REV 11

Revelation 11:2

WEB

Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and don’t measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months.

BSB

But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.

KJV

But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

Matthew Henry

Verses 1–2

Revelation 11:1–2

This prophetical passage about measuring the temple is a plain reference to what we find in Ezekiel's vision, Eze 40:3, etc. But how to understand either the one or the other is not so easy. It should seem the design of measuring the temple in the former case was in order to the rebuilding of it, and that with advantage; the design of this measurement seems to be either, 1. For the preservation of it in those times of public danger and calamity that are here foretold; or, 2. For its trial; that it may be seen how far it agrees with the standard, or pattern, in the mount; or, 3. For its reformation; that what is redundant, deficient, or changed, may be regulated according to the true model. Observe,

I. How much was to be measured. 1. The temple; the gospel church in general, whether it be so built, so constituted, as the gospel rule directs, whether it be too narrow or too large, the door too wide or too strait. 2. The altar. That which was the place of the most solemn acts of worship may be put for religious worship in general; whether the church has the true altars, both as to substance and situation: as to substance, whether they take Christ for their altar, and lay down all their offerings there; and in situation, whether the altar be in the holiest; that is, whether they worship God in the Spirit and in truth. 3. The worshippers too must be measured, whether they make God's glory their end and his word their rule, in all their acts of worship; and whether they come to God with suitable affections, and whether their conversation be as becomes the gospel.

II. What was not to be measured (Rev 11:2), and why it should be left out. 1. What was not to be measured: The court which is without the temple measure it not. Some say that Herod, in the additions made to the temple, built an outer court, and called it the court of the Gentiles. Some tell us that Adrian built the city and an outer court, and called it Aelia, and gave it to the Gentiles. 2. Why was not the outer court measured? This was no part of the temple, according to the model either of Solomon or Zerubbabel, and therefore God would have no regard to it. He would not mark it out for preservation; but as it was designed for the Gentiles, to bring pagan ceremonies and customs and to annex them to the gospel churches, so Christ abandoned it to them, to be used as they pleased; and both that and the city were trodden under foot for a certain time - forty and two months, which some would have to be the whole time of the reign of antichrist. Those who worship in the outer court are either such as worship in a false manner or with hypocritical hearts; and these are rejected of God, and will be found among his enemies. 3. From the whole observe, (1.) God will have a temple and an altar in the world, till the end of time. (2.) He has a strict regard to this temple, and observes how every thing is managed in it. (3.) Those who worship in the outer court will be rejected, and only those who worship within the veil accepted. (4.) The holy city, the visible church, is very much trampled upon in the world. But, (5.) The desolations of the church are for a limited time, and for a short time, and she shall be delivered out of all her troubles.

Cross-references: Ezek 40:3 · Rev 11:2

Greek interlinear

τεσσεράκονταtesserakontaadjective · acc · plur · masc

G2532

καίkaí/kahee/

and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet

Derivation: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force;

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

KJV: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.

G3588

ho/ho/

the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc

, including the feminine , and the neuter τό in all their inflections;

Derivation: the definite article;

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)

KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.

G833

αὐλήaulḗ/ow-lay'/

court, (sheep-)fold, hall, palace

Derivation: from the same as G109;

a yard (as open to the wind); by implication, a mansion

KJV: court, (sheep-)fold, hall, palace.

See also: G109.

G1855

ἔξωθενéxōthen/ex'-o-then/

out(-side, -ward, - wardly), (from) without

Derivation: from G1854;

external(-ly)

KJV: out(-side, -ward, - wardly), (from) without.

See also: G1854.

G3485

ναόςnaós/nah-os'/

shrine, temple

Derivation: from a primary ναίω (to dwell);

a fane, shrine, temple

KJV: shrine, temple.

Compare G2411.

See also: G2411.

G1544

ἐκβάλλωekbállō/ek-bal'-lo/

bring forth, cast (forth, out), drive (out), expel, leave, pluck (pull, take, thrust) out, put forth (out), send away (forth, out)

Derivation: from G1537 and G906;

to eject (literally or figuratively)

KJV: bring forth, cast (forth, out), drive (out), expel, leave, pluck (pull, take, thrust) out, put forth (out), send away (forth, out).

See also: G1537, G906.

G3361

μήmḗ/may/

any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without

Derivation: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas G3756 expresses an absolute denial);

(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether

KJV: any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without.

Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also G3362, G3363, G3364, G3372, G3373, G3375, G3378.

See also: G3756, G3362, G3363, G3364, G3372, G3373, G3375, G3378.

G846

αὐτόςautós/ow-tos'/

her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which

Derivation: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward);

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

KJV: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.

Compare G848.

See also: G109, G1438, G848.

G3354

μετρέωmetréō/met-reh'-o/

figuratively, to estimate:--measure, mete

Derivation: from G3358;

to measure (i.e. ascertain in size by a fixed standard); by implication, to admeasure (i.e. allot by rule)

KJV: figuratively, to estimate:--measure, mete.

See also: G3358.

G3754

ὅτιhóti/hot'-ee/

as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why

Derivation: neuter of G3748 as conjunction;

demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

KJV: as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.

See also: G3748.

G1325

δίδωμιdídōmi/did'-o-mee/

adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield

Derivation: a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses);

to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection)

KJV: adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.

G1484

ἔθνοςéthnos/eth'-nos/

Gentile, heathen, nation, people

Derivation: probably from G1486;

a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan)

KJV: Gentile, heathen, nation, people.

See also: G1486.

G4172

πόλιςpólis/pol'-is/

city

Derivation: probably from the same as G4171, or perhaps from G4183;

a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size)

KJV: city.

See also: G4183, G4171.

G40

ἅγιοςhágios/hag'-ee-os/

(most) holy (one, thing), saint

Derivation: from ἅγος (an awful thing) (compare G53, G2282);

sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated)

KJV: (most) holy (one, thing), saint.

See also: G53, G2282.

G3961

πατέωpatéō/pat-eh'-o/

tread (down, under foot)

Derivation: from a derivative probably of G3817 (meaning a "path");

to trample (literally or figuratively)

KJV: tread (down, under foot).

See also: G3817.

G3375

μήνmḗn/mane/

+ surely

Derivation: a stronger form of G3303;

a particle of affirmation (only with G2229); assuredly

KJV: + surely.

See also: G3303, G2229.

G1417

δύοdýo/doo'-o/

both, twain, two

Derivation: a primary numeral;

"two"

KJV: both, twain, two.

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