What Does Revelation 19:6 Mean in the King James?
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
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
A multitude, many waters, and thunder are heard as one voice, and that voice announces that the All-Ruler reigns.
THE MEANING
The verse meets you now in a soundscape where many voices and forces do not drown out the central declaration: the Lord God, the All-Ruler, reigns. Praise is not solitary or quiet; it rises as a multitude, as waters, as thunder.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Many voices can only produce confusion and division. Here the multitude, waters, and thunder converge in one praise, carrying a clear declaration.
THE ROOT
παντοκράτωρ
pantokratōr
GROWS FROM
κρατ- (krat-), in παντοκράτωρ (pan + kratōr)
to hold sway, exercise strength, or rule
“omnipotent” in this verse is pantokratōr. The word joins pan, “all,” to the family of strength and rule: it names the one who holds sway over all. The waters and thunder sound within that all-encompassing rule.
ALSO GROWS
kratos: strength, might, dominion
κράτος
The verse’s “mighty thunderings” echo the force associated with this root.
krateō: to hold, take hold, or rule
κρατέω
It shows the active sense within “omnipotent”: power that holds sway.
krataios: strong, mighty
κραταιός
This related form echoes the overwhelming force of the waters and thunder.
ἐβασίλευσεν
ebasileusen
GROWS FROM
βασιλ- (basil-), in the βασιλεύω (basileuō) word family
king, kingship, or exercising royal rule
The verb translated “reigneth” shares its root with βασιλεία (basileia), “kingdom” or “kingship.” The verse speaks of active governance, while the many sounds become its proclamation.
ALSO GROWS
basileus: king
βασιλεύς
The verb of reigning grows from the same word family as the ruler.
basileia: kingdom, kingship, governance
βασιλεία
It connects the act of reigning to the governance declared in the verse.
basileuō: to reign, rule as king
βασιλεύω
This is the verb family behind “reigneth,” naming the active rule the chorus proclaims.
THE PATTERN
Across Scripture, overwhelming voices and natural force make divine presence or rule audible, gathering into a clear proclamation.
The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.THE THREAD
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.The verb translated “reign” here belongs to the same βασιλεύω (basileuō), “to reign,” word family as Revelation 19:6. Revelation 11:15 makes the declaration’s reach plain: the voices announce the governance that belongs to the Lord.
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