What Does Revelation 13:6 Mean in the King James?
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Greek links “tabernacle” and “dwell” through the same tent-root, so the mouth attacks God’s dwelling and those within it as one target.
THE MEANING
This verse exposes a voice speaking against God’s nature, God’s dwelling, and those who dwell in heaven. The Greek joins the dwelling and its inhabitants through the language of a tent, binding them together in the attack.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie this undoes is that speech can dishonor God’s name while leaving God’s dwelling and its inhabitants untouched.
THE ROOT
σκηνή
skēnē
GROWS FROM
σκην-
skēn-
Tent; the word-family carries the sense of a tent and dwelling in a tent.
“tabernacle / dwell” in this verse is skēnē. English gives “tabernacle” and “dwell” different sounds, but the Greek uses related tent-words for both. Those in heaven are pictured as tenting there, so the attack reaches the dwelling and its inhabitants together.
ALSO GROWS
skēnē: Tent, tabernacle
σκηνή
This is the word translated “tabernacle,” the dwelling the mouth attacks.
skēnoō: To pitch a tent, dwell
σκηνόω
The verse’s “dwell” is a form of this related verb, describing those who tent in heaven.
βλασφημία
blasphēmia
GROWS FROM
βλασφημ-
blasphēm-
A Greek word-family for slanderous or reproachful speech.
“blasphemy” in this verse is blasphēmia. The word carries the force of injurious speech: the mouth does not merely mention God but speaks in a way that defames. The verse shows that this speech reaches beyond God’s name to God’s dwelling and its inhabitants.
ALSO GROWS
blasphēmeō: To blaspheme, speak abusively
βλασφημέω
This is the verb behind “to blaspheme,” making the attack an action of the mouth.
blasphēmos: Slanderous, abusive
βλάσφημος
This related form describes speech marked by reproach, clarifying the character of the voice.
ὄνομα
onoma
GROWS FROM
ὀνοματ-
onomat-
Name or designation; the word-family can also refer to the person or reputation represented by a name.
God’s name is named alongside God’s tabernacle as a target of the speech. The verse treats the name as bound to the one it names: the attack reaches God’s identity, dwelling, and heavenly household.
ALSO GROWS
onomazō: To name, call, or designate
ὀνομάζω
This related verb shows the family’s basic connection to naming and identifying.
onomastos: Named, renowned
ὀνομαστός
This form can describe one who is known by name, echoing the public identity implicated in the verse.
THE PATTERN
Speech against God’s name is not abstract: it can reach the people and realities associated with God.
O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.THE THREAD
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.The Greek again uses the tent-root for both “tabernacle” and “dwell.” Revelation 13:6 shows that dwelling and its inhabitants under attack; here the same root describes God dwelling with people.
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