Rev 11:2-3 | RWP | e4.org | The court ( την αυλην ). The uncovered yard outside the house. There were usually two, one between the door and the street, the outer court, the other the inner court surrounded by the buildings ( ). This is here the outer court, "which is without the temple" ( την εξωθεν του ναου ), outside of the sanctuary, but within the ιερον where the Gentiles could go (carrying out the imagery of the Jerusalem temple). Leave without ( εκβαλε εξωθεν ). Literally, "cast without" (second aorist active imperative of εκβαλλω . Do not measure it ( μη αυτην μετρησηις ). Prohibition with μη and the first aorist active (ingressive) subjunctive of μετρεω . This outer court is left to its fate. In Herod's temple the outer court was marked off from the inner by "the middle wall of partition" ( το μεσοιτοιχον του φραγμου , ), beyond which a Gentile could not go. In this outer court was a house of prayer for the Gentiles ( ), but now John is to cast it out and leave to its fate (given to the Gentiles in another sense) to be profaned by them. They shall tread under foot ( πατησουσιν ). Future active of πατεω , here to trample with contempt as in , even the holy city ( ; ; ). Charles thinks that only the heavenly city can be so called here ( , ; ) because of (Sodom and Gomorrah). But the language may be merely symbolical. See . Forty and two months ( μηνας τεσσερακοντα κα δυο ). Accusative of extent of time. This period in ; . It occurs in three forms in the Apocalypse (forty-two months, here and ; 1260 days, ; ; time, times and half a time or 3 1/2 years, and so in Daniel). This period, however its length may be construed, covers the duration of the triumph of the Gentiles, of the prophesying of the two witnesses, of the sojourn of the woman in the wilderness.

‏ Revelation of John 11:2-3

The court ( την αυλην ). The uncovered yard outside the house. There were usually two, one between the door and the street, the outer court, the other the inner court surrounded by the buildings (Mr 14:66). This is here the outer court, "which is without the temple" ( την εξωθεν του ναου ), outside of the sanctuary, but within the ιερον where the Gentiles could go (carrying out the imagery of the Jerusalem temple).

Leave without ( εκβαλε εξωθεν ). Literally, "cast without" (second aorist active imperative of εκβαλλω.

Do not measure it ( μη αυτην μετρησηις ). Prohibition with μη and the first aorist active (ingressive) subjunctive of μετρεω. This outer court is left to its fate. In Herod's temple the outer court was marked off from the inner by "the middle wall of partition" ( το μεσοιτοιχον του φραγμου, Eph 2:15), beyond which a Gentile could not go. In this outer court was a house of prayer for the Gentiles (Mr 11:17), but now John is to cast it out and leave to its fate (given to the Gentiles in another sense) to be profaned by them.

They shall tread under foot ( πατησουσιν ). Future active of πατεω, here to trample with contempt as in Lu 21:24, even the holy city (Mt 4:5; Isa 48:2; Ne 11:1). Charles thinks that only the heavenly city can be so called here (21:2, 10; 22:19) because of 11:8 (Sodom and Gomorrah). But the language may be merely symbolical. See Da 9:24.

Forty and two months ( μηνας τεσσερακοντα κα δυο ). Accusative of extent of time. This period in Da 7:25; 12:7. It occurs in three forms in the Apocalypse (forty-two months, here and 13:5; 1260 days, 11:3; 12:6; time, times and half a time or 3 1/2 years, 12:14 and so in Daniel). This period, however its length may be construed, covers the duration of the triumph of the Gentiles, of the prophesying of the two witnesses, of the sojourn of the woman in the wilderness.

I will give ( δωσω ). Future active of διδωμ. The speaker may be God (Beckwith) or Christ (Swete) as in 2:13; 21:6 or his angel representative (22:7, 12ff.). The idiom that follows is Hebraic instead of either the infinitive after διδωμ as in 2:7; 3:21; 6:4; 7:2; 13:7, 15; 16:8 or ινα with the subjunctive (9:5; 19:8) we have κα προφητευσουσιν (and they shall prophesy).

Unto my two witnesses ( τοις δυσιν μαρτυσιν μου ). Dative case after δωσω. The article seems to point to two well-known characters, like Elijah, Elisha, but there is no possible way to determine who they are. All sorts of identifications have been attempted.

Clothed ( περιβλημενους ). Perfect passive participle of περιβαλλω as often before (7:9, 13; 10:1, etc.). But Aleph A P Q here read the accusative plural in -ους, while C has the nominative in -ο. Charles suggests a mere slip for the nominative, but Hort suggests a primitive error in early MSS. for the dative περιβεβλεμενοις agreeing with μαρτυσιν.

In sackcloth ( σακκους ). Accusative retained with this passive verb as in 7:9, 13. See 6:12 for σακκος and also Mt 3:4. The dress suited the message (Mt 11:21).