Revelation 15:3

New Testament Apocalyptic ASV (1901)

What does Revelation 15:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages.
Revelation 15:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Revelation 15

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, etc.] Not that in (<053201>Deuteronomy 32:1) but that in (<021501>Exodus 15:1) and the sense is, either that they observed the law of Moses, which he as a servant in the Lord's house faithfully delivered, and kept it distinct from the Gospel, and did not blend them together, as in the times before; or rather, that they sung a song like that of Moses, and on a like occasion. Pharaoh was the very picture of the pope of Rome; his oppression and cruel usage of the Israelites represent the tyranny and cruelty of the Romish antichrist; and the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt, and the destruction of the Egyptians at the Red sea, which…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“song of Moses . . . and . . . the Lamb--The New Testament song of the Lamb (that is, the song which the Lamb shall lead, as being "the Captain of our salvation," just as Moses was leader of the Israelites, the song in which those who conquer through Him [Rom 8:37] shall join, Rev 12:11) is the antitype to the triumphant Old Testament song of Moses and the Israelites at the Red Sea (Exo. 15:1-21). The Churches of the Old and New Testament are essentially one in their conflicts and triumphs. The two appear joined in this phrase, as they are in the twenty-four elders. Similarly, Isa 12:1-6 foretells the song of the redeemed (Israel foremost) after the second antitypical exodus and deliverance…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God - A song of thanksgiving and praise, such as Moses taught the Hebrew people to sing after their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. See Exodus 15:0. The meaning here is, not that they would sing that identical song, but that, as Moses taught the people to celebrate their deliverance with an appropriate hymn of praise, the redeemed would celebrate their delivery and redemption in a similar manner. There is an obvious propriety here in referring to the “song of Moses,” because the circumstances are very similar; the occasion of the redemption from that formidable anti-Christian power here referred to, had a strong resemblance to the rescue from…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“And they sing the song of Moses - So called, partly from its near agreement ,with the words of that song which he sung after passing the Red Sea, Exo 15:11, and of that which he taught the children of Israel a little before his death, Deu 32:3-4. But chiefly because Moses was the minister and representative of the Jewish church, as Christ is of the church universal. Therefore it is also termed the sons of the Lamb. It consists of six parts, which answer each other: Great and wonderful are thy works, Lord God Almighty. For thou only art gracious. Just and true are thy ways, O King of the nations. For all the nations shall come and worship before thee. Who would not fear thee, O Lord, and…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“15:3-4 The song of Moses and the Lamb signifies that God’s will is united in the old and new covenants. 15:3 The Lord God, the Almighty (see also 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 16:7; 19:6; 21:22): For persecuted Christians, the message that God is all-powerful provides great comfort and security. • The truth that God is also just and true is the foundation of human integrity in the midst of a confused, unjust, and dishonest world. • God is the supreme, universal King of the nations, not a localized deity attached to one nation or to a human monarch with limited authority.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“sing the song: Exod. 15:1-18; Deu 31:30, 32:1-43 the servant: Deu 34:5; Ch1 6:49; Ch2 24:6; Neh 9:14; Dan 6:20, Dan 9:11; Joh 1:17; Heb 3:5 and the song: Rev 5:9-13, Rev 7:10, Rev 7:11, Rev 14:3, Rev 14:8 Great: Exo 15:11; Job 5:9; Deu 32:4; Psa 78:12, Psa 105:5, Psa 111:2, Psa 118:22, Psa 118:23, Psa 139:14; Psa 145:6; Dan 4:2, Dan 4:3 Lord God Almighty: Rev 4:8, Rev 11:17; Gen 17:1 just: Rev 16:5-7, Rev 19:2; Deu 32:4; Psa 85:10, Psa 85:11, Psa 99:4, Psa 100:5, Psa 145:17; Isa 45:21; Hos 14:9; Mic 7:20; Zep 3:5 thou: Isa 9:6, Isa 9:7, Isa 32:1, Isa 32:2, Isa 33:22; Zac 9:9 saints: or, nations, or, ages, Rev 17:14, Rev 19:16 Revelation 15:4”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification