Revelation 13:2
What does Revelation 13:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 13:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 13:2 means
The beast’s features—leopard, bear, lion—evoke speed, strength, and ferocity. It is a composite of past tyrannies, concentrated into one. Crucially, its might is not self-originated; the dragon supplies power, throne, and great authority. Behind the visible machinery of rule stands an unseen spiritual sponsor. This exposes the spiritual dimension of political evil: when human power accepts the dragon’s gift, it is bent toward blasphemy and oppression. The throne implies dominion, the authority implies legitimacy claimed, but both are counterfeit, granted by darkness. Believers are reminded to discern sources of power, not just appearances, for what seems impressive and unstoppable may be energized by a will opposed to God.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power and his seat and great authority.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the beast that I saw was like to a leopard, and its feet as of a bear, and its mouth as the mouth of a lion, and the dragon did give to it his power, and his throne, and great authority.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the beast which I saw was like to a leopard: and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his own strength and great power.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the beast which I saw was like to a leopardess, and its feet as of a bear, and its mouth as a lion's mouth; and the dragon gave to it his power, and his throne, and great authority;
Context
After the beast’s appearance, John immediately explains its character and source. Verse 2 ties the beast’s nature to familiar prophetic imagery and then unmasks its energy as dragon-given. This sets up the global reaction described next: people will be awed, not realizing that the power they admire is demonic. The sequence is important: origin (dragon) leads to effect (dominion) and then to response (worship). The stage is thus set for the counterfeit resurrection in verse 3 and the world’s idolatrous wonder in verse 4.
v.1and he stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy.
v.2This passage
v.3And I saw one of his heads as though it had been smitten unto death; and his death-stroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Samuel 17:34
And David said unto Saul, Thy servant was keeping his father’s sheep; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock,
- Isaiah 5:29
their roaring shall be like a lioness, they shall roar like young lions; yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and carry it away safe, and there shall be none to deliver.
- 2 Kings 2:24
And he looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Jehovah. And there came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two lads of them.
- Hosea 13:7
Therefore am I unto them as a lion; as a leopard will I watch by the way;
- Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.
- Jeremiah 5:6
Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, a wolf of the evenings shall destroy them, a leopard shall watch against their cities; every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces; because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.
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