Devine Scripture

Revelation 20:13

What does Revelation 20:13 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 20:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 20:13 means

The sea, death, and Hades yield up their dead, and all are judged “every man according to their works.” This triple summons shows the totality of resurrection and accountability: no place of burial or unseen realm can hold back a single person. God’s justice reaches everywhere and everyone. Each individual faces a personal assessment, not a generic fate. Works matter because they reveal allegiance and character under God’s gaze. Nothing is hidden, delayed, or exempt. The verse underscores both the certainty of judgment and the fairness of it—no one is overlooked, and no one is judged by another’s deeds, but by what has truly marked his or her life.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and Hell gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man by his works.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the sea did give up those dead in it, and the death and the hades did give up the dead in them, and they were judged, each one according to their works;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the sea gave up the dead that were in it: and death and hell gave up their dead that were in them. And they were judged, every one according to their works.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the sea gave up the dead which [were] in it, and death and hades gave up the dead which [were] in them; and they were judged each according to their works:

Context

Verse 12 presented the courtroom and the records; verse 13 demonstrates the comprehensive scope of those who appear. By naming the sea, death, and Hades, the text clears away any thought of escape or oblivion. This prepares for verse 14, where death and Hades themselves, having been emptied, are thrown into the lake of fire, signaling the end of their dominion. The flow tightens toward the decisive final state.

v.12And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which isthe bookof life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.

v.13This passage

v.14And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, eventhe lake of fire.

Cross references

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

  • Revelation 20:14

    And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, eventhe lake of fire.

  • Isaiah 26:19

    Thy dead shall live; my dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust; for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast forth the dead.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:50

    Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

  • Revelation 20:12

    And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which isthe bookof life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.

  • Revelation 1:18

    and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

  • John 5:28

    Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice,

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