Devine Scripture

Revelation 19:21

What does Revelation 19:21 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 19:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 19:21 means

The remaining forces are killed by the sword from the mouth of the Rider—the effective, judicial word of Christ. No other weapons are mentioned; His speech executes the verdict. The birds are filled with their flesh, fulfilling the angel’s summons and underscoring the completeness of the defeat. The scene closes with solemn finality: resistance is ended, the battlefield is cleared, and the King stands vindicated. For the church, this assures that evil’s amassed power cannot outlast a single command from their Lord. For the rebellious, it is a sober end—those who followed the beast share the ruin of his cause, having rejected the life offered by the Lamb.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and the rest were killed with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, even the sword which came forth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and the rest were killed with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, even the sword which came forth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the rest were put to death with the sword of him who was on the horse, even the sword which came out of his mouth: and all the birds were made full with their flesh.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the rest were killed with the sword of him who is sitting on the horse, which <FI>sword<Fi> is proceeding out of his mouth, and all the birds were filled out of their flesh.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the rest were slain by the sword of him that sitteth upon the horse, which proceedeth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and the rest were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which goes out of his mouth; and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Context

Following the capture and judgment of the beast and false prophet (verse 20), this verse concludes the episode by recording the fate of their armies. The Rider’s word alone accomplishes the victory, matching the earlier imagery of the sword from His mouth (verse 15). The filling of the birds fulfills the summons of verses 17–18. With this, Revelation 19 ends: the marriage has been announced, the King has come, Babylon is judged, and the leaders of rebellion are dispatched. The stage is set for what follows—the binding of Satan and the reign described in the next chapter.

v.20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone:

v.21This passage

Cross references

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

  • 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.

  • Revelation 1:16

    And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

  • Revelation 19:17

    And 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;

  • Revelation 19:11

    And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

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