Revelation 17:14
What does Revelation 17:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 17:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 17:14 means
The kings and the beast dare to war against the Lamb—Jesus in His Messianic authority. The outcome is never in doubt: “the Lamb shall overcome them,” for He bears the supreme titles “Lord of lords, and King of kings.” His apparent meekness as Lamb conceals omnipotent majesty. Those with Him also overcome—not by their own strength, but because they are “called and chosen and faithful.” Their perseverance flows from His sovereign grace and their steadfast allegiance. This verse is the chapter’s bright center: amid terrifying powers, Christ’s dominion is final and public. The world’s coalitions cannot cancel His call, undo His choice, or break the faith He sustains.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000These 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901These 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949These will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because he is the Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with him are named, marked out, and true.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862these with the Lamb shall make war, and the Lamb shall overcome them, because Lord of lords he is, and King of kings, and those with him are called, and choice, and stedfast.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752These shall fight with the Lamb. And the Lamb shall overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings: and they that are with him are called and elect and faithful.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them; for he is Lord of lords and King of kings: and they [that are] with him called, and chosen, and faithful.
Context
After the buildup of alliances and power, verse 14 delivers the decisive theological counterpoint: Christ triumphs. This promise reframes everything else in the chapter. Whatever the beast’s schemes or the kings’ unity, they end in defeat before the Lamb. The following verses return to interpretation, clarifying the woman’s global reach (verse 15) and narrating the surprising way her ruin will come—from the very powers that once supported her (verses 16–17), all under God’s sovereign hand.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Daniel 2:44
And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
- Revelation 16:14
for they are spirits of demons, working signs; which go forth unto the kings of the whole world, to gather them together unto the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.
- Daniel 11:24
In time of security shall he come even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them prey, and spoil, and substance: yea, he shall devise his devices against the strongholds, even for a time.
- Romans 8:30
and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
- Revelation 8:6
And the seven angels that had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
- Psalms 110:5
The Lord at thy right hand Will strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
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