Revelation 19:18
What does Revelation 19:18 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 19:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 19:18 means
The birds are summoned to consume the flesh of every rank: kings, captains, mighty men, riders, and all people, free and bond, small and great. The picture declares that no social status, military strength, or number can shield from divine judgment. The inclusion of horses and their riders underscores the defeat of war power; the very instruments of resistance become part of the ruin. This equalizing judgment answers Babylon’s corrupt hierarchy: those who exalted themselves fall together. The gruesome imagery serves a moral clarity—sin pays wages, and rebellion meets an end both comprehensive and humiliating—so that God’s justice is seen to be impartial and complete.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, and small and great.
KJV
King James Version · 1611That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, and small and great.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So that you may take for your food the flesh of kings, and of captains, and of strong men, and of horses and of those who are seated on them, and the flesh of all men, free and unfree, small and great.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862that ye may eat flesh of kings, and flesh of chiefs of thousands, and flesh of strong men, and flesh of horses, and of those sitting on them, and the flesh of all--freemen and servants--both small and great.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752That you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of tribunes and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of them that sit on them: and the flesh of all freemen and bondmen and of little and of great.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890that ye may eat flesh of kings, and flesh of chiliarchs, and flesh of strong men, and flesh of horses and of those that sit upon them, and flesh of all, both free and bond, and small and great.
Context
This verse elaborates the angel’s summons in verse 17, stressing the universal scope of the coming defeat. By listing ranks and classes, it anticipates the gathering of the beast and the kings of the earth in verse 19, showing that their assembled might will avail nothing. The focus on the aftermath precedes the battle’s description to highlight that the outcome is decreed by God. The following verses will narrate the confrontation briefly but decisively: the beast and false prophet are seized and judged (verse 20), and the rest are slain by the Rider’s word (verse 21).
v.17And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid heaven, Come and be gathered together unto the great supper of God;
v.18This passage
v.19And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against his army.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezekiel 29:5
And I will cast thee forth into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open field; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered; I have given thee for food to the beasts of the earth and to the birds of the heavens.
- Jeremiah 16:4
They shall die grievous deaths: they shall not be lamented, neither shall they be buried; they shall be as dung upon the face of the ground; and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their dead bodies shall be food for the birds of the heavens, and for the beasts of the earth.
- Ezekiel 39:18
Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
- 1 Samuel 17:44
And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the birds of the heavens, and to the beasts of the field.
- Jeremiah 7:33
And the dead bodies of this people shall be food for the birds of the heavens, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall frighten them away.
- Revelation 6:15
And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains;
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