What Does Revelation 14:17 Mean in the King James?
And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
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 sharp sickle is already in the messenger’s hand as he comes from the temple: readiness emerges from the sanctuary before the cutting begins.
THE MEANING
The image meets you at the threshold of a harvest: a messenger emerges from heaven’s temple with the sickle already sharp. The cutting has not begun, but its instrument is ready and its source is named.
THE ROOT
δρέπανον
drepanon
GROWS FROM
δρεπ-
drep-
To pluck or reap.
The Greek word for “sickle” grows from the action of plucking or reaping: the tool carries the harvest action within its name. Its sharpness makes the removal ready, while the verse holds the cut just ahead.
ALSO GROWS
drepō: To pluck or reap.
δρέπω
The verb names the action the sickle is made to perform.
drepanē: A sickle.
δρεπάνη
This related form names the harvesting tool itself.
ἄγγελος
angelos
GROWS FROM
ἀγγελ-
aggel-
Message or announcement.
The word rendered “angel” also means messenger: this is a bearer of a message, not only a heavenly figure. Here the messenger comes from the temple already carrying the instrument, so the commission is visible before it is spoken.
ALSO GROWS
angellō: To announce or report.
ἀγγέλλω
The messenger’s word belongs to the same family as the act of announcing.
angelia: A message or announcement.
ἀγγελία
The related noun shows that the messenger carries a message, even before the verse records any speech.
THE PATTERN
A sharp sickle marks the moment when a ripe harvest is ready to be gathered.
Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.THE THREAD
And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.The Greek word for “sickle” recurs in the command to thrust it in, so the tool held ready here becomes action in the next verse. The movement is from a messenger emerging with the instrument to the gathering of ripe clusters: this verse is the pause before the cut.
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