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Revelation 13

Rev. 13:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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1
And
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
I stood
histemi (Greek #2476)
to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up). Compare 5087.
Pronounce: his'-tay-mee
Origin: a prolonged form of a primary στάω (stah'-o) (of the same meaning, and used for it in certain tenses)
upon
epi (Greek #1909)
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
KJV usage: about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
Pronounce: ep-ee'
Origin: a primary preposition
the sand
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
ammos (Greek #285)
sand (as heaped on the beach)
KJV usage: sand.
Pronounce: am'-mos
Origin: perhaps from 260
of the sea
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
thalassa (Greek #2281)
the sea (genitive case or specially)
KJV usage: sea.
Pronounce: thal'-as-sah
Origin: probably prolonged from 251
, and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
saw
eido (Greek #1492)
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent 3700 and 3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know
KJV usage: be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot. Compare 3700.
Pronounce: i'-do
Origin: a primary verb
a beast
therion (Greek #2342)
a dangerous animal
KJV usage: (venomous, wild) beast.
Pronounce: thay-ree'-on
Origin: diminutive from the same as 2339
g rise up
anabaino (Greek #305)
to go up (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: arise, ascend (up), climb (go, grow, rise, spring) up, come (up).
Pronounce: an-ab-ah'-ee-no
Origin: from 303 and the base of 939
out of
ek (Greek #1537)
or ἐξ (ex) a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote)
KJV usage: after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, ...ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.
Pronounce: ek
the sea
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
thalassa (Greek #2281)
the sea (genitive case or specially)
KJV usage: sea.
Pronounce: thal'-as-sah
Origin: probably prolonged from 251
, having
echo (Greek #2192)
(used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
KJV usage: be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.
Pronounce: ekh'-o
Origin: σχέω (skheh'-o)
a seven
hepta (Greek #2033)
seven
KJV usage: seven.
Pronounce: hep-tah'
Origin: a primary number
heads
kephale (Greek #2776)
the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively
KJV usage: head.
Pronounce: kef-al-ay'
Origin: from the primary κάπτω (in the sense of seizing)
and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
ten
deka (Greek #1176)
ten
KJV usage: (eight-)een, ten.
Pronounce: dek'-ah
Origin: a primary number
horns
keras (Greek #2768)
a horn (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: horn.
Pronounce: ker'-as
Origin: from a primary κάρ (the hair of the head)
, and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
upon
epi (Greek #1909)
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
KJV usage: about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
Pronounce: ep-ee'
Origin: a primary preposition
his
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
horns
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
keras (Greek #2768)
a horn (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: horn.
Pronounce: ker'-as
Origin: from a primary κάρ (the hair of the head)
ten
deka (Greek #1176)
ten
KJV usage: (eight-)een, ten.
Pronounce: dek'-ah
Origin: a primary number
crowns
diadema (Greek #1238)
a "diadem" (as bound about the head)
KJV usage: crown. Compare 4735.
Pronounce: dee-ad'-ay-mah
Origin: from a compound of 1223 and 1210
, and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
upon
epi (Greek #1909)
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
KJV usage: about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
Pronounce: ep-ee'
Origin: a primary preposition
his
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
heads
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
kephale (Greek #2776)
the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively
KJV usage: head.
Pronounce: kef-al-ay'
Origin: from the primary κάπτω (in the sense of seizing)
the βname
onoma (Greek #3686)
a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character)
KJV usage: called, (+ sur-)name(-d).
Pronounce: on'-om-ah
Origin: from a presumed derivative of the base of 1097 (compare 3685)
of blasphemy
blasphemia (Greek #988)
vilification (especially against God)
KJV usage: blasphemy, evil speaking, railing.
Pronounce: blas-fay-me'-ah
Origin: from 989
.
g
Dan. 7:2• 2Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heavens broke forth upon the great sea. (Dan. 7:2)
,etc.
a
Rev. 12:3• 3And another sign was seen in the heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems; (Rev. 12:3)
;
Rev. 17:3,9,12• 3And he carried me away in spirit to a desert; and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
 9Here is the mind that has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains, whereon the woman sits.
 12And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have not yet received a kingdom, but receive authority as kings one hour with the beast. (Rev. 17:3,9,12)
β
or, names.

More on:

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Beast,
blasphemy,
Head,
Horns,
sand,
Sea,
Seven,
Ten

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1-10:  A beast rises out of the sea with seven heads and ten horns, to whom the dragon gives his power.
11-13:  Another beast comes out of the earth;
14:  causes an image to be made of the former beast,
15:  and that men should worship it,
16-18:  and receive his mark.
upon.
Jer. 5:22• 22Will ye not fear me? saith Jehovah. Will ye not tremble at my presence, who have set the sand a bound for the sea by a perpetual decree, and it shall not pass it? and its waves toss themselves, but they do not prevail; and they roar, yet can they not pass over it? (Jer. 5:22)
and saw.
Rev. 11:7• 7And when they shall have completed their testimony, the beast who comes up out of the abyss shall make war with them, and shall conquer them, and shall kill them: (Rev. 11:7)
;
Rev. 17:8• 8The beast which thou sawest was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go into destruction: and they who dwell on the earth, whose names are not written from the founding of the world in the book of life, shall wonder, seeing the beast, that it was, and is not, and shall be present. (Rev. 17:8)
;
Dan. 7:2‑3• 2Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heavens broke forth upon the great sea.
 3And four great beasts came up from the sea, different one from another. (Dan. 7:2‑3)
having.
Rev. 12:3• 3And another sign was seen in the heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems; (Rev. 12:3)
;
Rev. 17:3,7‑12,16• 3And he carried me away in spirit to a desert; and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
 7And the angel said to me, Why hast thou wondered? *I* will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast which carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
 8The beast which thou sawest was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go into destruction: and they who dwell on the earth, whose names are not written from the founding of the world in the book of life, shall wonder, seeing the beast, that it was, and is not, and shall be present.
 9Here is the mind that has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains, whereon the woman sits.
 10And there are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes he must remain only a little while.
 11And the beast that was and is not, he also is an eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into destruction.
 12And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have not yet received a kingdom, but receive authority as kings one hour with the beast.
 16And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her with fire; (Rev. 17:3,7‑12,16)
;
Dan. 7:7‑8,19‑20,23‑24• 7After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and exceeding strong; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the rest with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
 8I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another, a little horn, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
 19Then I desired to know the certainty concerning the fourth beast, which was different from them all, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the rest with its feet;
 20and concerning the ten horns that were in its head, and the other that came up, and before which three fell: even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth speaking great things, and whose look was more imposing than its fellows.
 23He said thus: The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon the earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
 24And as to the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall arise ten kings; and another shall arise after them; and he shall be different from the former, and he shall subdue three kings. (Dan. 7:7‑8,19‑20,23‑24)
ten crowns.
Rev. 12:3• 3And another sign was seen in the heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems; (Rev. 12:3)
name.
or, names.
blasphemy.
Rev. 13:5‑6• 5And there was given to it a mouth, speaking great things and blasphemies; and there was given to it authority to pursue its career forty-two months.
 6And it opened its mouth for blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle, and those who have their tabernacle in the heaven. (Rev. 13:5‑6)
;
Rev. 17:3,5• 3And he carried me away in spirit to a desert; and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
 5and upon her forehead a name written, Mystery, great Babylon, the mother of the harlots, and of the abominations of the earth. (Rev. 17:3,5)
;
Dan. 7:25• 25And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most high places, and think to change seasons and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and a half time. (Dan. 7:25)
;
Dan. 11:36• 36And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every *god, and speak monstrous things against the *God of *gods; and he shall prosper until the indignation be accomplished: for that which is determined shall be done. (Dan. 11:36)
;
2 Thess. 2:3‑4• 3Let not any one deceive you in any manner, because it will not be unless the apostasy have first come, and the man of sin have been revealed, the son of perdition;
 4who opposes and exalts himself on high against all called God, or object of veneration; so that he himself sits down in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (2 Thess. 2:3‑4)
• "All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them; for this is delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will I give it." Now here he gives it to the Roman beast. Satan was, of course, an usurper; but still he was the prince of the world in fact, and as such he has seven heads and ten horns. But as Satan, he does not present himself openly before men. He must have some representative or agent. (“Lectures on Revelation 13:1-10” by W. Kelly)
• Blasphemy, not mere heathenism, characterizes his heads. (“Lectures on Revelation 13:1-10” by W. Kelly)
• Note, he has the same number of heads and horns as the great red dragon has, thus showing that Satan gives him his power and seat and authority. (“Lectures on Revelation 13:1-10” by W. Kelly)
• The sea sets forth a troubled state of nations, and the fourth and last beast mentioned by Daniel is seen by the prophet coming out of it. (“Revelation 12” by W. Kelly)
• Although Satan is a spirit, and therefore unseen by mortal eyes, he is nevertheless actually in person on the earth during the last half prophetic week of Daniel, three years and a half. His two principal ministers are before us in this chapter, two men. These instrumentalities are also spoken of as beasts, wild, fierce beasts. As men they are, of course, responsible to God, but they are here viewed as the tools and instruments of Satan, who gives them their power and wields it. (“Revelation 13: The Two Beasts” by W. Scott)
• The first Beast is a Gentile, characterized by brute force (vss. 1-10); the second Beast is a Jew, characterized by subtle influence (vss. 11-18). (“Revelation 13: The Two Beasts” by W. Scott)
• Authorities are divided. But a careful study of the context shows conclusively that it is the Seer and not the dragon that “stood upon the sand of the sea.” The apocalyptic prophet always takes his place or stand as a point of observation in keeping with the subject on hand. (“Revelation 13: The Two Beasts” by W. Scott)
• The sand directs attention to the countless masses of mankind, while the sea as a symbol speaks of the wild and revolutionary forces and principles at work amongst them. In other words, the mass of the human race is here indicated as in a state of unrest and turmoil. (“Revelation 13: The Two Beasts” by W. Scott)
• This Beast is without doubt the ancient Roman empire reappearing upon the prophetic scene. It arose in a similar way to the three preceding empires. “Four great beasts came up from the sea” (Dan. 7:3); that is, out of the unsettled, restless masses of mankind. The four universal empires, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome are represented both as metals (Dan. 2) and beasts (chap. 7). (“Revelation 13: The Two Beasts” by W. Scott)
• Whether the empire is in existence or only being formed during the time of the Seal-judgments we have no means of ascertaining. It may be that out of the general collapse of all governing authority under the sixth Seal (Rev. 6:12-17) the Beast emerges. The earlier martyrs (Rev. 6:9-11) are not slain under the persecution of the Beast, but are to wait until they were joined by those subsequently slain, showing that the Beast is not on the scene, at least not active, during the time covered by the Seals. (“Revelation 13: The Two Beasts” by W. Scott)
• But in Revelation 12:3; 17:3 we find the heads first, then the horns. Probably the reason why the horns in our text are named before the heads is that the Beast’s historical appearance when revived is in a ten-kingdom form. Attention is thus called to this new and hitherto unknown feature of the empire. (“Revelation 13: The Two Beasts” by W. Scott)
• Now these ten crowned horns are ten kings (Rev. 17:12). There will be witnessed soon ten distinct kingdoms in western Europe. (“Revelation 13: The Two Beasts” by W. Scott)
• There shall then be but one ruler over the empire, the “little horn” of Daniel 7, the Roman prince who makes a covenant with the apostate nation for seven years (Dan. 9:27), breaks it in the midst of the period, and finally perishes at the Coming of the Lord in judgment (Rev. 19:20). (“Revelation 13: The Two Beasts” by W. Scott)
• The seven heads on the Beast represent, not successive forms of rule, as in chapter 17:10, but the fullness and completeness of government with which the Beast is invested in its latter-day history. It is not simply the concentration of power signified by “seven horns” (Rev. 5:6), but “seven heads,” the fullness of intelligent government (Rev. 12:3). (“Revelation 13: The Two Beasts” by W. Scott)
• “Upon his heads names of blasphemy.” The profession of Christianity having been abandoned (2 Thess. 2:3), public, open blasphemy of God is the sad result. The Beast will openly defy God, and set himself in determined opposition to all who are His (vs. 6). (“Revelation 13: The Two Beasts” by W. Scott)
• This man will rise to power in the empire out of a political convulsion (the “great earthquake” – chap. 6:12) that Satan will cause in the government under “the whore”—the Catholic Church (Rev. 17:1-6). This political leader is known by the same name as the empire—the “Beast” (vss. 4-8; 19:20; 20:10). He is also referred to as “the little horn” (Dan. 7:8), “the king of Babylon” (Isa. 14:4); “the prince” (Dan. 9:26, 27 – the second “he”). The “beast” that rises up “out of the sea,” having “seven heads and ten horns” is the European federation of ten nations in the West—the revived Roman Empire (Dan. 2:40-45; Rev. 17:3, 9-11). However, its rising out of the sea, as seen here, is not referring to the revival of the empire (which happens at the beginning of the prophetic week by the Catholic Church – Rev. 6:1-2), but to its Satanic emergence out of the state of political chaos that will momentarily exist in the middle of the week, resulting from the upheaval in the government that Satan will cause. (“Judgments in Connection With Israel: Revelation 12-14” by B. Anstey)
• The Sand of the Sea: Position of moral separation from the tumultuous movements of the people. (“Revelation 13 Symbols” by A.H. Burton)
• Beast: Revived form of the Roman Empire (Dan. 7). (“Revelation 13 Symbols” by A.H. Burton)
• Sea: The turbulent mass of unsettled, unreclaimed nations in anarchy and confusion (Isa. 57:20). (“Revelation 13 Symbols” by A.H. Burton)
• Seven Heads: (See Rev. 12:3; 17:9). (“Revelation 13 Symbols” by A.H. Burton)
• Ten Horns: (See Rev. 12:3). (“Revelation 13 Symbols” by A.H. Burton)
• Ten Crowns [Diadems]: Kingly power in an incomplete form. (“Revelation 13 Symbols” by A.H. Burton)
• Names of Blasphemy: Open enmity to God and His Christ. (“Revelation 13 Symbols” by A.H. Burton)

J. N. Darby Translation

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1
And I stood upon the sand of the sea; and I saw a beast rising out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and upon its horns ten diadems, and upon its heads names of blasphemy.

W. Kelly Translation

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1
Anda Ib stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads namesc of blasphemy.

WK Translation Notes

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a
The Revisers put what commonly stands at the beginning of chapter 13 with the closing paragraph of chapter 12, verse 18, adopting "and he stood upon the sand of the sea" (the dragon), not "I" stood (John). No doubt there is good and ancient authority for this departure from the T. R. and KJV, but excellent judges decide for the common text.
b
The reader should know that this is one of the most contested readings in the book. The difference in Greek is but a letter more or less; but in the one case John is meant, in the other the dragon. The three best MSS., and most of the ancient versions support the third person "he stood"; other MSS. give the first person "I stood." Here Tisch, even in his last edition yields to the weight of the internal grounds in deciding for the latter. The comparison of our text with will perhaps suffice to show that there is no internal incongruity in assigning such a position to John. , ought to be borne in mind. On the other hand, if it be "he stood," I do not see that it attributes providential power to Satan, which would be very objectionable.
c
The T. R. reading, answering to "name" in the KJV, is not without good support; but the plural form has yet more, and was the first printed reading in the Complutensian edition.