What Does Revelation 19:16 Mean?
And on his garment and on his thigh he has a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.THE KEY
The written name exposes his nature: every king and lord falls within the scope of his authority.
THE MEANING
His name is openly displayed on his vesture and thigh as a title of sovereignty. “King of kings” and “Lord of lords” place every other rank within the reach of his rule.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that the highest authority is just one more ruler among rulers: the title places every king and lord beneath him.
THE ROOT
ὄνομα
onoma
GROWS FROM
ὀνοματ-
onomat-
Name, designation, or title; here, the nature and authority disclosed by the title.
The Greek word names what is written, while the title itself reveals the nature of its bearer. What appears as a name is also a declaration of who he is: the ruler over every king and lord.
ALSO GROWS
onomazō: To name or call someone by name.
ὀνομάζω
The written title names him by the authority he bears.
onomastos: Named, known, or renowned.
ὀνομαστός
The title makes his identity known through the nature it names.
κύριος
kyrios
GROWS FROM
κυρι-
kyri-
Master or lord; one who holds authority.
This word family connects the title “Lord” with ruling and dominion. “Lord of lords” names authority that reaches every other lordship.
ALSO GROWS
kyrieuō: To exercise authority or rule over someone.
κυριεύω
The title names an authority that is active over every lesser lord.
kyriotēs: Lordship, dominion, or a ruling authority.
κυριότης
The plural title places every dominion within the scope of this one.
βασιλεύς
basileus
GROWS FROM
βασιλ-
basil-
King or ruler.
The Greek word family links the king with both the act of reigning and the reign itself. “King of kings” presents every ruler as existing within the reach of this rule.
ALSO GROWS
basileuō: To rule as king or reign.
βασιλεύω
The title points beyond rank to the act of ruling.
basileia: Reign, kingship, or the realm under a king.
βασιλεία
The phrase places every king and realm beneath the rule named here.
THE PATTERN
Scripture’s names disclose the character and authority carried by the one named.
And the LORD passed by before his face, and called out, The LORD, The LORD God, compassionate and full of favor, slow to flare, abounding in faithful love and truth,Those who know your name lean their weight on you, for you do not let go of those who seek you, LORD.I have made your nature visible to the people you gave me out of the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have guarded your word.THE THREAD
I have made your nature visible to the people you gave me out of the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have guarded your word.John 17:6 uses the same Greek word, ὄνομα (onoma, “name”), and says the name is manifested through what is revealed about its bearer. Revelation 19:16 gives that name as a written title: the nature on display is authority over every ruler.
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