Revelation 13 · Verse 7

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 13:7, King James Version

Revelation 13:7 in other translations

BSBThen the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.
WEBIt was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him.
ASVAnd it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.
YLTand there was given to it to make war with the saints, and to overcome them, and there was given to it authority over every tribe, and tongue, and nation.
DARBYAnd there was given to it to make war with the saints, and to overcome them; and there was given to it authority over every tribe, and people, and tongue, and nation;
BBEAnd it was given to him to make war on the saints and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and language and nation.
WebsterAnd it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and languages, and nations.

What does Revelation 13:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. power--Greek, "authority." all kindreds ... tongues ... nations--Greek, "every tribe ... tongue ... nation." A, B, C, Vulgate, Syriac, Andreas, and Primasius add "and people," after "tribe" or "kindred."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7. And it was given unto him. By the same power that taught him to blaspheme God and his church. Rev 12:2,5.

To make war with the saints. See this fully illustrated in Dan 7:21, and at the end of that chapter.

And to overcome them. In those wars. This was abundantly fulfilled in the wars with the Waldenses, the Albigenses, and the other sincere followers of the Saviour in the time of the Papal persecutions. The language here used is the same as that which is found in Dan 7:21: "The same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them."

And power was given him. Rev 13:2.

Over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. For the meaning of these words, Rev 7:9. The meaning here is, that this dominion was set up over the world. Compare Dan 7:25. The fact that so large a portion of the kingdoms of the earth was under the influence of the Papacy, and sustained it; and the claim which it set up to universal dominion, and to the right of deposing kings, and giving away kingdoms, corresponds entirely with the language here used.

(e) "make war" Rev 11:7, 12:17, Dan 7:21 (f) "power" Lk 4:6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them - "Who can make any computation," says Bishop Newton, "or even frame any conception, of the numbers of pious Christians who have fallen a sacrifice to the bigotry and cruelty of Rome? Mede upon the place hath observed, from good authorities, that in the war with the Albigenses and Waldenses there perished of these poor creatures in France alone a million. From the first institution of the Jesuits to the year 1580, that is, in little more than thirty years, nine hundred thousand orthodox Christians were slain, and these all by the common executioner. In the space of scarce thirty years the inquisition destroyed, by various kinds of torture, a hundred and fifty thousand Christians. Sanders himself confesses that an innumerable multitude of Lollards and Sacramentarians were burnt throughout all Europe, who yet, he says, were not put to death by the pope and bishops, but by the civil magistrates." The dragon in a new shape, or Roman empire of Germany, acted a very conspicuous part in this nefarious warfare against the remnant of the woman's seed, who kept the commandments of God, and had the testimony of Jesus Christ. See the imperial edict of Frederic II. against heretics, in Limborch's History of the Inquisition. And power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations - As the book of the Revelation is a prophecy of all that should come upon the Christian world till the end of time, all kindreds, and tongues, and nations, must imply the whole Christian world. That the Latin empire in the course of its reign has had the extensive power here spoken of, is evident from history. It is well known that the profession of Christianity was chiefly confined within the limits of the Greek and Latin empires, till the period of the Reformation. By means of the crusades the Latins extended their empire over several provinces of the Greeks. In 1097 Baldwin extended his conquests over the hills of Armenia and the plain of Mesopotamia, and founded the first principality of the Franks or Latins, which subsisted fifty-four years, beyond the Euphrates. In 1204 the Greeks were expelled from Constantinople by the Latins, who set up an empire there which continued about fifty-seven years. The total overthrow of the Latin states in the east soon followed the recovery of Constantinople by the Greeks; and in 1291 the Latin empire in the east was entirely dissolved. Thus the Latins have had power over the whole world professedly Christian: but it is not said that the whole world was in utter subjection to him, for we read in the following verse: -

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 13:7 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
ἐδόθηedothēthere was givenG1325
αὐτῷautōto itG846
ποιῆσαιpoiēsaito makeG4160
πόλεμονpolemonwarG4171
μετὰmetawithG3326
τῶνtōntheG3588
ἁγίωνhagiōnsaintsG40
καὶkaiandG2532
νικῆσαιnikēsaito overcomeG3528
αὐτοὺςautousthemG846
καὶkaiAndG2532
ἐδόθηedothēwas givenG1325
αὐτῷautōto itG846
ἐξουσίαexousiaauthorityG1849
ἐπὶepioverG1909
πᾶσανpasaneveryG3956
φυλὴνphulēntribeG5443
καὶkaiandG2532
λαὸνlaonpeopleG2992
καὶkaiandG2532
γλῶσσανglōssantongueG1100
καὶkaiandG2532
ἔθνος.ethnosnation.G1484

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

Cross references for Revelation 13:7

  • Daniel 7:21

    I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

  • 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.

  • Revelation 12:17

    And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

  • 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.

  • Daniel 12:1

    And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

  • Daniel 8:24-25

    And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

  • Revelation 17:15

    And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

  • Revelation 11:18

    And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

  • John 19:11

    Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

  • Revelation 10:11

    And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

  • Daniel 11:36-39

    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. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.

  • Revelation 5:9

    And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
to make.
11:7; 12:17; Da 7:21,25; 8:24,25; 11:36-39; 12:1
and power.
10:11; 11:18; 17:15; Ex 9:16; Isa 10:15; 37:26; Jer 25:9; 27:6,7
Jer 51:20-24; Da 5:18-23; Lu 4:6; Joh 19:11

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

Context

  • 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.

  • 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 13:8

    And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Read all of Revelation 13

Revelation 13:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y le fué dado hacer guerra contra los santos, y vencerlos. También le fué dada potencia sobre toda tribu y pueblo y lengua y gente.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il lui fut donné de faire la guerre aux saints et de les vaincre. Et il lui fut donné pouvoir sur toute tribu et peuple et langue et nation.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es wurde ihm gegeben, mit den Heiligen Krieg zu führen und sie zu überwinden; und es wurde ihm Gewalt gegeben über jeden Stamm und Volk und Sprache und Nation.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et est datum illi bellum facere cum sanctis, et vincere eos. Et data est illi potestas in omnem tribum, et populum, et linguam, et gentem,