Revelation 19:16

16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS^[a]

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Revelation 19:16 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 19:16

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written,
&c.] This name, afterwards expressed, is said to be written on his vesture, in allusion to the custom of persons of note and eminence having their names interwoven in their garments, and which was sometimes done in letters of gold, as Zeuxis had ^F20; and it is expressive of the conspicuousness of Christ's kingdom, which now will come with observation; his judgments, the administrations of his kingly office, will be manifest, and he will reign before his ancients gloriously: and its being said to be written on his thigh may mean either that it was upon that part of his garment which covered his thigh; or else that it was also on his sword, which he sometimes girt upon his thigh. Mr. Daubuz has given an instance out of Victor Vitensis, of Clementianus, a monk, who had written on his thigh,

``"a manichee" disciple of Jesus Christ.''

And this being done in Africa, he supposes it to be a Phoenician custom continued. It may here denote the perpetuity of Christ's name, power, and dominion, which will continue to the latest posterity, ( Psalms 72:17 ) which spring from the thigh; and it may denote the subjection of his people to him, signified by the putting the hand under the thigh, ( Genesis 24:2 ) . And this name is

King of kings and Lord of lords;
which will well suit him now when he shall be openly King over all the earth; (See Gill on Revelation 17:14).

FOOTNOTES:

F20 Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 35. c. 9.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Revelation 19:16 In-Context

14 The armies that were in heaven followed Him on white horses, wearing pure white linen.

15 From His mouth came a sharp sword, so that with it He might strike the nations. He will shepherd them with an iron scepter. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty.

16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying in mid-heaven, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God,

18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great."