{In the midst} (ana meson). In  5:6  we have en mes(9369) tou
thronou as the position of the Lamb, and so that is apparently
the sense of ana meson here as in  Mt 13:25 , though it can
mean "between," as clearly so in  1Co 6:5 . {Shall be their
shepherd} (paimanei autous). "Shall shepherd them," future
active of poimain(935c) (from poim(886e), shepherd), in  Joh 21:16  Ac
20:28  1Pe 5:2  Re 2:27  7:17  12:5  19:15 . Jesus is still the
Good Shepherd of his sheep ( Joh 10:11,14ff. ). Cf.  Ps 23:1 .
{Shall guide them} (hod(8820)g(8873)ei autous). Future active of
hod(8867)e(935c), old word (from hod(8867)os, guide,  Mt 15:14 ), used of
God's guidance of Israel ( Ex 15:13 ), of God's guidance of
individual lives ( Ps 5:9 ), of the guidance of the Holy Spirit
( Joh 16:13 ), of Christ's own guidance here (cf.  Joh 14:4  Re
14:4 ). {Unto fountains of waters of life} (epi z(9388)s p(8867)as
hudat(936e)). The language is like that in  Isa 49:10  Jer 2:13 .
Note the order, "to life's water springs" (Swete) like the
Vulgate _ad vitae fontes aquarum_, with emphasis on z(9388)s
(life's). For this idea see also  Joh 4:12,14  7:38f.  Re 21:6  22:1,17 . No special emphasis on the plural here or in  8:10  14:7  16:4 . {And God shall wipe away} (kai exaleipsei ho
theos). Repeated in  21:4  from  Isa 25:8 . Future active of
exaleiph(935c), old compound, to wipe out (ex), off, away, already
in  3:5  for erasing a name and in  Ac 3:19  for removing the
stain (guilt) of sin. {Every tear} (p(836e) dakruon). Old word,
with other form, dakru, in  Lu 7:38,44 . Note repetition of
ek with ophthalm(936e) (out of their eyes). "Words like these of
vv.  15-17  must sound as a divine music in the ears of the
persecuted. God will comfort as a mother comforts" (Baljon).