Rev 21:5-6 | RWP | e4.org | Behold, I make all things new ( Ιδου καινα ποιω παντα ). The first time since that God has been represented as speaking directly, though voices have come out of the throne before ( ) and out of the sanctuary ( , ), which may be from God himself, though more likely from one of the angels of the Presence. This message is not addressed to John ( ; ; ; ), but to the entire world of the blessed. See . for the words ( Ιδου εγω ποιω καινα ). The idea of a new heaven and a new earth is in ; ; . For the locative here with επ ( επ τω θρονω ) see ; (genitive more usual, .; , , , etc.). See for the picture. And he saith ( κα λεγε ). Probably this means a change of speakers, made plain by μο (to me) in many MSS. An angel apparently (as in ; .) assures John and urges him to write ( γραψον as in ; , , , ; , , ; ). The reason given ( οτ , for) is precisely the saying in and he uses the two adjectives ( πιστο κα αληθινο ) employed in about God himself, and about Christ. In αληθινο occurs also about "the words of God" as here. They are reliable and genuine.

‏ Revelation of John 21:5-6

Behold, I make all things new ( Ιδου καινα ποιω παντα ). The first time since 1:8 that God has been represented as speaking directly, though voices have come out of the throne before (21:3) and out of the sanctuary (16:1, 17), which may be from God himself, though more likely from one of the angels of the Presence. This message is not addressed to John (7:14; 17:7; 21:6; 22:6), but to the entire world of the blessed. See Isa 43:18f. for the words ( Ιδου εγω ποιω καινα ). The idea of a new heaven and a new earth is in Isa 65:17; 66:22; Ps 102:25f. For the locative here with επ ( επ τω θρονω ) see 7:10; 19:4 (genitive more usual, 4:9f.; 5:1, 7, 13, etc.). See 20:11 for the picture.

And he saith ( κα λεγε ). Probably this means a change of speakers, made plain by μο (to me) in many MSS. An angel apparently (as in 14:13; 19:9f.) assures John and urges him to write ( γραψον as in 1:11; 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14; 14:3). The reason given ( οτ, for) is precisely the saying in 22:6 and he uses the two adjectives ( πιστο κα αληθινο ) employed in 19:11 about God himself, and 3:14 about Christ. In 19:9 αληθινο occurs also about "the words of God" as here. They are reliable and genuine.

They are come to pass ( Γεγοναν ). Second perfect active indicative of γινομα with -αν for -ασ. See 16:17 for a like use of γεγονεν, "They have come to pass." Here again it is the voice of God because, as in 1:8, He says:

I am the Alpha and the Omega ( Εγω το Αλφα κα το Ο ) with the addition "the beginning and the end" ( η αρχη κα το τελος ), the whole used in 22:13 of Christ. In Isa 44:6 there is something like the addition, and in Col 1:18; Re 3:14 η αρχη is applied to Christ, while here God is the First Cause ( αρχη ) and the Finality ( τελος ) as in Ro 11:36; Eph 4:6. But God works through Christ (Joh 1:3; Heb 1:2f.; Col 1:12-20). God is the bountiful Giver (Jas 1:5, 17) of the Water of Life. See 7:17; 22:1, 17 for this metaphor, which is based on Isa 55:1. It is God's own promise ( Εγω δωσω ), "I will give."

Of the fountain ( εκ της πηγης ). For this partitive use of εκ see Mt 25:8, without εκ Re 2:17.

Freely ( δωρεαν ). See Mt 10:8; Joh 4:10; Ro 3:24; Ac 8:20; Re 22:17.