Loading…
VRSZ
This sets the art on your cards and whose commentary you read on each verse. You can change it later in settings.
Translation
Loading…
What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Oecumenius
And who is this one born, the male, reveal to us more clearly, O John, who says he will shepherd all the nations with an iron rod? You have plainly told us, O divine one, that our Savior and Lord is Jesus Christ; for it has been promised to him by the Father that "he shall ask from me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, and the ends of the earth as your possession; you will shepherd them with an iron rod, and like a potter's vessel, you will break them." (Ps. …
Dionysius bar Salibi
And she gave birth to a male child, who is to shepherd all the nations—He called Christ male, who is God and himself man, whom the Church procures immediately and teaches to all the nations. And her son was carried off to God and to his throne—because he is the heavenly king and the Son of the Father, as David says: The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand.
Western Saints
Bede
And she brought forth a male child. The Church always bears Christ, despite the opposition of the dragon. He is called a male because he is the victor over the devil, who had conquered the woman. For who but a male child? Who will rule all nations with a rod of iron (Psalm II), governs the good with inflexible justice and breaks the wicked. This is also promised to the Church in the earlier parts: I will give him power over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron (Revelation II). …
Alcuin of York
And she brought forth a man son. The one gave birth to the Head, the other gives birth to the limbs of the Head. But why did he add man, since he already said son? Because it can be said either in a positive sense with regards to someone's excellence in strength, or in a negative sense with regards to the immensity of their wickedness: just as it is here used in a positive sense, so is it used in a negative sense in Jeremiah when he says, Cursed be the man that brought the tidings to my father, saying: A man child is born to thee. …
Hippolytus of Rome
"And she brought forth," he says, "a man-child, who is to rule all the nations; "by which is meant that the Church, always bringing forth Christ, the perfect man-child of God, who is declared to be God and man, becomes the instructor of all the nations. …
Translation