Revelation 19:16

16 And he has upon his garment, and upon his thigh, a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords.

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).

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Revelation 19:16 In-Context

14 And the armies which [are] in the heaven followed him upon white horses, clad in white, pure, fine linen.

15 And out of his mouth goes a sharp [two-edged] sword, that with it he might smite the nations; and he shall shepherd them with an iron rod; and he treads the wine-press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

16 And he has upon his garment, and upon his thigh, a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords.

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid-heaven, Come, gather yourselves to the great supper of God,

18 that ye may eat flesh of kings, and flesh of chiliarchs, and flesh of strong men, and flesh of horses and of those that sit upon them, and flesh of all, both free and bond, and small and great.