Revelation 19:17-21
New English Translation
17 Then[a] I saw one angel standing in[b] the sun, and he shouted in a loud voice to all the birds flying high in the sky:[c]
“Come, gather around for the great banquet[d] of God,
18 to eat[e] your fill[f] of the flesh of kings,
the flesh of generals,[g]
the flesh of powerful people,
the flesh of horses and those who ride them,
and the flesh of all people, both free and slave,[h]
and small and great!”
19 Then[i] I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to do battle with the one who rode the horse and with his army. 20 Now[j] the beast was seized, and along with him the false prophet who had performed the signs on his behalf[k]—signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur.[l] 21 The[m] others were killed by the sword that extended from the mouth of the one who rode the horse, and all the birds gorged[n] themselves with their flesh.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Revelation 19:17 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 19:17 tn The precise significance of ἐν (en) here is difficult to determine.
- Revelation 19:17 tn On μεσουρανήματι (mesouranēmati) here see L&N 1.10: “high in the sky, midpoint in the sky, directly overhead, straight above in the sky.” The birds mentioned here are carrion birds like vultures, circling high overhead, and now being summoned to feast on the corpses.
- Revelation 19:17 tn This is the same Greek word (δεῖπνον, deipnon) used in 19:9.
- Revelation 19:18 tn The ἵνα (hina) clause, insofar as it is related to the first imperative, has the force of an imperative.
- Revelation 19:18 tn The idea of eating “your fill” is evident in the context with the use of χορτάζω (chortazō) in v. 21.
- Revelation 19:18 tn Grk “chiliarchs”; normally a chiliarch was a military officer commanding a thousand soldiers, but here probably used of higher-ranking commanders like generals (see L&N 55.15; cf. Rev 6:15).
- Revelation 19:18 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
- Revelation 19:19 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 19:20 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the introduction of an unexpected development in the account: The opposing armies do not come together in battle; rather the leader of one side is captured.
- Revelation 19:20 tn For this meaning see BDAG 342 s.v. ἐνώπιον 4.b, “by the authority of, on behalf of Rv 13:12, 14; 19:20.”
- Revelation 19:20 tn Traditionally, “brimstone.”
- Revelation 19:21 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 19:21 tn On the translation of ἐχορτάσθησαν (echortasthēsan) BDAG 1087 s.v. χορτάζω 1.a states, “of animals, pass. in act. sense πάντα τὰ ὄρνεα ἐχορτάσθησαν ἐκ τῶν σαρκῶν αὐτῶν all the birds gorged themselves with their flesh Rv 19:21 (cp. TestJud. 21:8).”
Revelation 19:17-21
Christian Standard Bible
The Beast and Its Armies Defeated
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he called out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying high overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of military commanders, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great.”(A)
19 Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies(B) gathered together to wage war(C) against the rider on the horse and against his army. 20 But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with it the false prophet, who had performed the signs in its presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image with these signs.(D) Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.(E) 21 The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds ate their fill of their flesh.
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