{The shapes} ( a homoi(936d)ata). Old word from homoio(935c), to
make like (from homoios, like), likeness, in N.T. only here,
Ro 5:14 Php 2:7 , "the likenesses were like" (homoia).
Homoi(936d)a is "midway between morph(885c) and sch(886d)a" (Lightfoot).
{Unto horses} (hippois). Associative-instrumental case, as is
the rule with homoios ( 1:15 2:18 4:6ff. 9:10,19 11:1 13:2,11 ), but with the accusative in 1:13 14:14 . So also
homoioi chrus(9369) (like gold) in this same verse. {Prepared for
war} (h(8874)oimasmenois eis polemon). Perfect passive participle
of hetoimaz(935c). This imagery of war-horses is like that in Joe
2:4f . "The likeness of a locust to a horse, especially to a
horse equipped with armour, is so striking that the insect is
named in German _Heupferd_ (hay horse), and in Italian _cavalett_
a little horse" (Vincent). {As it were crowns} (hos stephanoi).
Not actual crowns, but what looked like crowns of gold, as
conquerors, as indeed they were ( 4:4 6:2 12:1 14:14 ). These
locusts of the abyss have another peculiar feature. {As men's
faces} (h(9373) pros(9370)a anthr(9370)(936e)). Human-looking faces in these
demonic locusts to give added terror, "suggesting the
intelligence and capacity of man" (Swete). Vincent actually sees
"a distinct resemblance to the human countenance in the face of
the locust."
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