Revelation 19:15 kjv
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Revelation 19:15 nkjv
Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Revelation 19:15 niv
Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
Revelation 19:15 esv
From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
Revelation 19:15 nlt
From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.
Revelation 19 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 1:16 | In His right hand He held seven stars, from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword... | Christ's mouth, sword, power. |
| Rev 2:12 | ...to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of Him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. | Christ's authoritative word. |
| Rev 2:16 | Therefore repent! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. | Christ fighting with His word. |
| Rev 19:21 | The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse... | Execution of judgment by Christ's word. |
| Isa 11:4 | He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. | Messianic judgment by divine utterance. |
| 2 Thess 2:8 | Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. | Christ's defeat of evil by His word. |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword... | The powerful, discerning nature of God's Word. |
| Ps 2:9 | You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel. | Messianic rule of iron authority. |
| Rev 2:27 | ...just as I have received authority from my Father, I will give him authority to rule them with an iron scepter... | Sharing in Christ's authority to rule. |
| Rev 12:5 | She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is going to rule all the nations with an iron scepter... | Christ's birth and destiny to rule. |
| Dan 2:44 | In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed... it will crush all those kingdoms... | God's eternal kingdom crushing opposition. |
| Isa 9:6-7 | ...the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom... | Christ's eternal kingly reign. |
| Isa 63:3 | I have trodden the winepress alone, And from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, And trampled them in My fury... | God's solo judgment as treading winepress. |
| Joel 3:13 | Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; For the winepress is full, The vats overflow—For their wickedness is great. | Call for divine judgment, winepress imagery. |
| Rev 14:19-20 | ...and he threw them into the great winepress of the wrath of God... The winepress was trodden outside the city... | Detailed imagery of the final winepress of wrath. |
| Lam 1:15 | The Lord has trodden in the winepress the Virgin Daughter of Judah... | Judgment as treading, applied to Judah. |
| Rom 1:18 | For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men... | The ongoing revelation of God's wrath. |
| Rev 14:10 | ...he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God... | Undiluted judgment and divine anger. |
| Nah 1:2-6 | The LORD is a jealous and avenging God... The LORD avenges and is full of wrath... Who can stand before His indignation? | The overwhelming nature of God's fury. |
| Zeph 1:18 | Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath... | The inescapable nature of the day of wrath. |
Revelation 19 verses
Revelation 19 15 Meaning
This verse portrays the triumphant return of Jesus Christ as a conquering King, executing divine judgment. It describes the power of His authoritative word, symbolized by a sharp sword emanating from His mouth, which will decimate rebellious nations. It also asserts His absolute and unbreakable dominion over all creation, represented by an iron scepter. Furthermore, it emphasizes that He will carry out the intense and comprehensive judgment, like treading grapes in a winepress, which is the righteous outpouring of God Almighty’s wrath against sin and unrighteousness.
Revelation 19 15 Context
Revelation chapter 19 describes the climax of divine justice and the ultimate victory of Jesus Christ. The preceding verses celebrate the fall of Babylon, the great harlot representing world systems aligned against God, and the establishment of the Lamb's marriage. This sets the stage for Christ's magnificent return, heralded by heavenly praise. Verse 15 specifically focuses on the destructive and governing aspects of Christ’s second coming, depicting Him as the mighty warrior judge. Historically and culturally, the first-century audience, under the oppression of the Roman Empire and its demand for emperor worship, would have understood the imagery of a powerful, judging King in sharp contrast to earthly rulers, and the iron scepter and treading of a winepress would have conveyed absolute and unchallengeable authority and devastating judgment. This imagery also strongly pulls from Old Testament prophecies, affirming Christ as the fulfillment of ancient messianic expectations concerning a warrior-king.
Revelation 19 15 Word Analysis
- From his mouth: Not a literal physical action, but a representation of Christ's supreme and authoritative divine word. His decree is the means by which judgment is executed.
- a sharp sword: Greek: rhomphaia oxeia. A long, broad, two-edged sword, symbolizing decisive divine judgment, piercing truth, and the irresistible power of Christ’s declarations. It is the instrument of final, conclusive justice.
- with which to strike down: Greek: patasso. Implies a forceful, destructive blow intended to cause a decisive defeat, not merely injure, but utterly conquer.
- the nations: Greek: ethne. Refers to the Gentile nations and, broadly, all earthly peoples and governmental systems in rebellion against God’s rightful rule. They stand condemned due to their rejection of His sovereignty.
- and he will rule them: Greek: poimanei autous (literally "will shepherd them"). This seemingly gentle term, in conjunction with "iron scepter," transforms into a description of sovereign, unyielding governance, asserting complete dominion over recalcitrant peoples, implying stern discipline and authoritative control rather than gentle leading.
- with an iron scepter: Greek: rhabdo sidēra. A symbol of unbreakable, absolute, and unchallengeable royal authority and righteous power. It indicates Christ's unbreakable dominion over all creation and His resolve to shatter all opposition. This echoes Psalm 2:9 directly, underscoring His messianic role.
- He treads the winepress: Greek: patei tēn lēnon. A powerful and vivid metaphor for divine judgment, where the rebellious are crushed underfoot like grapes in a vat, resulting in a gush of their "blood" (life), symbolizing total annihilation and complete defeat. It signifies an intense, laborious, and thorough act of judgment.
- of the fury of the wrath: Greek: tou thumou tēs orgēs. A doubled expression emphasizing the intensity and depth of God's righteous indignation. Thumos denotes a passionate, often swift, outpouring of indignation, while orgē signifies a more settled, determined, and enduring holy indignation against sin. Together, they describe the absolute culmination of God's holy retribution against persistent evil.
- of God Almighty: Greek: tou Theou tou Pantokratoros. Confirms that this overwhelming judgment stems from the supreme power, sovereignty, and authority of God Himself, reinforcing that Christ's actions are divine.
Revelation 19 15 Bonus Section
- The progression of Christ's imagery in Revelation moves from the gentle "Lamb" (sacrifice, redemption) to the formidable "Warrior" (judgment, ultimate dominion), revealing the fullness of His person and diverse roles in God's redemptive plan.
- The sword from the mouth distinguishes Christ's power from earthly conquerors who wield physical weapons; His authority is based on divine utterance and truth.
- This verse anticipates the climactic "Battle of Armageddon" (mentioned in Rev 16:16 and depicted in 19:17-21) where Christ personally executes these judgments against the combined forces of earthly rebellion.
- The "iron scepter" speaks not only of crushing judgment but also of the lasting, perfect order of His kingdom which cannot be overthrown or corrupted by any earthly power.
Revelation 19 15 Commentary
Revelation 19:15 presents Christ as the supreme Judge and Sovereign King who returns to enact final, decisive justice. The "sharp sword" from His mouth signifies that His word—His declaration and command—is the irresistible force of judgment that dismantles all human and demonic opposition. His rule, symbolized by the "iron scepter," is absolute and unbreakable, bringing all nations under His firm control. The vivid image of "treading the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty" depicts a crushing, total, and unavoidable divine judgment upon those who have rejected God. This verse therefore underlines the majesty, power, and justice of the returning Christ, assuring believers of God's ultimate triumph over all evil and the establishment of His righteous reign.