Revelation 19:16 kjv
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 19:16 nkjv
And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 19:16 niv
On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
Revelation 19:16 esv
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Revelation 19:16 nlt
On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
Revelation 19 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Short Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 10:17 | For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords... | YHWH is Lord of lords. |
| Psa 2:9 | Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron... | Messiah's ruling with power. |
| Psa 136:3 | To Him who alone does great wonders...To the Lord of lords... | YHWH's supreme authority. |
| Isa 11:4 | ...He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth... | Messiah's judgmental power. |
| Isa 45:23 | Every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance. | Universal submission to divine authority. |
| Dan 2:47 | The king answered Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is your God, for he is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings... | God's ultimate dominion. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name...every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord... | Jesus's supreme exaltation. |
| 1 Tim 6:15 | ...which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords. | God (or Christ) as supreme Ruler. |
| Heb 1:4 | having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. | Christ's superior name. |
| Rev 1:13 | ...one like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. | Son of Man in authority. |
| Rev 1:16 | He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword... | Christ's authority and judgment. |
| Rev 2:17 | To him who overcomes...I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written... | Significance of a new name. |
| Rev 2:27 | He shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the potter’s vessels shall be broken... | Christ's forceful rule. |
| Rev 3:12 | I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God... and My new name. | Names signifying ownership/identity. |
| Rev 6:2 | I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him... | Initial reference to conqueror. |
| Rev 17:14 | These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings... | The Lamb's triumph over kings. |
| Rev 19:11 | Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True... | Introduction of the rider. |
| Rev 19:12 | His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. | Rider's omniscience and hidden name. |
| Rev 19:13 | He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. | Christ's sacrificial/conquering role. |
| Rev 20:4 | And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them... | Christ's kingly reign established. |
| Ps 72:11 | Yea, all kings shall fall down before Him: all nations shall serve Him. | Universal homage to the King. |
Revelation 19 verses
Revelation 19 16 Meaning
Revelation 19:16 proclaims the absolute and universal sovereignty of Jesus Christ at His triumphant return. It states that He possesses a clearly displayed name: "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS," signifying His supreme authority over every earthly and heavenly power, position, and title. This verse asserts His ultimate dominion, demonstrating that no ruler or power can rival His reign.
Revelation 19 16 Context
Revelation 19:16 appears amidst the triumphant scene of Christ's Second Coming, specifically His visible descent from heaven as a conquering warrior-king. Preceding verses detail the fall of Babylon (chapter 18) and the announcement of the marriage supper of the Lamb (verses 7-9). Verses 11-15 describe the rider on the white horse – explicitly identified as "Faithful and True," "The Word of God" – whose garment is dipped in blood, and who will judge and make war with righteousness, striking the nations with a sharp sword and ruling them with a rod of iron. This verse (19:16) serves as the climactic revelation of His ultimate authority, the very title emblazoned upon Him, preparing the stage for His victory over the Beast, false prophet, and the armies of the earth (verses 17-21). Historically, in a world dominated by the Roman Empire, where emperors demanded worship and were titled "Lord" or even "god," this declaration served as a direct polemic, affirming that Christ, not Caesar, holds ultimate and eternal supreme dominion.
Revelation 19 16 Word analysis
- And he hath: Introduces the declaration about the Rider, indicating an inherent and current possession of this identifying name and authority.
- on his vesture: (Greek: himation, a specific type of outer garment or cloak). This signifies a prominent, publicly visible display. The vesture is what everyone sees as He approaches. It symbolizes His character and the purpose of His appearing: rightful dominion and judgment.
- and on his thigh: (Greek: meros, meaning "thigh" or "part of the leg"). This location often signified power, strength, or the place where a sword was traditionally worn in ancient times, making the inscription unavoidable and signifying innate power or the readiness for military action. Some view it as the thickest part of the leg, thus a firm place for engraving a permanent mark of authority.
- a name written: (Greek: onoma gegrammenon, a participle emphasizing the act of being written). This denotes a fixed, permanent, and undeniable identification. A name in biblical culture conveyed the character, authority, and essence of a person. It is an open declaration, meant for all to see and comprehend.
- KING OF KINGS: (Greek: Basileus Basileon). This title expresses absolute supremacy over all other earthly or even angelic rulers. While ancient Near Eastern monarchs occasionally used this title to denote imperial sway over subordinate kings (e.g., Assyrian or Persian kings), applied to Christ, it denotes universal and divine sovereignty, with no superior.
- AND LORD OF LORDS: (Greek: Kyrios Kyrios). This reinforces "King of Kings" with an emphasis on mastership and ultimate ownership. Kyrios is often used in the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) for YHWH, highlighting a divine connection. Thus, it asserts Christ's inherent divinity and absolute dominion over every other master, lord, or power, emphasizing His preeminence and complete control over creation and history.
- "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS": This combined title signifies complete, unqualified, and unchallenged sovereignty, revealing Christ not merely as a victorious general but as the supreme God over all creation and all existing powers, both earthly and spiritual. It encapsulates His deity, absolute power, and universal dominion at His final advent.
Revelation 19 16 Bonus section
The choice of placing the name "on his vesture and on his thigh" signifies different aspects of Christ's manifest authority. The "vesture" refers to the outermost garment, which would be highly visible to those witnessing His advent, serving as a public, unmistakable announcement of who He is. The "thigh" is often interpreted as signifying strength, power, or where a sword (a symbol of judgment and authority) might be hung. Its prominent and sturdy nature suggests a more fundamental and enduring inscription of His dominion, not just a passing declaration. Together, they demonstrate that His kingship is both publicly proclaimed for all to see and intrinsically linked to His very person and power. This title encompasses not only earthly monarchs but all rulers and authorities in every realm.
Revelation 19 16 Commentary
Revelation 19:16 provides a succinct yet profoundly powerful declaration of Christ's supreme identity upon His visible return. As He descends from heaven, identified as the Divine Warrior and Word of God, this visible title, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS," explicitly states the unparalleled authority that underlies His judgment and subsequent reign. The placement of this name—on both His flowing vesture and His prominent thigh—underscores its unmissable and undeniable nature; it's emblazoned for all creation to see and acknowledge. This dual placement emphasizes that His sovereignty is both overtly displayed and intrinsically part of His very being, reflecting His essential divine nature and universal rule. This verse solidifies the narrative of Revelation, concluding the long-unveiling of Christ's dominion by presenting Him as the absolute sovereign, before whom all other powers must bow, thereby offering profound assurance of His ultimate victory and righteous reign.