And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
As in the opening of the prophecy (Revelation 4:8; Revelation 5:9, etc.), so now, at one of the closing events in the vision, the judgment on the harlot (described, Revelation 18:1-24), there is a song of praise in heaven to God: cf. Revelation 7:10, etc., toward the close of the seals, and Revelation 11:15-18, at the close of the trumpets; Revelation 15:3, at the saints' victory over the beast.
And. So Andreas; but 'Aleph (') A B C, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, omit.
A great voice. 'Aleph (') A B C, Vulgate, Coptic, Andreas, read, 'as it were a great voice.' What a contrast to the lamentations, Revelation 18:1-24! Compare Jeremiah 51:48. The great manifestation of God's power in destroying Babylon calls forth a great voice of praise in heaven.
People - `multitude.'
Alleluia - `Praise ye JAH:' here first in Revelation, whence Elliot infers the Jews bear a prominent part. Yaah (H3050) is not a contraction of Yahweh (H3068), since it sometimes occurs with the latter. It means 'He who IS:' Yahweh, 'He who will be, is, and was.' It implies God experienced a PRESENT help; so that 'Hallelujah,' says Kimchi, is found first in Psalms on the destruction of the ungodly. 'Hallelu-Jah' occurs four times here. Compare Psalms 149:4-9, plainly parallel, identical in many phrases, as well as the general idea. Israel, especially, will join in the Halleluia, when 'her warfare is accomplished' and her foe destroyed.
Salvation - `The salvation ... the glory ... the power.'
And honour. So Coptic; but 'Aleph (') A B C, Syriac, omit.
Unto the Lord our God. So Andreas; but 'Aleph (') A B C, Coptic, read, '(Is) of (belongs to) our God.'