Revelation 13:1-2

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  13:2 Now ⁵  the beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The ⁶  dragon gave the beast ⁷  his power, his throne, and great authority to rule. ⁸ 

Revelation 14:11

14:11 And the smoke from their ⁹  torture will go up ¹⁰  forever and ever, and those who worship the beast and his image will have ¹¹  no rest day or night, along with ¹²  anyone who receives the mark of his name.”

[13:1]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.

[13:1]  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.

[13:1]  ³ tn For the translation of διάδημα (diadhma) as “diadem crown” see L&N 6.196.

[13:1]  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.

[13:2]  ⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the parenthetical nature of the following description of the beast.

[13:2]  ⁶ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[13:2]  ⁷ tn Grk “gave it”; the referent (the beast) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[13:2]  ⁸ tn For the translation “authority to rule” for ἐξουσία (exousia) see L&N 37.35.

[14:11]  ⁹ tn The Greek pronoun is plural here even though the verbs in the previous verse are singular.

[14:11]  ¹⁰ tn The present tense ἀναβαίνει (anabainei) has been translated as a futuristic present (ExSyn 535-36). This is also consistent with the future passive βασανισθήσεται (basanisqhsetai) in v. 10.

[14:11]  ¹¹ tn The present tense ἔχουσιν (ecousin) has been translated as a futuristic present to keep the English tense consistent with the previous verb (see note on “will go up” earlier in this verse).

[14:11]  ¹² tn Grk “and.”