Revelation 11 13

Revelation 11:13 kjv

And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Revelation 11:13 nkjv

In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Revelation 11:13 niv

At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Revelation 11:13 esv

And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Revelation 11:13 nlt

At the same time there was a terrible earthquake that destroyed a tenth of the city. Seven thousand people died in that earthquake, and everyone else was terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Revelation 11 verses

Revelation 11 13 Meaning

Revelation 11:13 describes the immediate aftermath of the two witnesses' resurrection and ascension. In a significant moment, a massive earthquake strikes "the city," causing a tenth of it to collapse and claiming 7,000 lives. Critically, the remaining survivors, struck by terror, finally acknowledge God's sovereignty and authority, giving glory to the God of heaven. This event serves as a powerful demonstration of God's righteous judgment and His desire, even amidst tribulation, for humanity to turn to Him.

Revelation 11 13 Context

Revelation 11:13 occurs immediately following the spectacular resurrection and ascension of the two witnesses, whose prophetic ministry (Rev 11:3-6) was accompanied by signs and plagues, and who were finally martyred by the beast (Rev 11:7-10). The previous verse (Rev 11:12) records the loud voice from heaven inviting them up. This verse, Rev 11:13, marks the divine consequence of the witnesses' vindication and the powerful testimony displayed. The "great city" mentioned here (and implied by "the city") is identified earlier in Revelation 11:8 as the place where "their Lord was crucified," pointing directly to Jerusalem. This entire section serves as an interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets, showcasing God's continued patience, His warning through His witnesses, and His judicial response to humanity's rebellion, offering an opportunity for repentance. Historically, the audience would have been aware of earthquakes as significant signs, and the concept of giving glory to God, especially after judgment, would resonate with Old Testament narratives.

Revelation 11 13 Word analysis

• And in that hour (καὶ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ - kai en ekeinē tē hōra): This phrase emphasizes the immediacy and precise timing of the judgment. It's not a general future event but happens at that very hour the witnesses ascend, tying the divine response directly to their vindication.
• there was (ἐγένετο - egeneto): Occurred, came to pass. Highlights a sudden, significant event.
• a great earthquake (σεισμὸς μέγας - seismos megas): A major tremor. In the Bible, earthquakes often symbolize divine intervention, judgment, and the shaking of human systems or the physical world to reveal God's power (e.g., Exod 19:18 at Sinai; Ezek 38:19; Zech 14:5). It represents a disruption of stability.
• and a tenth of the city fell (καὶ τὸ δέκατον τῆς πόλεως ἔπεσεν - kai to dekaton tēs poleōs epesen): "The city" (ἡ πόλις - hē polis) most likely refers to Jerusalem, indicated by Rev 11:8 ("where their Lord was crucified"). "A tenth" signifies a specific, measured, yet partial judgment, not total annihilation. It's a significant portion, enough to be a clear warning. "Fell" (ἔπεσεν - epesen) denotes collapse and destruction of structures.
• and 7,000 people were killed (καὶ ἀπεκτάνθησαν ἐν τῷ σεισμῷ ὀνόματα ἀνθρώπων ἑπτά χιλιάδες - kai apektanthēsan en tō seismō onomata anthrōpōn hepta chiliades): Literally "names of men seven thousands." "Names" here emphasizes individual lives lost or perhaps persons of notable status. The number 7,000 (7 x 1,000) often carries symbolic significance in Scripture, representing completeness or divine perfection (7) multiplied by a large number (1,000). It denotes a comprehensive, yet targeted, divine judgment on those found guilty, not random casualty. It might also contrast with the 7,000 faithful remnant in 1 Kgs 19:18, highlighting those who are not God's remnant.
• in the earthquake (ἐν τῷ σεισμῷ - en tō seismō): The direct cause of death, emphasizing the divine agent.
• and the rest were terrified (καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἔμφοβοι ἐγένοντο - kai hoi loipoi emphoboi egenonto): "The rest" (οἱ λοιποὶ - hoi loipoi) refers to the survivors who were not killed or affected by the collapse. "Were terrified" (ἔμφοβοι ἐγένοντο - emphoboi egenonto) implies they were filled with intense fear or awe, often a prelude to repentance or recognition of God's power.
• and gave glory to the God of heaven (ἔδωκαν δόξαν τῷ Θεῷ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ - edōkan doxan tō Theō tou ouranou): This is the crucial turning point. "Giving glory" (διδόναι δόξαν - didonai doxan) signifies acknowledging God's sovereignty, power, and justice; it is an act of worship and a recognition of His rightful place. This response of "the rest" stands in stark contrast to the hardened hearts described elsewhere in Revelation who, even after plagues, refused to repent (Rev 9:20-21; 16:9,11). "The God of heaven" (τῷ Θεῷ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ - tō Theō tou ouranou) is a title frequently found in post-exilic Old Testament books (e.g., Dan, Neh), emphasizing His transcendent authority, His rule over all creation, and His uniqueness.

Revelation 11 13 Bonus section

This verse's unique response ("gave glory to the God of heaven") provides a crucial counterpoint to the more prevalent response of hardened impenitence seen elsewhere in Revelation (e.g., Rev 9:20-21; Rev 16:9,11). It shows that God's judgments, though severe, are not merely retributive but redemptive in intent, aiming to provoke acknowledgment and repentance. The mention of "the God of heaven" links this event to ancient Israelite and Jewish recognition of Yahweh's supreme universal dominion, implying that even those opposed to His witnesses are brought to confess His ultimate authority. While partial in its scope (a tenth, 7,000), this judgment is significant enough to elicit a dramatic and positive spiritual shift in some of the surviving inhabitants of "the city," providing a glimpse of a different human response to God's intervention.

Revelation 11 13 Commentary

Revelation 11:13 stands as a pivotal moment in the cosmic drama, a direct consequence of God's vindication of His two witnesses. The "great earthquake" is a quintessential biblical motif for divine judgment, demonstrating God's sovereign power over creation and human strongholds. The specific number of 7,000 killed and "a tenth of the city" falling indicates a measured, purposeful judgment, not random chaos, implying a clear understanding by God of whom He is judging. The most profound aspect, however, is the reaction of "the rest." Unlike others in Revelation who curse God despite plagues, these survivors are "terrified" into a recognition of His authority and "give glory to the God of heaven." This response highlights God's ultimate purpose in judgment: to call humanity to repentance and to acknowledge His rightful place as the supreme sovereign. It is a moment of limited yet genuine acknowledgment, signifying that even in judgment, God provides an opportunity for some to turn from their rebellious ways. This verse offers hope amidst tribulation, suggesting that even dire circumstances can lead to a shift of heart towards God.