And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Ver. 5. And one of the elders] A common Christian points the divine to the arch-prophet, whom for the present he thought not on. An eloquent Apollos may be better informed by a tentmaker, and a great apostle be comforted by an ordinary Roman,Acts 8:26; Romans 1:12. This elder in the text seems to be the patriarch Jacob (saith one), because from his prophecy the name of lion is given to Christ,Genesis 49:9 .
Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah] So Moses sets forth our Saviour. And fitly, 1. For the excellency of his strength. 2. For his heroical spirit. 3. For his principality; the lion is the king of beasts. 4. For his vigilancy; the lion sleepeth with open eyes. (Gerhard.)
The Root of David] So the prophets. "They have Moses and the prophets," saith Abraham,Luke 16:29; "To the law and to the testimony,"Isaiah 8:20. If any speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them, nor to be gotten from them.
Hath prevailed] Gr. ενικησεν, hath overcome, or surpassed, sc. all creatures in worth, to do this great work.