11:9 They will no longer injure or destroy
on my entire royal mountain. 1
For there will be universal submission to the Lord’s sovereignty,
just as the waters completely cover the sea. 2
65:25 A wolf and a lamb will graze together; 3
a lion, like an ox, will eat straw, 4
and a snake’s food will be dirt. 5
They will no longer injure or destroy
on my entire royal mountain,” 6 says the Lord.
1 tn Heb “in all my holy mountain.” In the most basic sense the Lord’s “holy mountain” is the mountain from which he rules over his kingdom (see Ezek 28:14, 16). More specifically it probably refers to Mount Zion/Jerusalem or to the entire land of Israel (see Pss 2:6; 15:1; 43:3; Isa 56:7; 57:13; Ezek 20:40; Ob 16; Zeph 3:11). If the Lord’s universal kingdom is in view in this context (see the note on “earth” at v. 4), then the phrase would probably be metonymic here, standing for God’s worldwide dominion (see the next line).
2 tn Heb “for the earth will be full of knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” The translation assumes that a universal kingdom is depicted here, but אֶרֶץ (’erets) could be translated “land” (see the note at v. 4). “Knowledge of the Lord” refers here to a recognition of the Lord’s sovereignty which results in a willingness to submit to his authority. See the note at v. 2.
3 sn A similar statement appears in 11:6.
4 sn These words also appear in 11:7.
5 sn Some see an allusion to Gen 3:14 (note “you will eat dirt”). The point would be that even in this new era the snake (often taken as a symbol of Satan) remains under God’s curse. However, it is unlikely that such an allusion exists. Even if there is an echo of Gen 3:14, the primary allusion is to 11:8, where snakes are pictured as no longer dangerous. They will no longer attack other living creatures, but will be content to crawl along the ground. (The statement “you will eat dirt” in Gen 3:14 means “you will crawl on the ground.” In the same way the statement “dirt will be its food” in Isa 65:25 means “it will crawl on the ground.”)
6 tn Heb “in all my holy mountain.” These same words appear in 11:9. See the note there.
7 tn Heb “brothers” (so NIV); NCV “fellow Israelites.”
8 tn The words “they will bring them” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
9 tn The precise meaning of this word is uncertain. Some suggest it refers to “chariots.” See HALOT 498 s.v. *כִּרְכָּרָה.
10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the angel’s invitation.
11 tn Or “in the spirit.” “Spirit” could refer either to the Holy Spirit or the human spirit, but in either case John was in “a state of spiritual exaltation best described as a trance” (R. H. Mounce, Revelation [NICNT], 75).
12 tn Grk “to a mountain great and high.”
13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
14 tn Here BDAG 552 s.v. κοινός 2 states, “pert. to being of little value because of being common, common, ordinary, profane…b. specifically, of that which is ceremonially impure: Rv 21:27.”
15 tn Or “what is abhorrent”; Grk “who practices abominations.”
16 tn Grk “practicing abomination or falsehood.” Because of the way βδέλυγμα (bdelugma) has been translated (“does what is detestable”) it was necessary to repeat the idea from the participle ποιῶν (poiwn, “practices”) before the term “falsehood.” On this term, BDAG 1097 s.v. ψεῦδος states, “ποιεῖν ψεῦδος practice (the things that go with) falsehood Rv 21:27; 22:15.” Cf. Rev 3:9.
17 tn Grk “those who are written”; the word “names” is implied.