What Does Revelation 20:6 Mean in the King James?

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Revelation 20:6 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The first resurrection makes its participants more than survivors: the second death loses authority over them, and they share the Anointed One’s reign.

THE MEANING

You are flourishing and set apart as one who shares in the first resurrection. The second death has no authority over you, and you will be a priest of God and the Anointed One, reigning with him through the thousand years.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The lie that death has final authority over every life is undone: the second death has no claim over the person who shares the first resurrection.

THE ROOT

μέρος

meros

GROWS FROM

μερ-

mer-

A part, portion, or share.

The phrase points to a share in the resurrection, not a distant spectacle someone merely watches. English “part” can sound small, but the word marks participation in the resurrection and all that follows.

ALSO GROWS

merizō: Divide, distribute, or apportion.

μερίζω

It carries the sense of something being divided into shares, illuminating the participation named in “hath part.”

meris: A share or portion.

μερίς

This related form makes clear that the participant has a place within what the first resurrection brings.

ἐξουσίαν

exousian

GROWS FROM

ἐξουσί-

exousi-

Authority, right, or jurisdiction to act.

English “power” can suggest force, while ⁨ἐξουσία⁩ names authority or jurisdiction. The second death is barred from governing those who share the first resurrection.

ALSO GROWS

exousiazō: Exercise authority or control.

ἐξουσιάζω

The related verb shows the kind of rule the second death cannot exercise over them.

exousiastēs: One who holds authority; a ruler.

ἐξουσιαστής

This form links ⁨ἐξουσία⁩ with the right to govern, sharpening the force of “hath no power.”

βασιλεύσουσιν

basileusousin

GROWS FROM

βασιλευ-

basileu-

To act as king or rule.

The future verb gives the resurrection’s participants an active place: they reign with him. In this word family, kingship and kingdom are the language of rule they share.

ALSO GROWS

basileus: King.

βασιλεύς

The shared word family ties their reigning to kingship.

basileia: Kingdom or reign.

βασιλεία

This branch names the realm or rule in which their participation takes shape.

THE PATTERN

Resurrection moves those who share God’s life from death’s claim into life, service, and rule with him.

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Daniel 12:2 · KJVThose sleeping in the dust awake to distinct outcomes, making life beyond death the dividing line.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 5:24 · KJVThe passage from death to life already belongs to the one who hears and trusts.

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

2 Timothy 2:12 · KJVLife with him includes a shared reign, joining endurance to participation in his rule.

THE THREAD

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

Romans 6:9 · KJV

Both verses use ⁨θάνατος⁩ (thanatos, death), and Romans says death no longer has dominion over the one raised. Revelation extends that loss of rule to everyone who shares the first resurrection: the second death has no authority over them.

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