I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming 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.