A reed (καλαμος). Old word for a growing reed () which grew in immense brakes in the Jordan valley, a writer's reed (), a measuring-rod (here, ; ; ).

Like a rod (ομοιος ραβδω). See ;  for ραβδος.

And one said (λεγων). "Saying" (present active masculine participle of λεγω) is all that the Greek has. The participle implies εδωκεν (he gave), not εδοθη, a harsh construction seen in Genesis 22:20; Genesis 38:24, etc.

Rise and measure (εγειρε κα μετρησον). Present active imperative of εγειρω (intransitive, exclamatory use as in ) and first aorist active imperative of μετρεω. In  the prophet measures the temple and that passage is probably in mind here. But modern scholars do not know how to interpret this interlude () before the seventh trumpet (). Some (Wellhausen) take it to be a scrap from the Zealot party before the destruction of Jerusalem, which event Christ also foretold (; ; ) and which was also attributed to Stephen (). Charles denies any possible literal interpretation and takes the language in a wholly eschatological sense. There are three points in the interlude, however understood: the chastisement of Jerusalem or Israel (verses ; ), the mission of the two witnesses (), the rescue of the remnant (). There is a heavenly sanctuary (; ; , etc.), but here ναος is on earth and yet not the actual temple in Jerusalem (unless so interpreted). Perhaps here it is the spiritual (; ; ; ; ). For altar (θυσιαστηριον) see . Perhaps measuring as applied to "them that worship therein" (τους προσκυνουντας εν αυτω) implies a word like numbering, with an allusion to the 144,000 in chapter 7 (a zeugma).