Revelation 20 13

Revelation 20:13 kjv

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Revelation 20:13 nkjv

The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

Revelation 20:13 niv

The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.

Revelation 20:13 esv

And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.

Revelation 20:13 nlt

The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds.

Revelation 20 verses

Revelation 20 13 Meaning

Revelation 20:13 vividly portrays the universal resurrection for the final judgment. It declares that all the dead, from every conceivable place where they may rest—the vastness of the sea and the confines of Death and Hades—will surrender their occupants. No soul will escape this summons. Every person resurrected will then face individual judgment according to the totality of their life's actions.

Revelation 20 13 Context

Revelation chapter 20 describes pivotal events in prophetic history leading to eternity. It begins with Satan being bound for a thousand years (v. 1-3), followed by the reign of Christ and His saints during the Millennium (v. 4-6). After this thousand-year period, Satan is briefly released, leads a final rebellion, and is then permanently cast into the lake of fire (v. 7-10). Verse 11 introduces the Great White Throne Judgment, presided over by God Himself. Verse 12 specifies that all the dead, irrespective of social standing, are present and judged according to their works based on records in divine books. Revelation 20:13 fits directly into this sequence, clarifying from where these countless dead arrive, emphasizing the exhaustive nature of this universal resurrection and judgment. It solidifies the certainty that no one who has ever lived will escape this ultimate accountability. Historically and culturally, the original audience would have been familiar with Roman cults and philosophical schools, some denying bodily resurrection or advocating various paths to the afterlife that bypassed moral accountability. This verse powerfully refutes such beliefs, affirming a literal resurrection and a just, universal judgment by the true God. It stands against the prevailing pagan fear of the underworld, portraying Death and Hades as subservient realms to God's sovereign command.

Revelation 20 13 Word Analysis

• And (καί - kai): A simple conjunction, but here it links the general description of the judgment throne (v. 11-12) to the specific detail of how the judged come to be there, showing continuity and progression in the vision.
• the sea (ἡ θάλασσα - hē thalassa): Literally "the sea," referring to the watery graves. Symbolically, the sea in Revelation often represents chaos, separation, and rebellion (e.g., the beast rising from the sea). Here, it signifies a vast, deep, and once inaccessible place that now surrenders its inhabitants, emphasizing the universal reach of God's power. It challenges ancient beliefs where the sea was seen as an unconquerable domain or where the drowned were lost to eternal oblivion.
• gave up (ἔδωκεν - edōken): From didōmi, meaning "to give, hand over, deliver." Implies an action compelled by divine authority. The sea cannot resist or hide its dead.
• the dead (τοὺς νεκρούς - tous nekrous): Plural, signifying all who have died, without exception. This includes anyone whose resting place was not a traditional burial.
• which were in it (τοὺς ἐν αὐτῇ - tous en autē): Specific localization, reinforcing that no one who died at sea will be excluded.
• and death (καὶ ὁ θάνατος - kai ho thanatos): Personified here. More than just a state, it is often depicted as an adversary or power that holds humanity captive. Here, Death itself, the final enemy (1 Cor 15:26), must release its grip.
• and hell (καὶ ὁ ᾅδης - kai ho Hadēs): This is the Greek word "Hades," not "Gehenna" (the lake of fire). Hades refers to the realm of the dead, the unseen world or underworld, the general repository of the departed souls awaiting judgment (Luke 16:23). It's distinct from the place of final eternal punishment. The reference implies that souls residing in Hades are released. Both Death (as the power that kills) and Hades (as the place where souls reside) are personified and seen surrendering their prisoners.
• delivered up (ἔδωκαν - edōkan): Same verb as "gave up," reinforcing the active surrender under compulsion of divine will. The slight variation in form (edōkan being plural aorist active indicative) matches "Death and Hades" as a dual subject, collectively performing the action.
• the dead which were in them (τοὺς νεκρούς τοὺς ἐν αὐτοῖς - tous nekrous tous en autois): Again, a reiteration of the dead, now encompassing all who have died by any means and whose souls or bodies were held by Death's power or within Hades. The combination "sea, Death, and Hades" signifies a comprehensive release from all resting places and powers associated with demise.
• and they were judged (καὶ ἐκρίθησαν - kai ekrithēsan): Passive voice, indicating God is the ultimate Judge (the unstated agent). This is the crucial consequence of their resurrection—to stand before the Great White Throne. The judgment is an irreversible divine decree.
• every man (ἕκαστος - hekastos): Emphasizes the individualized nature of this judgment. There is no group absolution or condemnation; each person is held personally accountable. No one is overlooked or missed.
• according to their works (κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν - kata ta erga autōn): This specifies the standard of judgment. "Works" refers to the totality of one's actions, deeds, thoughts, and intentions during life (Ecc 12:14, Jer 17:10). For the unredeemed facing this specific judgment (Revelation 20:11-15), these works determine the degree of their condemnation. For those whose names are found in the Book of Life, their works serve as evidence of their faith, not the basis for salvation.

Words-group Analysis:

• "The sea gave up the dead... and death and hell delivered up the dead...": This phrase emphasizes the absolute, inescapable universality of this resurrection for judgment. It sweeps aside any concept of hidden, forgotten, or permanently inaccessible dead. No matter where or how one died—whether drowned, perished in battle, or merely passed away and went to the realm of the dead—all will stand before God. This asserts God's ultimate sovereignty even over the natural forces and spiritual realms traditionally associated with separation and oblivion.
• "And they were judged every man according to their works": This climactic statement affirms divine justice and perfect accountability. It underscores that human life is not without ultimate consequence. The standard is objective and fair—each person's own deeds will be the evidence against them or, in the case of believers, the evidence of their saving faith and basis for reward, though in this context, the focus is on condemnation for those not in the Book of Life (v. 15).

Revelation 20 13 Bonus Section

The distinction between Hades (ᾅδης) and Gehenna (γέεννα - the lake of fire, mentioned in Rev 20:14) is crucial. Hades in the New Testament is often understood as the temporary holding place of the dead (both righteous and unrighteous, before Christ's resurrection), or in a later context (after Christ), specifically the unsaved dead. Revelation 20:13 describes the unsaved dead being released from Hades to face judgment. Revelation 20:14 then states that "Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire," signifying their complete destruction as entities or realms holding the dead. This underscores that the temporary realm of the dead itself ceases to exist once its purpose is fulfilled, leaving only the permanent state of either the new heavens and new earth or the lake of fire. This confirms the absolute end of Death as a power over humanity and the termination of the intermediary state of Hades. It emphasizes that no domain, however formidable, can withstand or escape the ultimate authority of God and His final plan for judgment and eternity.

Revelation 20 13 Commentary

Revelation 20:13 serves as a profound affirmation of God's absolute sovereignty and unblemished justice. It reveals that the power of death and the grave is finite and subservient to the divine command. No soul remains beyond God's reach; the vast depths of the sea, the metaphorical dominion of Death, and the very realm of Hades (the holding place of departed spirits) must surrender their occupants. This scene is one of total divine triumph over every power that sought to claim or obscure human lives. The resurrection is not a selective event but an all-encompassing summons, highlighting God's meticulous awareness of every individual. Subsequently, the judgment based on "works" emphasizes personal accountability. While salvation for believers is by grace through faith, judgment for the unsaved is rightly according to their deeds, demonstrating God's impartiality. This passage stresses that life is a period of moral reckoning, and all will face the just evaluation of their choices before the righteous Judge.