαρίδιον ἐκ τῆς χειρὸς τοῦ ἀγγέλου καὶ κατέφαγον αὐτό, καὶ ἦν ἐν τῷ στόματί μου ὡς μέλι γλυκὺ καὶ ὅτε ἔφαγον αὐτό, ἐπικράνθη ἡ κοιλία μου.
And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it up, and it was in my mouth sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.
John carries out the command. The experience matches the prediction but in the order of eating: sweet in the mouth first, then bitter in the belly. The seer internalizes the revelation — to prophesy he must consume the word, and that word's sweetness (the joy of God's vindication) cannot be separated from its bitterness (the suffering and judgment it foretells, for the nations and for the church's own martyrs).
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative connective
ἔλαβονI tookAor Act Indic 1 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb→ constative aorist (obedient act)λαμβάνω: 'take'; John obeys λάβε of v.9.
τὸtheAccusativearticle
βιβλαρίδιονlittle scrollAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβονβιβλαρίδιον: 'little scroll'; the open booklet.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
χειρὸςhandGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source)χείρ: 'hand'.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
ἀγγέλουangelGenitivegenitive of possessionἄγγελος: 'angel'.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
κατέφαγονI ate upAor Act Indic 1 Sg · κατεσθίωmain verb→ constative aorist (the eating completed)κατεσθίω: 'eat up, devour'; John consumes the scroll, fulfilling κατάφαγε.
αὐτόitAccusativedirect object of κατέφαγοναὐτός: 'it'.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἦνit wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (descriptive)→ imperfect (the lingering taste)εἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect dwells on the sweet sensation in the mouth.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)
τῷtheDativearticle
στόματίmouthDativeobject of ἐν (location)στόμα: 'mouth'.
μουmyGenitivepossessive genitiveἐγώ: 'my'.
ὡςascomparative particleὡς: 'as, like'.
μέλιhoneyNominativeobject of comparison (ὡς)μέλι: 'honey'.
γλυκὺsweetNominativepredicate adjective (w/ ἦν)γλυκύς: 'sweet'; the taste in the mouth, as foretold.
καὶandnarrative connective
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunctionὅτε: 'when'; marking the shift from mouth to belly.
ἔφαγονI had eatenAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐσθίωverb of the temporal clause→ constative aorist (the act of eating)ἐσθίω: 'eat'; the swallowing that precedes the bitterness.
αὐτόitAccusativedirect object of ἔφαγοναὐτός: 'it'.
ἐπικράνθηwas made bitterAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πικραίνωmain verb→ ingressive aorist (turned bitter)πικραίνω: 'make bitter'; the passive — the belly was made bitter, the aftertaste of the prophetic word of judgment.
ἡtheNominativearticle
κοιλίαstomachNominativesubject of ἐπικράνθηκοιλία: 'belly, stomach'.
μουmyGenitivepossessive genitiveἐγώ: 'my'.
11
καὶ λέγουσίν μοι· δεῖ σε πάλιν προφητεῦσαι ἐπὶ λαοῖς καὶ ἔθνεσιν καὶ γλώσσαις καὶ βασιλεῦσιν πολλοῖς.
And they said to me, "You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings."
The scene closes with the seer's recommissioning. The impersonal plural λέγουσιν ('they say' = 'it is said to me') leaves the speakers unnamed — the heavenly voice and/or the angel. δεῖ ('it is necessary') marks divine compulsion: John must prophesy 'again' (πάλιν), now with universal scope — λαοῖς, ἔθνεσιν, γλώσσαις, βασιλεῦσιν. The preposition ἐπί is ambiguous between 'about/concerning' and 'against,' fitting the bittersweet word he has swallowed. This recommissioning launches the prophecies of chs. 11ff.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative connective
λέγουσίνthey sayPres Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (impersonal/historic present)→ historic present (impersonal 'it is said')λέγω: 'say'; the impersonal plural — 'it was said to me' — leaving the speaker(s) unspecified (some witnesses read sg. λέγει).
μοιto meDativeindirect objectἐγώ: 'me'.
δεῖit is necessaryPres Act Indic 3 Sg · δεῖimpersonal main verb→ present (divine necessity)δεῖ: 'it is necessary, must'; the divine 'must' of the seer's calling (cf. 1:1; 4:1).
σεyouAccusativeaccusative subject of προφητεῦσαισύ: 'you'; John, the one compelled to prophesy.
πάλινagainadverbπάλιν: 'again'; the prophetic task resumes and expands after the interlude.
προφητεῦσαιto prophesyAor Act Inf · προφητεύωcomplementary infinitive (w/ δεῖ)→ constative aorist (the prophetic commission)προφητεύω: 'prophesy'; to speak God's word, the office the eaten scroll equips and compels.
ἐπὶconcerning/againstpreposition + dative (reference or hostility)ἐπί: 'about, concerning' or 'against'; the ambiguity suits a word that is both witness to and judgment upon the nations.
λαοῖςpeoplesDativeobject of ἐπίλαός: 'people'; first of the fourfold totality of humanity (cf. 5:9; 7:9).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἔθνεσινnationsDativeobject of ἐπίἔθνος: 'nation, gentile'; second member of the universal list.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
γλώσσαιςtonguesDativeobject of ἐπίγλῶσσα: 'tongue, language'; third member, the linguistic dimension.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
βασιλεῦσινkingsDativeobject of ἐπίβασιλεύς: 'king'; the fourth member here replaces the usual 'tribes' (cf. 5:9) — the prophecy reaches the very rulers of the earth.
πολλοῖςmanyDativeattributive adjective (modifies the series)πολύς: 'many'; underscoring the worldwide scope of John's renewed mission.