Revelation of John 19:15
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
out of his mouth . . . sword-- (Rev 1:16; Rev 2:12, Rev 2:16). Here in its avenging power, Th2 2:8, "consume with the Spirit of His mouth" (Isa 11:4, to which there is allusion here); not in its convicting and converting efficacy (Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12-13, where also the judicial keenness of the sword-like word is included). The Father commits the judgment to the Son. he shall rule--The HE is emphatic, He and none other, in contrast to the usurpers who have misruled on earth. "Rule," literally, "tend as a shepherd"; but here in a punitive sense. He, who would have shepherded them with pastoral rod and with the golden scepter of His love, shall dash them in pieces, as refractory rebels, with "a rod of iron." treadeth . . . wine-press-- (Isa 63:3). of the fierceness and wrath--So ANDREAS reads. But A, B, Vulgate, Coptic, and ORIGEN read, "of the fierceness (or boiling indignation) of the wrath," omitting "and." Almighty--The fierceness of Christ's wrath against His foes will be executed with the resources of omnipotence.
Open source ↗In this chapter we have, I. A further account of the triumphant song of angels and saints for the fall of Babylon (Rev 19:1-4). II. The marriage between Christ and the church proclaimed and perfected (Rev 19:5-10). III. Another warlike expedition of the glorious head and husband of the church, with the success of it (Rev 19:10, etc.).
Open source ↗19:15 From his mouth . . . a sharp sword: See 1:16; Heb 4:12; see also Isa 49:2; 2 Thes 2:8. • The iron rod represents Christ’s power as ruler and as supreme shepherd (see Pss 2:9; 23:4). • God, the Almighty: See Rev 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 16:7, 14; 21:22. • His fierce wrath will crush his enemies like grapes in a winepress (Isa 63:2-4).
Open source ↗Cross-references
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He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery—just as I have received authority from My Father.
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival.
You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery.”
but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.
And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.
To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword.
Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth.
For Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze.