“Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Here we have a description of the honour and happiness of those who have faithfully served the Lord Jesus Christ, and suffered for him. Observe, I. A question asked by one of the elders, not for his own information, but for John's instruction: ministers may learn from the people, especially from aged and experienced Christians; the lowest saint in heaven knows more than the greatest apostle in the world.
Commenting on Revelation 7:13-17
And I said unto him, sir, thou knowest,.... John replies in a very humble, modest, and respectful manner, to the elder, calling him "sir", according to the usage of the eastern people; and it is observable, that this word is much used in his Gospel, and more than in any other book; see Joh 4:11.
Verse 14. And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. The word sir in this place--κυριε, lord--is a form of respectful address, such as would be used when speaking to a superior, . The simple meaning of the phrase "thou knowest" is, that he who had asked the question must be better informed than he to whom he had proposed it.