Revelation 13:1

The Two Beasts

13:1 Then ¹  I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It ²  had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, ³  and on its heads a blasphemous name. ⁴ 

Revelation 13:5-6

13:5 The beast ⁵  was given a mouth speaking proud words ⁶  and blasphemies, and he was permitted ⁷  to exercise ruling authority ⁸  for forty-two months. 13:6 So ⁹  the beast ¹⁰  opened his mouth to blaspheme against God – to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, ¹¹  that is, those who dwell in heaven.

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.

² tn Grk “having” (a continuation of the previous sentence). All of the pronouns referring to this beast (along with the second beast appearing in 13:11) could be translated as “it” because the word for beast (θηρίον, qhrion) is neuter gender in Greek and all the pronouns related to it are parsed as neuter in the Gramcord/Accordance database. Nevertheless, most interpreters would agree that the beast ultimately represents a human ruler, so beginning at the end of v. 4 the masculine pronouns (“he,” “him,” etc.) are used to refer to the first beast as well as the second beast appearing in 13:11.

³ tn For the translation of διάδημα (diadhma) as “diadem crown” see L&N 6.196.

⁴ tc ‡ Several mss (A 051 1611 1854 2053 2344 2351 Ï^K) read the plural ὀνόματα (onomata, “[blasphemous] names”), while the singular ὄνομα (onoma, “name”) has somewhat better support (Ì⁴⁷ א C 1006 1841 2329 Ï^A). The plural reading seems motivated by the fact that what is written is written “on its heads.” In the least, it is a clarifying reading. NA²⁷ puts the plural in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.

⁵ tn Grk “and there was given to him.” Here the passive construction has been simplified, the referent (the beast) has been specified for clarity, and καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

⁶ tn For the translation “proud words” (Grk “great things” or “important things”) see BDAG 624 s.v. μέγας 4.b.

⁷ tn Grk “to it was granted.”

⁸ tn For the translation “ruling authority” for ἐξουσία (exousia) see L&N 37.35.

⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the permission granted to the beast.

¹⁰ tn Grk “he” (or “it”); the referent (the beast) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

¹¹ tc The reading “and his dwelling place” does not occur in codex C, but its omission is probably due to scribal oversight since the phrase has the same ending as the phrase before it, i.e., they both end in “his” (αὐτοῦ, autou). This is similar to the mistake this scribe made in 12:14 with the omission of the reading “and half a time” (καὶ ἥμισυ καιροῦ, kai {hmisu kairou).