Devine Scripture

Revelation 13:11

What does Revelation 13:11 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 13:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 13:11 means

Another beast arises, this time from the earth. He looks lamb-like—two horns, gentle in appearance—but his voice betrays him: he speaks as a dragon. Here is counterfeit spirituality, a deceptive religious authority that serves satanic ends. Appearance and rhetoric diverge; what seems pastoral proves poisonous. This figure does not lead with brute force but with persuasive speech and sacred imagery, echoing godliness while denying its truth. He functions as a false prophet, pointing people not to the true Lamb but to the first beast. The warning is clear: not every lamb-like leader belongs to the Lamb. Discernment must weigh the voice—does it carry the dragon’s lies or God’s truth?

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like unto a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like unto a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and his voice was like that of a dragon.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And I saw another beast coming up out of the land, and it had two horns, like a lamb, and it was speaking as a dragon,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth: and he had two horns, like a lamb: and he spoke as a dragon.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And I saw another beast rising out of the earth; and it had two horns like to a lamb, and spake as a dragon;

Context

After the call to endurance, the narrative introduces a second agent of evil. If the first beast is political-military power, the second is religious-propaganda power. Verse 11’s contrast between appearance and speech sets up verses 12–15, where this earth-beast enforces worship of the sea-beast through signs and the image. The flow shows escalation: coercion now comes cloaked in piety and wonder, tightening the net for those who might resist raw force.

v.10If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

v.11This passage

v.12And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast in his sight. And he maketh the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose death-stroke was healed.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 17:6

    And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with a great wonder.

  • Revelation 11:7

    And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that cometh up out of the abyss shall make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them.

  • Revelation 12:3

    And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems.

  • Revelation 13:17

    and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, even the name of the beast or the number of his name.

  • Matthew 7:15

    Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.

  • Daniel 7:8

    I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

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