Revelation 13:15
What does Revelation 13:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 13:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 13:15 means
Authority is given to the second beast to give breath to the image so that it speaks and commands death for non-worshipers. Here is the climax of the counterfeit: an image that seems alive, issuing decrees. It mimics God’s life-giving power, yet serves murder, not mercy. The line between religious spectacle and political execution disappears; worship becomes a test of life or death. This reveals evil’s logic: secure devotion by terror, sanctified by a miracle. For the faithful, refusal of idolatry may cost everything. The verse calls readers to sober realism about the stakes when the state-sacral apparatus fuses speech, surveillance, and the sword in the name of a blasphemous savior.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And it was given unto him to give breath to it, even to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And it was given unto him to give breath to it, even to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And he had power to give breath to the image of the beast, so that words might come from the image of the beast, and that he might have all those who did not give worship to the image of the beast put to death.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and there was given to it to give a spirit to the image of the beast, that also the image of the beast may speak, and <FI>that<Fi> it may cause as many as shall not bow before the image of the beast, that they may be killed.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And it was given him to give life to the image of the beast: and that the image of the beast should speak: and should cause that whosoever will not adore the image of the beast should be slain.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And it was given to it to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should also speak, and should cause that as many as should not do homage to the image of the beast should be killed.
Context
After the call to create an image in verse 14, verse 15 shows the image empowered and weaponized. The progression reaches lethal coercion: worship or be killed. This paves the way for verses 16–17, which broaden coercion to economic life through the mark. The chapter thus moves from public wonder to personal threat, making clear that the beast’s system will press into every sphere—religion, law, and commerce.
v.14And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by reason of the signs which it was given him to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who hath the stroke of the sword and lived.
v.15This passage
v.16And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 10:14
Every man is become brutish and is without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his graven image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
- 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.
- Genesis 2:7
And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
- James 2:26
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.
- Revelation 17:14
These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also shall overcome that are with him, called and chosen and faithful.
- Jeremiah 51:17
Every man is become brutish and is without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
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