Devine Scripture

Revelation 17:12

What does Revelation 17:12 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 17:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 17:12 means

The ten horns are ten kings who do not yet possess kingdoms but will be granted authority alongside the beast for “one hour”—a striking image of brevity. This depicts a future coalition rapidly assembled for a decisive moment. Their power is real but short-lived, emphasizing that God strictly limits the duration of their sway. The scene warns of sudden alignments by which smaller powers become significant through coordinated allegiance to a central, hostile agenda. Yet even their emergence serves the storyline of God’s purposes: their hour is appointed, and it will expire exactly on time.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, which still have been given no kingdom; but they are given authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`And the ten horns that thou sawest, are ten kings, who a kingdom did not yet receive, but authority as kings the same hour do receive with the beast,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom: but shall receive power as kings, one hour after the beast.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have not yet received a kingdom, but receive authority as kings one hour with the beast.

Context

Now the angel identifies the horns as future rulers who will act in concert with the beast. The time-bound nature of their reign emphasizes divine sovereignty over geopolitical shifts. Verse 12 sets up verse 13, where their unity of purpose is described, and verse 14, which shows the outcome of their combined opposition when they face the Lamb. The flow underscores that the apparent consolidation of evil is neither accidental nor enduring.

v.11And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goeth into perdition.

v.12This passage

v.13These have one mind, and they give their power and authority unto the beast.

Cross references

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

  • Daniel 7:24

    And as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings.

  • Daniel 2:40

    And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things; and as iron that crusheth all these, shall it break in pieces and crush.

  • Daniel 7:20

    and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows.

  • Revelation 17:16

    And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire.

  • Daniel 7:7

    After this I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, a fourth beast, terrible and powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

  • Revelation 13:1

    and 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.

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