Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Each one of them (en kaq en autwn). "One by one of them," a vernacular idiom like eiv kata eiv in Mark 14:19.
Having (exwn). Masculine participle again as in verse Revelation 4:7, though zwon neuter.
Six wings (ana pterugav ec). Distributive use of ana, "six wings apiece" as in Luke 10:1 (ana duo, by twos). Like Isaiah 6:2, not like Ezekiel 1:6, where only four wings are given apiece.
Are full of (gemousin). Plural verb, though zwa neuter, to individualize each one.
Round about and within (kukloqen kai eswqen). Perhaps before and behind (Revelation 4:6) and under the wings, "pointing to the secret energies of nature" (Swete).
Rest (anapausin). See also Revelation 14:11. Old word (from anapauw, to relax), as in Matthew 11:29. God and Christ cease not their activity (John 5:17). "This ceaseless activity of nature under the hand of God is a ceaseless tribute of praise" (Swete).
Day and night (hmerav kai nuktov). Genitive of time, by day and by night.
Holy, holy, holy (agios, agios, agiov). "The task of the Cherubim together with the Seraphim and Ophannim is to sing the praises of God" (Charles) in the trisagion (triple repetition of agiov).
Is the Lord God (Kuriov o qeov). See Isaiah 6:3. The copula estin (is) is not expressed, but is implied.
The Almighty (o pantokratwr). See on Revelation 1:8.
Which was and which is and which is to come (o hn kai o wn kai o erxomenov). Just as in Revelation 1:4, Revelation 1:8, but with the order changed.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Revelation 4:8:
John 2:6
James 5:4
2 Peter 2:12
Revelation 1:4
Revelation 1:8
Revelation 3:7
Revelation 4:1
Revelation 4:4
Revelation 4:7
Revelation 5:9
Revelation 7:15
Revelation 11:17
Revelation 14:11
Revelation 15:3
Revelation 16:5
Revelation 17:3
Revelation 17:8
Revelation 19:6
Revelation 20:10
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