Revelation 15 3

Revelation 15:3 kjv

And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

Revelation 15:3 nkjv

They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!

Revelation 15:3 niv

and sang the song of God's servant Moses and of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations.

Revelation 15:3 esv

And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!

Revelation 15:3 nlt

And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations.

Revelation 15 verses

Revelation 15 3 Meaning

The verse describes the triumphant song sung by those who have overcome the Beast and its mark, standing on a sea of glass mixed with fire. This hymn, uniquely identified as both "the song of Moses, the servant of God" and "the song of the Lamb," celebrates the mighty acts, justice, truth, and universal reign of the Almighty God and Christ. It declares God's character and authority, proclaiming His wonderful deeds, righteous ways, and supreme sovereignty over all nations, underscoring the completed work of salvation and judgment.

Revelation 15 3 Context

Revelation 15 marks a pivotal transition in the book, moving from the vision of final persecution to the outpouring of God's final judgments, symbolized by the seven bowls. The verse is set immediately after the description of the victorious saints, "those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name," standing by the sea of glass, praising God before the seven angels prepare to unleash the bowls of wrath. This praise highlights the righteousness and justice of God's impending judgments, affirming His divine sovereignty and character in light of the world's rebellion. Historically, for the early Christian audience, it served as a powerful encouragement, assuring them of divine vindication and final victory over persecuting empires, mirroring God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

Revelation 15 3 Word analysis

• And they sing: (Greek: kai adousin - "and they sing"). Indicates continuous action of praise. 'They' refers to the victorious saints previously mentioned (Rev 15:2), those who stood firm in faith.
• the song of Moses: Refers primarily to the song in Exodus 15, sung after the Israelites' deliverance from Egyptian bondage through the Red Sea. It is a song of deliverance, triumph, and God's powerful deeds in history. It evokes God's mighty acts of salvation.
• the servant of God: (Greek: doulos tou Theou - "slave/servant of God"). This is a common and high title for Moses, highlighting his unique relationship with God and his role as God's chosen deliverer and prophet (Num 12:7, Josh 1:1). It underscores obedience and divine commissioning.
• and the song of the Lamb: Signifies the new deliverance achieved through Jesus Christ's sacrifice. Just as Moses led an old exodus, the Lamb brings a new and ultimate exodus from sin and spiritual bondage. It symbolizes the continuity and ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan in Christ.
• saying: Introduces the content of the song.
• “Great and amazing are your deeds: (Greek: Megala kai thaumasta ta erga sou).
  • Great (Megala): Denotes majesty, power, and significance.
  • amazing (thaumasta): Refers to something wondrous, miraculous, causing astonishment and admiration.
  • deeds (erga): Refers to God's powerful acts, both in historical events (like the Exodus) and in His ongoing work of creation, salvation, and judgment.
• O Lord God the Almighty!: (Greek: Kurie ho Theos ho Pantokrator).
  • Lord (Kurios): A title of absolute authority and mastership, often used for Yahweh in the Old Testament.
  • God (Theos): The supreme Divine Being.
  • Almighty (Pantokrator): Means "all-ruling" or "all-powerful." A characteristic title for God throughout Revelation, emphasizing His absolute sovereign control over all things, past, present, and future, in contrast to any earthly power or false deity.
• Just and true are your ways: (Greek: Dikaiai kai alēthinai hai hodoi sou).
  • Just (Dikaiai): Refers to righteousness, equity, and fairness, especially in judgment.
  • true (alēthinai): Refers to reliability, faithfulness, and accordance with ultimate reality; not deceitful or mistaken.
  • ways (hodoi): Refers to God's methods, character, decisions, and overall course of action in dealing with humanity. It underscores His unwavering righteousness and integrity in all His dealings.
• O King of the nations!: (Greek: ho Basileus tōn ethnōn).
  • King (Basileus): Denotes supreme rulership.
  • nations (ethnōn): Refers to all peoples and gentile nations, explicitly challenging any limited or earthly claims to sovereignty (like that of the Roman emperor). It affirms God's universal and supreme dominion, over every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.

Words-group analysis

• "the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb": This powerful phrase unites the old and new covenants, highlighting the continuity of God's redemptive plan. The song of Moses speaks to God's deliverance of Israel from physical bondage, while the song of the Lamb signifies the ultimate spiritual liberation through Christ's sacrifice. Together, they represent the entire sweep of God's redemptive history, culminating in the final victory. It emphasizes that both the law and grace, the Old Testament and the New Testament, testify to the same delivering God.
• “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!": This declaration extols God's power and wondrous works. It directly contrasts with the limited power of human empires and false gods, declaring God alone as the orchestrator of awe-inspiring acts, demonstrating His unique power in salvation and judgment. The title "Lord God the Almighty" powerfully conveys His absolute sovereignty and limitless capability.
• "Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!": This phrase addresses God's moral character and universal reign. In a world characterized by injustice and deceit, and under the sway of earthly rulers claiming supreme authority, this statement proclaims God's unwavering righteousness, faithfulness, and legitimate dominion over all humanity. It's a profound affirmation of God's perfect governance and righteous judgments, which are consistent and trustworthy across all peoples and throughout history.

Revelation 15 3 Bonus section

The song in Rev 15:3 is a doxology of vindication and victory, showing that even amidst tribulation, God's people faithfully declare His ultimate sovereignty and righteous character. It connects the "old exodus" (Moses) to the "new exodus" (Lamb) for all of humanity, reinforcing the consistent nature of God's redemptive plan throughout history. This cosmic praise also serves as a liturgical pattern for the saints in heaven, mirroring elements of prophetic songs in the Old Testament, where God's future victories are celebrated. The mention of "sea of glass mingled with fire" in the preceding verse (Rev 15:2) is not just a stage for the singing, but symbolically represents the fiery trials the saints endured (martyrdom for many) and God's righteous judgments that are about to be unleashed, yet standing firm upon it, indicating their triumph through faith and the Lamb's blood.

Revelation 15 3 Commentary

Revelation 15:3 presents a triumphant hymn from those delivered saints, uniting the past and future of God's salvation. The "song of Moses" anchors the victory in God's historical deliverance of Israel from Egypt, serving as a prototype for all future salvations. The "song of the Lamb" extends this theme, signifying the ultimate, universal deliverance achieved through Jesus' redemptive work, emphasizing spiritual triumph over sin, death, and evil. Together, they proclaim that the God who acted in Exodus is the same God who will consummate salvation through the Lamb, demonstrating His unwavering power, justice, and truth. The song praises God as the "Lord God the Almighty" and "King of the nations," a polemic against the false claims of earthly rulers (like the Roman emperor) to divine authority and universal dominion. It declares that only the one true God possesses supreme power and rightful reign, and His "ways" (actions and character) are always perfectly "just and true," guaranteeing the integrity and righteousness of His impending judgments. This vision of worship reminds believers that suffering and persecution are temporary, while God's sovereignty and faithfulness endure eternally, leading to final, glorious vindication.