Revelation 13:1 kjv
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Revelation 13:1 nkjv
Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
Revelation 13:1 niv
The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.
Revelation 13:1 esv
And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
Revelation 13:1 nlt
Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God.
Revelation 13 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dan 7:2-3 | "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up out of the sea, diverse one from another." | Sea as source of Gentile powers; multi-headed beasts. |
| Dan 7:7 | "After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns." | Direct parallel for the ten horns; terrifying nature. |
| Dan 7:23-24 | "Thus he said: 'As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms... It shall have ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise.'" | Fourth kingdom identified with ten kings. |
| Rev 12:3 | "And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems." | Dragon's identical heads and horns, implying satanic origin/influence of the beast. |
| Rev 17:3 | "So he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns." | Same beast, emphasizing blasphemy and shared features. |
| Rev 17:9-10 | "This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while." | Explanation of the seven heads (mountains/kings). |
| Rev 17:12 | "And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast." | Explanation of the ten horns as future kings. |
| Rev 17:15 | "And he said to me, 'The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.'" | Interpretation of "sea" as peoples and nations. |
| Isa 57:20 | "But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters toss up mire and dirt." | Sea as symbol of restless, turbulent, wicked nations. |
| Ps 65:7 | "who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples." | Links sea imagery to chaotic nations. |
| Jer 46:7-8 | "Who is this that rises like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge? Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge." | Nations/powers arising like powerful waters. |
| 2 Thess 2:4 | "who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God." | Describes the Antichrist's blasphemous self-exaltation. |
| Dan 11:36 | "And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done." | Ruler speaking arrogant and blasphemous things against God. |
| Rev 11:7 | "And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them." | Another mention of a beast, from an infernal source, making war. |
| Rev 15:2 | "And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands." | Those who overcome the beast, confirming its reality. |
| Rev 18:17-19 | Describes lamentation for Babylon's fall, indicating her association with maritime power and global influence. | Economic aspect and global influence linked to sea/world system. |
| Ps 74:13-14 | "You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters. You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food to the creatures of the wilderness." | God's power over chaos monsters (proto-beast imagery). |
| Isa 27:1 | "In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea." | Sea monster imagery connected to Satanic/political evil. |
| 1 John 2:18 | "Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour." | Prefigures the concept of an anti-God spirit and figure. |
| Rev 13:2-4 | Subsequent verses immediately describe the beast's appearance, power, and worship, confirming its significant role. | Immediate continuation describing the beast's authority and acceptance. |
Revelation 13 verses
Revelation 13 1 Meaning
Revelation 13:1 presents the Apostle John's vision of a fearsome beast emerging from the sea, a symbolic entity embodying a powerful earthly kingdom or empire hostile to God and His people. This beast is depicted with characteristics drawn from previous oppressive empires described in the Old Testament, specifically from Daniel's visions, signifying consolidated human political power animated by Satan. Its seven heads, ten horns, and crowns, along with its blasphemous names, all convey its authority, global reach, and utter defiance of the Creator.
Revelation 13 1 Context
Revelation 13:1 follows Revelation 12, where the cosmic struggle between God's woman (representing Israel and/or the Church) and the red dragon (Satan) is depicted. Having been cast out of heaven, the dragon persecutes the woman and her offspring (Rev 12:13, 17). Revelation 13 then introduces the primary instruments through which the dragon wages this war on earth: the beast from the sea and subsequently the beast from the earth. The "sea" in biblical prophecy often symbolizes the tumultuous gentile nations (e.g., Isa 57:20, Rev 17:15). Thus, the beast's emergence from the sea signifies a global political power or series of powers arising from the world of ungodly humanity.
Historically, John's audience lived under the powerful, idolatrous, and often persecuting Roman Empire, where emperors demanded worship, aligning perfectly with the "blasphemous names." This prophecy, however, extends beyond Rome, reaching to a final, ultimate anti-Christian power that will arise at the end of time. It draws heavily on Daniel's visions of successive world empires, especially the "fourth beast" (Dan 7:7), and the "little horn" (Dan 7:8, 20-25) who speaks "great words against the Most High."
Revelation 13 1 Word analysis
- And I stood: The Greek reads Kai estathēn (καὶ ἐστάθην). "I" refers to John, the visionary. This places him as the observer of the events, standing on the threshold between the land and the turbulent sea. Some older manuscripts read "he stood" (kai estatē), referring to the dragon from the end of Revelation 12, suggesting the dragon's role in summoning the beast. Modern critical texts generally support "I stood," positioning John on the "sand of the sea."
- upon the sand of the sea: The Greek epi tēn ammov tēs thalassēs (ἐπὶ τὴν ἄμμον τῆς θαλάσσης). This boundary location is symbolic. The "sea" (thalassa) typically represents the turbulent, chaotic masses of unregenerate humanity or Gentile nations (Rev 17:15, Isa 57:20). The "sand" provides a stable, yet peripheral, vantage point from which to observe the emergence of this monstrous power. It signifies the beast rising from human history and civilization.
- and saw: John is recounting a divinely given vision, emphasizing its revelatory nature.
- a beast: The Greek thērion (θηρίον). This word typically refers to a wild, dangerous, savage animal, contrasting with domesticated beasts. It highlights the entity's brutal, untamed, and destructive nature. It is a symbol of anti-God, persecuting governmental power.
- rise up: The Greek anabainon (ἀναβαῖνον), implying continuous action, emerging into visibility and power.
- out of the sea: ek tēs thalassēs (ἐκ τῆς θαλάσσης). Confirms the beast's origin from the chaotic realm of humanity and its nations, distinct from divine origin. This beast is purely earthly in its immediate manifestation, though supernaturally empowered.
- having seven heads: The Greek echōn kephalas hepta (ἔχων κεφαλὰς ἑπτά). This directly echoes the dragon in Rev 12:3. The heads represent power, dominion, and comprehensive authority. As explained in Rev 17:9-10, these can symbolize either seven mountains (referencing Rome) or seven kings/empires, signifying a succession of powerful world rulers or universal power. The number seven denotes completeness or totality of its dominion.
- and ten horns: The Greek kai kerata deka (καὶ κέρατα δέκα). "Horns" (kera, singular) in biblical prophecy symbolize power and kings/kingdoms (Dan 7:24, 8:3). The number "ten" signifies totality, ultimate power, or a definite, final set of powers. This mirrors Daniel's fourth beast (Dan 7:7, 24) and highlights a final manifestation of unified, worldwide opposition to God.
- and upon his horns ten crowns: The Greek kai epi tōn keratōn autou deka diadēmata (καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν κεράτων αὐτοῦ δέκα διαδήματα). The term diadēmata refers specifically to royal crowns worn by monarchs, signifying sovereign authority and kingly power. Crucially, these crowns are on the horns, whereas the dragon (Rev 12:3) has crowns on its heads. This difference may imply that the beast's authority is primarily exercised through its ten kings/powers (the horns), suggesting a consolidated or delegated rule among these entities, as opposed to the dragon's inherent, more encompassing authority over its seven heads (domains/kingdoms).
- and upon his heads the name of blasphemy: The Greek onomata blasphēmias (ὀνόματα βλασφημίας), or "blasphemous names." This signifies the beast's core nature is anti-God. Instead of bearing names that glorify God, its heads are inscribed with names that deny God's authority, claim divine attributes for itself (like Roman emperors did), or utter impious defiance against God and His heavenly authority. This blasphemy isn't merely incidental acts but defines its very essence and self-identification.
Revelation 13 1 Bonus section
The textual variant regarding whether "I stood" (John) or "He stood" (the dragon from Rev 12:17/18) is crucial. While modern translations largely favor "I stood," if "He stood" were correct, it would imply the dragon (Satan) taking his place by the sea to call forth his ultimate instrument of earthly power, highlighting a more direct chain of command from the devil to the beast. Nevertheless, whether John is observing or the dragon is active, the beast's satanic empowerment is unequivocal (Rev 13:2). The beast from the sea, a manifestation of satanic power through earthly systems, gathers all previous forms of ungodly dominion into one climactic force. It is not just one nation or ruler, but a global system of defiance against God, rooted in human sin and enabled by demonic influence, designed to centralize political, economic, and spiritual authority against the King of Kings.
Revelation 13 1 Commentary
Revelation 13:1 introduces the central figure of earth's ultimate opposition to God—the beast from the sea. This creature, a composite of terrifying animal imagery, consolidates characteristics from the beasts in Daniel 7 (Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome) to represent a final, consolidated world power that is completely aligned with and empowered by the dragon (Satan). Its origin "out of the sea" signifies its rise from the chaos and rebellion of humanity and its nations. The "seven heads" and "ten horns" symbolize its extensive, universal, and comprehensive dominion over the world's peoples and nations, culminating in a powerful, unified, global political and possibly religious system that ultimately persecutes God's people.
The most telling characteristic, "names of blasphemy upon its heads," reveals its intrinsic defiance against the Creator. This indicates that this power does not merely oppose God; it usurps divine authority, claiming worship and status reserved for God alone. Throughout history, various political powers, such as the Roman emperors demanding worship, have embodied this spirit. In the end times, this spirit will culminate in a single system or leader that personifies ultimate arrogance and rejection of God. This beast is a key player in Satan's end-time strategy, facilitating global rebellion and persecution before Christ's return.