Revelation 9:13

9:13 Then ¹  the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a single voice coming from the ²  horns on the golden altar that is before God,

Revelation 13:1

The Two Beasts

13:1 Then ³  I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It ⁴  had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, ⁵  and on its heads a blasphemous name. ⁶ 

[9:13]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

[9:13]  ² tc ‡ Several key mss (Ì⁴⁷ א¹ A 0207 1611 2053 2344 pc lat sy^h co) lack the word τεσσάρων (tessarwn, “four”) before κεράτων (keratwn, “horns”). The word seems to have been added by scribes because a “horned” altar (described in the OT [Exod 30:2, 10]) could have only four “horns” or projections at the corners. NA²⁷ includes the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.

[13:1]  ³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.

[13:1]  ⁴ 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]  ⁵ tn For the translation of διάδημα (diadhma) as “diadem crown” see L&N 6.196.

[13:1]  ⁶ 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.