Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Of the hidden manna (tou manna tou kekrummenou). "Of the manna the hidden" (perfect passive articular participle of kruptw). The partitive genitive, the only N.T. example with didwmi, though Q reads to (accusative) here. For examples of the ablative with apo and ek see Robertson, Grammar, p. 519. See John 6:31, John 6:49 for the indeclinable word manna. The golden pot of manna was "laid up before God in the ark" (Exodus 16:23). It was believed that Jeremiah hid the ark, before the destruction of Jerusalem, where it would not be discovered till Israel was restored (II Macc. 2:5ff.). Christ is the true bread from heaven (John 6:31-33, John 6:48-51) and that may be the idea here. Those faithful to Christ will have transcendent fellowship with him. Swete takes it to be "the life-sustaining power of the Sacred Humanity now hid with Christ in God."
A white stone (yhfon leukhn). This old word for pebble (from yaw, to rub) was used in courts of justice, black pebbles for condemning, white pebbles for acquitting. The only other use of the word in the N.T. is in Acts 26:10, where Paul speaks of "depositing his pebble" (kathnegka yhfon) or casting his vote. The white stone with one's name on it was used to admit one to entertainments and also as an amulet or charm.
A new name written (onoma kainon gegrammenon). Perfect passive predicate participle of grafw. Not the man's own name, but that of Christ (Heitmuller, Im Namen Jˆsu, p. 128-265). See Revelation 3:12 for the name of God so written on one. The man himself may be the yhfov on which the new name is written. "The true Christian has a charmed life" (Moffatt).
But he that receiveth it (ei mh o lambanwn). "Except the one receiving it." See Matthew 11:27 for like intimate and secret knowledge between the Father and the Son and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal the Father. See also Revelation 19:12.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Revelation 2:17:
Luke 1:9
Acts 1:26
Acts 26:10
Revelation 2:7
Revelation 2:26
Revelation 3:12
Revelation 5:9
Revelation 13:9
Revelation 19:12
Revelation 21:6
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