Revelation 13 · Verse 5

Revelation 13:5

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

Revelation 13:5, King James Version

Revelation 13:5 in other translations

BSB	The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months.
WEB	A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him.
ASV	and there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and there was given to him authority to continue forty and two months.
YLT	And there was given to it a mouth speaking great things, and evil-speakings, and there was given to it authority to make war forty-two months,
DARBY	And there was given to it a mouth, speaking great things and blasphemies; and there was given to it authority to pursue its career forty-two months.
BBE	And there was given to him a mouth to say words of pride against God; and there was given to him authority to go on for forty-two months.
Webster	And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given to him to continue forty and two months.

What does Revelation 13:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

5. blasphemies--So Andreas reads. B reads "blasphemy." A, "blasphemous things" (compare Da 7:8; 11:25). power--"authority"; legitimate power (Greek, "exousia"). to continue--Greek, "poiesai," "to act," or "work." B reads, "to make war" (compare Re 13:4). But A, C, Vulgate, Syriac, and Andreas omit "war." forty ... two month--(See on Re 11:2, 3; Re 12:6).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 5. And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things. John does not say by whom this was given; but we may suppose that it was by the "dragon," who is said (Rev 13:2) to have given him his power, and seat, and authority. The fulfilment of this is found in the claims set up by the princes and rulers here referred to--that mighty secular power that sustained the Papacy, and that was, in some sort, a part of the Papacy itself. These arrogant claims consisted in the assertion of a Divine right; in the power assumed over the liberty, the property, and the consciences of the people; in the arbitrary commands that were issued; and in the right asserted of giving absolute law. The language here used is the same as that which is found in Daniel (Dan 7:8) when speaking of the little horn: "In this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things." For and illustration of the meaning of this, Dan 7:8. Compare Dan 7:25.

And blasphemies. That is, the whole power represented by the "beast" will be blasphemous. Rev 13:1. Compare Dan 7:25.

And power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. Three years and a half, reckoned as months; or twelve hundred and sixty days, reckoning thirty days for a month; or twelve hundred and sixty years, regarding the days as prophetic days. For the evidence that this is to be so regarded, Dan 7:25. This is the same period that we meet with in Rev 11:2, and in Rev 12:6. Rev 11:2; 12:6. This fact proves that the same power is referred to in these places and in Daniel; and this fact may be regarded as a confirmation of the views here taken that the power here referred to is designed to have a connexion in some form with the Papacy. The duration of the existence of this power is the same as that which is everywhere ascribed to the Papacy, in the passages which refer to it; and all the circumstances, as before remarked, show that the same general power is referred to by the two "beasts" which are described in this chapter. If so, the continuance or duration may be supposed to be the same; and this is indicated in the passage before us, where it is said that it would be twelve hundred and sixty years. In regard to the application of this to the Papal power, and the manner in which the calculation is to be made of the duration of that power, Dan 7:25 and the remarks at the end of that chapter. The meaning in the passage before us I take to be, that the Papal power, considered as a civil or secular institution, will have, from the time when that properly commenced, a duration of twelve hundred and sixty years. In the Scriptures there is nothing more definite in regard to any future event than this.

(a) "mouth" Dan 7:8,11.25, 11:36 (1) "power" "make war" (b) "forty and two months" Rev 11:2,3, 12:6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things - That is, There was given to the rulers of the Latin empire, who are the mouth of the beast, (and particularly the Roman emperors of Germany), power to assume great and pompous titles, indicative of their mighty sway over many subjugated countries, (see the imperial instruments of the middle centuries in the Corps Diplomatique), and also to utter against their opponents the most terrible edicts. And blasphemies - The system of worship supported by the beast is a system of blasphemy, as there will be occasion to show presently. And power was given unto him to continue forty and two months - As these forty-two months are prophetic, they must mean so many years as there are days contained in them; viz., 1260, each month containing 30 days. The beast, therefore, will continue in existence at least 1260 years; but when the termination of this period will take place is difficult to say, as the beginning cannot be at present indubitably ascertained.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 13:1-10

Chapter Outline A wild beast rises out of the sea, to whom the dragon gives his power. (1-10) Another beast, which has two horns like a lamb, but speaks as a dragon. (11-15) It obliges all to worship its image, and receive its mark, as persons devoted to it. (16-18) Verses 1-10 The apostle, standing on the shore, saw a savage beast rise out of the sea; a tyrannical, idolatrous, persecuting power, springing up out of…

Read the full comment on Revelation 13:1-10 →

Revelation 13:5 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532

ἐδόθηedothēwas givenG1325

αὐτῷautōto itG846

στόμαstomaa mouthG4750

λαλοῦνlalounspeakingG2980

μεγάλαmegalagreat thingsG3173

καὶkaiandG2532

βλασφημίαςblasphēmiasblasphemiesG988

καὶkaiandG2532

ἐδόθηedothēwas givenG1325

αὐτῷautōto itG846

ἐξουσίαexousiaauthorityG1849

ποιῆσαιpoiēsaito actG4160

μῆναςmēnasmonthsG3376

τεσσεράκονταtesserakontafortyG5062

δύο.duotwo.G1417

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Revelation 13:5

Daniel 7:8
I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
Daniel 7:25
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Revelation 12:6
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Daniel 11:36
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
Daniel 7:11
I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
Daniel 7:20
And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
Revelation 12:14
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Revelation 11:2-3
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
2 Thessalonians 2:4
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Revelation 13:7
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Revelation 11:7
And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

a mouth.
Da 7:8,11,25; 11:36
and power.
11:2,3; 12:6,14
to continue. or, to make war.
7; 11:7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Revelation 13:4
And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Revelation 13:5
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Revelation 13:6
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

Read all of Revelation 13

Revelation 13:5 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y le fué dada boca que hablaba grandes cosas y blasfemias: y le fué dada potencia de obrar cuarenta y dos meses.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et il lui fut donné une bouche qui proférait de grandes choses et des blasphèmes; – et le pouvoir d’agir 42 mois lui fut donné.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und es wurde ihm ein Mund gegeben, der große Dinge und Lästerungen redete; und es wurde ihm Gewalt gegeben, zu wirken 42 Monate.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et datum est ei os loquens magna et blasphemias: et data est ei potestas facere menses quadraginta duos.