What Does Revelation 19:2 Mean in the King James?
For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
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
Greek places “righteous” and “avenged” in the same justice-family, so the verdict’s alignment is shown by its answer to the servants’ blood.
THE MEANING
The verdict holds together the ruin of the earth and the blood of the servants: neither harm is overlooked. The great whore is judged, and the blood at her hand is avenged.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie this undoes is that power can corrupt the earth and spill the servants’ blood without being held to account.
THE ROOT
δίκαιος
dikaios
GROWS FROM
δικ- (dik-), from δίκη (dikē)
Right, justice; alignment with what is due.
English separates “righteous” from “avenged,” but Greek places both in the δίκη (dikē, justice) family. The alignment named in “righteous” is also the justice enacted for the servants, holding the judgment and the answering of their blood together.
ALSO GROWS
dikē: Justice, what is right or due.
δίκη
This is the justice-root beneath both the verdict’s righteousness and its response to the servants’ blood.
ekdikeō: Avenge, vindicate, do justice for.
ἐκδικέω
This is the Greek verb behind “avenged,” linking the act of answering the blood to the same justice-family as “righteous.”
dikaiosynē: Righteousness, justice, alignment.
δικαιοσύνη
This related word makes explicit the alignment that the verse names in its judgment.
ἔφθειρεν
ephtheiren
GROWS FROM
φθειρ- (phth(e)ir-), from φθείρω (phtheirō)
To damage, ruin, corrupt, or destroy.
“corrupt” in this verse is ephtheiren. The word holds corruption together with damage and ruin, not merely a defect of appearance. Since the earth itself is named as what she corrupts, the charge includes harm to the shared world.
ALSO GROWS
phthora: Corruption, ruin, decay.
φθορά
This branch shows the destructive force carried by the word translated “corrupt.”
phthartos: Corruptible, perishable.
φθαρτός
This related word describes what is subject to ruin, underscoring the damage named in the verse.
κρίσεις
kriseis
GROWS FROM
κριν- (krin-), from κρίνω (krinō)
To distinguish, decide, or judge.
Greek uses the same κριν- (krin-) family for “judgments” and “judged” in this verse. The verdict is not detached from the act: the judgment pronounced is the judgment carried out.
ALSO GROWS
krinō: Judge, decide.
κρίνω
This is the verb translated “judged” later in the verse, sharing the root of “judgments.”
krima: Judgment, verdict.
κρίμα
This branch names the decision or verdict produced by judging.
kritēs: Judge.
κριτής
This branch names the one who makes the judgment.
THE PATTERN
True judgment names the harm done and answers the bloodshed with accountability.
Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?THE THREAD
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?This is the earlier cry that Revelation 19:2 answers. The Greek repeats κρίνω (krinō, judge) and ἐκδικέω (ekdikeō, avenge or vindicate), turning the appeal for an answer into the declaration that it has come.
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