The Sea Beast: Blasphemy and Persecution
Revelation 13:2-10
Rev.13.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- θηριον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ειδον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- ομοιον: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- παρδαλει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ποδες: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ως: ADV
- αρκου: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- στομα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ως: ADV
- στομα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- λεοντος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εδωκεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δρακων: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- δυναμιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θρονον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εξουσιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- μεγαλην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Daniel 7:3-7 (verbal): Direct verbal imagery: beasts like a leopard, bear, and lion appear in Daniel's vision; Revelation 13 borrows these animal features for its beast.
- Daniel 7:17-23 (thematic): Daniel interprets the beasts as symbolic kingdoms and speaks of power and authority given to them—paralleling Revelation's theme of a beast receiving dominion.
- Revelation 17:3,7,12-13 (structural): Revelation 17 depicts a beast empowered by the dragon (and ten kings/ten horns receiving authority), closely echoing 13:2’s note that the dragon gave the beast his power, throne, and authority.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (thematic): The 'man of lawlessness' who exalts himself and exercises blasphemous authority parallels the beast's granted throne and dominion and its opposition to God.
Alternative generated candidates
- The beast I saw resembled a leopard, its feet like a bear's, and its mouth like a lion's mouth. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
- And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like a bear's, and his mouth like a lion's mouth. And the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority.
Rev.13.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- μιαν: NUM,acc,sg,f
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- κεφαλων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ως: ADV
- εσφαγμενην: PART,perf,pass,acc,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- θανατον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- πληγη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θανατου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εθεραπευθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- εθαυμασθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- ολη: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- γη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- οπισω: ADV
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θηριου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
Parallels
- Revelation 13:4 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: the healed wound provokes the people's reaction—worship and marvel—so 13:4 records the earth's worshipful response to the beast's recovery.
- Revelation 13:11 (thematic): Introduces the second beast who follows the first and uses signs to consolidate worship; thematically linked to the healed-first-beast motif whereby miraculous display leads to universal amazement and allegiance.
- Revelation 13:14 (verbal): Speaks of deceptive signs that lead the inhabitants of the earth astray—parallels the healed wound as a miraculous sign that causes the whole earth to marvel and follow the beast.
- Revelation 17:8 (allusion): Describes the beast as one that 'was, and is not, and is about to ascend'—an image echoing the apparent death/wounding and subsequent reappearance or continued power of the beast implied by the healed mortal wound in 13:3.
- Daniel 7:8 (thematic): Daniel's vision of a little horn arising among beasts (blasphemous, speaking arrogantly, exercising authority) provides the Old Testament background for Revelation's beast-figures: revived/continuing imperial or persecuting power that astonishes and rules.
Alternative generated candidates
- One of his heads looked as though it had been mortally wounded, but the mortal wound was healed—and the whole earth marveled and followed the beast.
- One of his heads seemed to have a mortal wound, and his mortal wound was healed; and the whole earth marveled after the beast.
Rev.13.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- προσεκυνησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- δρακοντι: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- εδωκεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- εξουσιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- θηριω: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- προσεκυνησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- θηριω: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- λεγοντες·Τις: PARTIC,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- ομοιος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- θηριω: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- δυναται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- πολεμησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- μετ᾽αυτου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Rev.13.2 (verbal): Same scene: the dragon gives the beast its power, authority and throne—direct verbal and narrative link explaining why people worship the beast.
- Rev.13.12 (thematic): The second (earth) beast causes the inhabitants of the earth to worship the first beast—develops the theme of manufactured idolatry and popular acclaim of the beast.
- Rev.12.9 (allusion): Identifies the dragon as the ancient serpent/Satan who empowers the beast—provides the source of the beast's authority mentioned in 13:4.
- Dan.7:8,20-25 (allusion): Daniel’s visions of hostile, blasphemous beasts given dominion and persecuting the saints provide the Old Testament background for Revelation’s beast, its granted authority, and the question of who can oppose it.
- Rev.19:19-20 (structural): Narrative counterpoint: despite claims that none can make war with the beast, Revelation later depicts the beast’s defeat and capture—structural fulfillment and judgment motif.
Alternative generated candidates
- They worshiped the dragon, for he had given authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?'
- They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast, and who can make war against it?'
Rev.13.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- εδοθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- στομα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- λαλουν: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,n
- μεγαλα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- βλασφημιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εδοθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- εξουσια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ποιησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- μηνας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- τεσσερακοντα: NUM,acc,pl
- δυο: NUM,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Daniel 7:25 (allusion): The little horn will 'speak great things against the Most High' and has authority for 'a time, times, and half a time'—an obvious antecedent to the beast's blasphemous speech and limited 42‑month authority.
- Revelation 11:2-3 (structural): Uses the same temporal framework (42 months / 1,260 days) for prophetic activity; parallels Rev 13:5's granting of authority for forty‑two months.
- Revelation 12:14 (verbal): Speaks of the woman being protected for 'a time, times, and half a time' (equivalent to 42 months), echoing the same limited prophetic period assigned to hostile powers in Rev 13:5.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (thematic): Describes the 'man of lawlessness' who exalts himself and opposes God, seating himself in God's place and acting blasphemously—thematisms that parallel the beast's blasphemous mouth and claims to authority.
Alternative generated candidates
- A mouth was given to him to speak proud words and blasphemies, and authority was given to him to act for forty-two months.
- And a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies was given to him, and authority was given to him to act for forty-two months.
Rev.13.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ηνοιξε: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- στομα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- βλασφημιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- προς: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- βλασφημησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- σκηνην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ουρανω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- σκηνουντας: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Daniel 7:25 (allusion): The little horn 'shall speak great words against the Most High' and persecute the saints—language and theme closely parallel the beast's blasphemous speech against God and attacks on God's people.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:4 (thematic): The 'man of lawlessness' opposes God and exalts himself, even 'sitting in the temple of God'—echoes Rev 13:6's blasphemy against God's name and his 'tabernacle'.
- Psalm 74:10 (thematic): A psalmist complaint that the enemy 'reviles' and 'blasphemes' God's name—same motif of hostile powers openly insulting God's name and sanctuary.
- Revelation 13:5 (verbal): Immediate context: the beast is described as given power to 'continue forty and two months' and to 'speak blasphemies'—a direct verbal and structural parallel within the same vision.
- Revelation 16:9 (thematic): Those afflicted by the bowls 'blasphemed the God of heaven'—another instance in Revelation where people respond by cursing God, underscoring the motif of blasphemy directed at God's name and dwelling.
Alternative generated candidates
- He opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name, his dwelling, and those who dwell in heaven.
- He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name and his dwelling, and those who dwell in heaven.
Rev.13.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εδοθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ποιησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- πολεμον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- μετα: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αγιων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- νικησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- εδοθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- εξουσια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- επι: PREP
- πασαν: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- φυλην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- λαον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- γλωσσαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εθνος: NOUN,nom,sg,n
Parallels
- Daniel 7:21,25 (verbal): The fourth beast in Daniel 'made war with the saints' and 'shall wear out the saints,' language closely echoed by Rev 13:7; Revelation alludes to Daniel's beast-portrait and its persecution of the holy ones.
- Revelation 11:7 (structural): The beast that ascends out of the abyss 'will make war with them and overcome them'—a near-verbatim parallel within Revelation describing the same hostile action against God's people.
- Revelation 5:9 (verbal): The redeemed are described as a song 'from every tribe and tongue and people and nation,' echoing Rev 13:7's catalogue of 'every tribe and people and tongue and nation' to show the worldwide scope of the beast's authority over the nations.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (thematic): Paul's portrait of the man of lawlessness who exalts himself and persecutes God's people thematically parallels the beast's granted authority and hostile rule in Rev 13:7.
- Matthew 24:9-10 (thematic): Jesus' warning that his followers will be persecuted and hated by all nations resonates thematically with Rev 13:7's depiction of the beast making war on and prevailing against the saints.
Alternative generated candidates
- He was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them; authority was granted him over every people, tongue, and nation.
- It was granted to him to make war against the saints and to overcome them; and authority was given him over every tribe and tongue and nation.
Rev.13.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- προσκυνησουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- κατοικουντες: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ου: PART,neg
- ου: PART,neg
- γεγραπται: VERB,perf,pass,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- βιβλιω: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- ζωης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αρνιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- εσφαγμενου: PART,perf,pass,gen,sg,m
- απο: PREP
- καταβολης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- κοσμου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Rev.17:8 (verbal): Uses very similar language about 'those who dwell on the earth' and names not written in the book of life and echoes the 'was, is not, is to come' / 'slain from the foundation' motif.
- Rev.5:9 (thematic): Speaks of the Lamb who was slain and who purchased people from every tribe—connects the title 'Lamb slain' and the Lamb's role in salvation to Rev 13:8's reference.
- Rev.20:12-15 (thematic): Depicts the final judgment where the book(s) are opened and entry depends on whether names are written in the book of life—the same book invoked in Rev 13:8.
- Eph.1:4-5 (allusion): Paul's language about being chosen in Christ 'before the foundation of the world' parallels the temporal phrase 'from the foundation of the world' and the concept of divine election implicit in the book of life.
- Ps.69:28 (Heb. 69:28/MT 69:28) (thematic): An Old Testament antecedent that invokes a 'book of life' and the blotting out of names, providing background for the Jewish concept of a divine register referred to in Rev 13:8.
Alternative generated candidates
- And all who dwell on the earth will worship him—everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
- And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name is not written in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev.13.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ει: PART
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- εχει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- ακουσατω: VERB,aor,act,imp,3,sg
Parallels
- Matt.11:15 (verbal): Same concise exhortation—'He who has ears, let him hear'—used by Jesus; the wording and imperative to attend are virtually identical to Rev 13:9.
- Matt.13:9 (verbal): Appears at the close of Jesus' parables ('He who has ears to hear, let him hear'), linking the imperative to discernment of hidden meanings, a parallel function to the warning in Revelation.
- Mark 4:9 (verbal): Parallel to Matthew 13:9 with the same formula; underscores the New Testament convention of calling for attentive hearing, echoed verbatim in Rev 13:9.
- Rev.3:6 (structural): A recurring formula within Revelation's seven church messages—'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches'—showing the book's characteristic call to heed the revelation.
- Rev.2:7 (structural): One instance of the same concluding admonition to the churches in Revelation; demonstrates the author's repeated imperative for perceptive listening that Rev 13:9 invokes.
Alternative generated candidates
- If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
- If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
Rev.13.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- εις: PREP
- αιχμαλωσιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- αιχμαλωσιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- υπαγει·ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- εν: PREP
- μαχαιρη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αποκτανθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- μαχαιρη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αποκτανθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- ωδε: ADV
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- υπομονη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- πιστις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αγιων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Revelation 14:12 (verbal): Repeats the exact exhortation: 'Here is the patience/endurance of the saints' and links endurance with keeping faith and commandments — a direct verbal and thematic echo.
- Matthew 26:52 (verbal): Jesus' saying 'all who take the sword will perish by the sword' parallels the reciprocal phrasing 'if anyone is slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain.'
- Matthew 24:13 (thematic): Promises salvation for those who 'endure to the end,' aligning with Rev 13:10's emphasis that patience/endurance and faith characterize the saints amid persecution.
- Revelation 1:9 (structural): John identifies himself as a companion in 'tribulation and kingdom and patient endurance in Christ,' echoing the book-wide theme that believers share suffering and must endure.
- Luke 21:19 (thematic): 'By your endurance you will gain your lives' parallels Rev 13:10's linkage of faithful endurance under persecution with the identity and destiny of the saints.
Alternative generated candidates
- If anyone is to be led into captivity, into captivity he goes; if anyone is to be killed by the sword, by the sword must he be killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints.
- Anyone who is taken captive goes into captivity; anyone who is slain by the sword must be slain by the sword. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints.
The beast that I saw was like a leopard, and its feet were like the feet of a bear, and its mouth like the mouth of a lion; and the dragon gave it his power and his throne and great authority.
One of its heads appeared to have received a mortal wound, and the mortal wound was healed; and all the earth marveled and followed the beast.
They worshiped the dragon, for he had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who can make war against it?"
Also given to it was a mouth to speak great things and blasphemies, and it was granted authority to act for forty-two months.
It opened its mouth to blaspheme God—to blaspheme his name and his dwelling and those who dwell in heaven.
It was permitted to make war on the saints and to conquer them; authority was given it over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. And all who dwell on the earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
If anyone is to be taken captive, into captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, by the sword must he be slain. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.