Revelation 7:17

In the midst (ana meson). In Psalms 5:6 we have en meswi tou qronou as the position of the Lamb, and so that is apparently the sense of ana meson here as in Matthew 13:25 , though it can mean "between," as clearly so in 1 Corinthians 6:5 . Shall be their shepherd (paimanei autou). "Shall shepherd them," future active of poimainw (from poimhn, shepherd), in John 21:16 ; Acts 20:28 ; 1 Peter 5:2 ; Revelation 2:27 ; Revelation 7:17 ; Revelation 12:5 ; Revelation 19:15 . Jesus is still the Good Shepherd of his sheep ( John 10:11 John 10:14 ). Cf. Psalms 23:1 . Shall guide them (odh ghsei autou). Future active of odhgew, old word (from odhgo, guide, Matthew 15:14 ), used of God's guidance of Israel ( Exodus 15:13 ), of God's guidance of individual lives ( Psalms 5:9 ), of the guidance of the Holy Spirit ( John 16:13 ), of Christ's own guidance here (cf. John 14:4 ; Revelation 14:4 ). Unto fountains of waters of life (epi zwh phga udatwn). The language is like that in Isaiah 49:10 ; Jeremiah 2:13 . Note the order, "to life's water springs" (Swete) like the Vulgate ad vitae fontes aquarum, with emphasis on zwh (life's). For this idea see also John 4:12 John 4:14 ; John 7:38 ; Revelation 21:6 ; Revelation 22:1 Revelation 22:17 . No special emphasis on the plural here or in Revelation 8:10 ; Revelation 14:7 ; Revelation 16:4 . And God shall wipe away (kai exaleipsei o qeo). Repeated in Revelation 21:4 from Isaiah 25:8 . Future active of exaleipw, old compound, to wipe out (ex), off, away, already in Revelation 3:5 for erasing a name and in Acts 3:19 for removing the stain (guilt) of sin. Every tear (pan dakruon). Old word, with other form, dakru, in Luke 7:38 Luke 7:44 . Note repetition of ek with opqalmwn (out of their eyes). "Words like these of vv. Luke 15-17 must sound as a divine music in the ears of the persecuted. God will comfort as a mother comforts" (Baljon).