Revelation 13:3

Translations

Modern

One of the heads of the beast appeared to have been mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast.

Traditional

And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

Literal

And one of its heads was as having been slain to death, and its wound of death was healed. And the whole earth marveled after the beast.

Latin

Et vidi unum de capitibus suis quasi occisum in mortem: et plaga mortis ejus curata est. Et admirata est universa terra post bestiam.

Original

Greek

English

One of the heads of the beast appeared to have been mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast.

Notes

Revelation 13:3

Satan often imitates God. Here, the beast copies the death and resurrection of Jesus.
One of the beast’s heads appears to have been fatally wounded but then healed. This detail has led many interpreters to connect the beast with the Roman emperor Nero, who ruled from AD 54 to 68. A tradition developed that Nero was so evil that he either did not really die or would return as another tyrant like Domitian, who ruled from AD 81 to 96. In Revelation 17:9–10, the beast’s seven heads are linked to both seven hills (Rome) and seven kings.

Revelation 13:1–10

The first beast is the second member of the evil trinity (see study note on Revelation 12:18–13:18). It likely represents Roman power (see “Four World Empires” Theme Note).

Revelation 12:18–13:18

John shows that the dragon carries out his war (Revelation 12:17) through two beasts. Together with Satan, these three form an evil trinity, meaning three evil beings acting together as one group.

Revelation 12:1–14:20

The people of God are pictured as a woman who gives birth to the Messiah. Even though the devil has already been defeated, he continues to attack her and her children (Revelation 12:1–17). With his two followers, the beast and the false prophet, Satan tries to keep controlling the world (Revelation 13:1–18) before the final battle with the Lord (14:1–20).

Theme notes and profiles

Daniel The Antichrist The Little Horn Visions

Related verses

Revelation 17:8
The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.
Revelation 13:14
Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived.
Revelation 17:10
There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. But when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.
Revelation 17:17
For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
Revelation 13:12
And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed.
Revelation 13:1–2
Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
Ezekiel 30:24
I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king and place My sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, who will groan before him like a mortally wounded man.
Acts 8:13
Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed.
Revelation 17:13
These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast.
Luke 2:1
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.
Revelation 17:6
I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.
Acts 8:10–11
…and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.”

Revelation 13:3

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