Revelation 13:7 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Revelation 13:7 kjv
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Revelation 13:7 nkjv
It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.
Revelation 13:7 niv
It was given power to wage war against God's holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.
Revelation 13:7 esv
Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation,
Revelation 13:7 nlt
And the beast was allowed to wage war against God's holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.
Revelation 13 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dan 7:21 | As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them... | Beast's war against saints, prevailing. |
| Dan 7:23 | "The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms and shall devour the whole earth, and tread it down, and break it in pieces." | Universal scope of oppressive kingdom. |
| Dan 7:25 | "He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High..." | Beast's assault on saints. |
| Rev 11:7 | 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. | Beast making war and conquering God's witnesses. |
| Rev 12:17 | Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. | Dragon's war against believers. |
| Rev 17:6 | And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. | The world power persecutes believers. |
| 1 Pet 4:12 | Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. | Expectation of persecution for believers. |
| 2 Tim 3:12 | Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. | Universal truth of persecution for the godly. |
| Jn 16:33 | In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. | Jesus promises tribulation but ultimate victory. |
| Rom 8:37 | No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. | Believers' ultimate victory despite suffering. |
| Rev 2:10 | Do not fear what you are about to suffer... Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. | Faithfulness in persecution unto death. |
| Rev 13:10 | If anyone is to be captured, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain by the sword, by the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. | Perseverance of saints during tribulation. |
| Rev 17:14 | They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful. | Ultimate victory of Christ and His saints. |
| Rev 15:2 | And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and 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. | Believers overcoming the beast through Christ. |
| Job 1:12 | And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” | Satan's power is divinely limited and permitted. |
| Lk 22:53 | ...But this is your hour, and the power of darkness. | Satan's permitted temporary reign. |
| Jn 19:11 | Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above." | All authority ultimately originates from God. |
| Rev 5:9 | ...for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. | God's global redemption using the same phrase. |
| Rev 7:9 | After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne... | The universal church described by this quartet. |
| Rev 14:6 | Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. | Universal proclamation of the Gospel. |
| Ps 2:8 | Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. | God's promise of universal dominion to His Son. |
| Isa 2:4 | He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples... | God's ultimate reign over all nations. |
| Zech 14:9 | And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one. | God's ultimate universal reign. |
Revelation 13 verses
Revelation 13 7 meaning
Revelation 13:7 describes the divinely permitted activity of the beast from the sea: its aggressive spiritual and physical conflict with God's people, resulting in an apparent, temporary victory over them, and its universal claim of authority and influence over all peoples and nations on Earth. This portrays a time of intense tribulation and widespread deception, highlighting the sovereign control of God even over the adversary's actions.
Revelation 13 7 Context
Revelation chapter 13 introduces two beasts: the first rising from the sea and the second from the earth. Verse 7 specifically refers to the first beast (often identified as a political, imperial power) and its activities. This beast embodies the satanic, antichrist spirit of false worship and tyrannical rule, acting as the dragon's (Satan's) chief agent on earth. The context reveals the dragon (Rev 12) giving its power, throne, and great authority to this beast, thus setting the stage for global deception and persecution. The description here mirrors imagery from Daniel 7, particularly concerning the little horn and its conflict with the saints. Historically, the audience would have understood this in light of contemporary Roman imperial cults and persecution, where Caesar was worshipped as divine and Christians were martyred for their refusal to compromise their faith. The verse functions as a stark warning about the spiritual and physical conflict that faithful believers will face during an ultimate reign of global evil, simultaneously asserting God's sovereignty over these events, as the beast's power is "granted" and "given" by divine allowance.
Revelation 13 7 Word analysis
- It was granted (ἐδόθη - edothē): This is a passive verb, implying divine permission or allowance. It underscores God's ultimate sovereignty and control; even the beast's malicious actions are not outside His plan, but are permitted for His purposes, such as refining His saints or revealing wickedness fully. It indicates the beast does not possess inherent power, but only delegated authority.
- to him (αὐτῷ - autō): Refers to the first beast from the sea (Rev 13:1), which symbolizes a powerful, worldwide political and economic system animated by satanic influence, embodying oppressive authority.
- to make war (ποιῆσαι πόλεμον - poiēsai polemon): Denotes active, aggressive, and sustained conflict. This "war" is not just spiritual temptation but also encompasses physical persecution, martyrdom, legal suppression, and widespread societal hostility against God's people.
- with the saints (τῶν ἁγίων - tōn hagiōn): "Saints" refers to all true believers in Jesus Christ, those set apart for God. This signifies a direct, fundamental opposition between the worldly, satanically-inspired power and God's consecrated followers.
- and to overcome them (καὶ νικῆσαι αὐτούς - kai nikēsai autous): The verb nikēsai means "to conquer," "to be victorious over." On a human, temporal level, it means the beast appears to vanquish or defeat the saints, leading to their suffering and death. This is the temporary, visible victory of evil in the eyes of the world, highlighting the intensity of tribulation believers will face. However, this is presented as a paradoxical "victory," as elsewhere in Revelation, those who die as martyrs are seen as having ultimately "overcome" through Christ (Rev 12:11, 15:2).
- and authority was given him (καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ ἐξουσία - kai edothē autō exousia): Again, the passive "was given" reinforces that the beast's "authority" (exousia, implying rightful power, but here granted in a provisional sense for God's ultimate purposes) is not self-derived but delegated. This delegation comes from the dragon (Rev 13:2), but ultimately under the permissive will of God.
- over every tribe and people and language and nation (πᾶσαν φυλὴν καὶ λαὸν καὶ γλῶσσαν καὶ ἔθνος - pasan phylēn kai laon kai glōssan kai ethnos): This fourfold phrase is a common biblical expression emphasizing universal scope and totality. Here, it denotes the global, comprehensive reach of the beast's power and influence, signifying a dominion that spans all ethnic, social, linguistic, and national boundaries, establishing a counter-kingdom to God's universal reign.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them": This phrase highlights the intense and physical nature of the persecution, portraying the beast's seemingly dominant, yet ultimately limited, power to inflict suffering and death upon God's elect. It underlines the spiritual battle and its tangible consequences in the lives of believers, but also subtly points to God's ultimate control by stressing the permitted nature of this conflict.
- "and authority was given him over every tribe and people and language and nation": This second part emphasizes the global, encompassing reach of the beast's power and influence. It paints a picture of a universally recognized, dominant world power that will command allegiance and spread its false worship across all segments of humanity, a distorted imitation of God's universal dominion. This vast influence facilitates the global persecution mentioned in the first part.
Revelation 13 7 Bonus section
The phrasing "every tribe and people and language and nation" is found numerous times in Revelation (e.g., 5:9; 7:9; 10:11; 11:9; 14:6; 17:15). Its repetition often points to either the universal scope of the gospel and God's redemptive work, or, as here, the universal reach of the opposing force. In Revelation 13:7, this deliberate phrasing emphasizes the pervasive nature of the beast's false authority, demonstrating its widespread reach in parodying God's universal claim. This global dominion of the beast is explicitly described in Rev 13:8 as "all who dwell on earth will worship it," demonstrating that its universal authority culminates in universal enforced worship, with the saints being the only exceptions. This struggle between ultimate worship of God and compelled worship of the beast is central to the narrative of Revelation.
Revelation 13 7 Commentary
Revelation 13:7 is a critical verse outlining the severe trial awaiting God's people in the end times. It depicts the Beast as not merely a localized threat, but a global power permitted by divine sovereignty to engage in aggressive warfare against Christians, resulting in their physical suffering and apparent defeat through martyrdom. This "victory" is seen from an earthly perspective, highlighting the beast's unchallenged worldly dominion, which extends over "every tribe and people and language and nation." Yet, the consistent use of the passive voice ("was granted," "was given") underscores God's ultimate control and boundaries over the beast's actions. Believers are called to endurance and faith, recognizing that their apparent defeat in this world is their true victory in Christ, a testament to His power over evil, as those martyred later stand triumphant before God (Rev 15:2). This verse serves as both a warning of the intensity of coming persecution and an assurance of God's abiding sovereignty amidst tribulation. For example, throughout history, whether under pagan Rome or other tyrannical regimes, this pattern of globalizing powers persecuting believers has manifested, serving as partial forewarnings of this ultimate reality.