Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
After this (meta touto). Instead of the seventh seal (Revelation 8:1) being opened, two other episodes or preliminary visions occupy chapter 7 (the sealing of the servants of God Revelation 7:1-8 and the vision of the redeemed before the throne Revelation 7:9-17).
Standing (estwtav). Second perfect predicate participle of isthmi, intransitive and followed by epi and the accusative case gwniav as already in Revelation 3:20 (epi qurian) and often again (Revelation 8:3 some MSS., others genitive; Revelation 11:11; 12:18; Revelation 14:1; Revelation 15:2), but note epi with genitive qalasshv in the next clause, like epi kefalhv in Revelation 12:1; Revelation 7:3.
Corners (gwniav). Old word for angle (Matthew 6:5), also in Revelation 20:8.
Holding (kratountav). Present active participle of kratew, to hold fast (Mark 7:3; John 20:23). The four winds (cf. Matthew 24:31) are held prisoner by angels at each of the four corners. Some Jews held the winds from due north, south, east, west to be favourable, while those from the angles (see Acts 27:14) were unfavourable (Charles). There is an angel of the fire (Revelation 14:18) and an angel of the waters (Revelation 16:5).
That no wind should blow (ina mh pneh anemov). Negative purpose clause with ina mh and the present active subjunctive, "lest a wind keep on blowing."
Upon any tree (epi pan dendron). Accusative case here with epi rather than the preceding genitives (ghs, qalasshv), "upon the land or upon the sea," but "against any tree" (picture of attack on the tree like a tornado's path).
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Revelation 7:1:
Revelation 4:1
Revelation 7:1
Revelation 7:9
Revelation 8:7
Revelation 9:14
Revelation 13:1
Revelation 16:5
Revelation 20:8
Revelation 21:12
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.