Revelation 13

Revelation 13:1

:TEXT: “and on its heads [were] names of blasphemy.”

A 046 051 94 1611 1854 2053 2344 Maj(K,B,C) some lat syr(h)

ASV NASV NEB (“each head . . . a name”) RANK: CNOTES: “and on its heads [was] a name of blasphemy.”

p47 S C P 1 1006 Maj(A) some lat syr(ph) cop

KJV RSV NIV? TEV?: The last two letters on the Greek word for “names” (which are the letters that make the word plural) are enclosed in brackets in the UBS Greek text. Although it is possible that copyists changed “name” to “names” because “heads” is plural, it is also possible that others misread ONOMATA as ONOMA when their eyes jumped from the first A to the next.

Revelation 13:6

:TEXT: “and his dwelling, [that is] those who dwell in heaven.”

S* A C 046c 94 1006 1611 1854 2053commentary 2344 Maj(K,B,C)

ASV RSV NASV NEBn RANK: CNOTES: “and his dwelling, and those who dwell in heaven.”

Sc P 046* 051 1 2053text Maj(A) lat vg syr(h) cop

KJV NIV : “and his dwelling in heaven.”

p47: NEB OTHER: “and his dwelling of those who dwell in heaven.”

syr(ph)

The grammar of the text reading (taking the phrase in apposition to “his dwelling”) was likely to be simplified by copyists, either by adding “and” or by omitting “those who dwell.” The copyist of manuscript p47 elsewhere shows a tendency to omit words.

Revelation 13:7

:TEXT: “·And [the right] was given to it to make war with the saints and overcome them. And authority was given it”

S 046 051 1margin 94 1006 1611 1854 2344 most Maj lat vg syr(ph,h) cop(north)

KJV ASV RSV NASV NIV NEB TEV RANK: BNOTES: “·And authority was given it”

p47 A C P 1text 2053 some Maj(A) cop(south)

ASVn RSVn NEBnCOMMENTS: Since both sentences begin with exactly the same words “and there was given to it,” it is likely that the first sentence was accidently omitted when copyists’ eyes jumped from the beginning of the first sentence to the beginning of the second sentence. Revelation 13:10 :TEXT: “if anyone [is] to be killed with the sword, he [is] to be killed with the sword.”

A

NIV TEV RANK: CNOTES: “if anyone shall kill with the sword, he has to be killed with the sword.”

S C P 046 051 1 94 1006 1611 1854 2053 2344 Maj(A,B,C) lat vg syr cop

KJV ASV RSV NASV : “if anyone [is] with the sword, he has to be killed.”

Maj(K)

Since the saying involves a Hebrew idiom regarding endurance and the will of God which was hard for copyists to understand, many of them modified it to a law of retribution perhaps modeled after Matthew 26:52. Despite the apparent overwhelming evidence listed above supporting the reading in the notes, in actuality that evidence supports eight different variations which have the same general idea, and have thus been included together here.

Revelation 13:15

:TEXT: “the image of the beast might even speak and cause”

A P \ 1006 \ lat vg syr(ph) cop(south)

KJV ASV NASV NIV NEB TEV RANK: DNOTES: “the image of the beast might even speak; and he shall cause”

S 046 94 1611 most Maj syr(h) cop(north) (omit “he shall cause”)

ASVn NASVnNOTES: “the image of the beast might even speak, and to cause”

p47? (a large section of text is omitted)

RSV

A word which can be translated “in order that” is enclosed in brackets in the UBS text. It is omitted from the reading in the notes. It goes with “they should be killed” and together they are translated “to be killed.” The evidence listed in braces has a different word order than the text reading, although it supports it in meaning. The unusual word order of the text reading caused some copyists to move the word “in order that” and others to omit it. Manuscript C accidently omits from the first occurrence of “image of the beast” to the third.

Revelation 13:18

:TEXT: “And its number [is] six hundred [and] sixty-six.”

p47 S A P 046 051 1 94 1006 1611 1854 2053 2344 Maj most lat vg syr cop

KJV ASV RSV NASV NIV NEB TEV RANK: BNOTES: “And its number [is] six hundred [and] sixteen.”

C one lat?

ASVn RSVn NASVnOTHER: “And its number [is] six hundred [and] forty-six.”

one lat

When Greek letters are used as numerals, there is only one letter’s difference between 666 and 616. But perhaps the reading 616 was intentional, for “Nero Caesar” written in Hebrew letters has the value 616.