Revelation 19:16

16 On his robe and on his thigh was written the name: "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).


FOOTNOTES:

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

Revelation 19:16 In-Context

14 The armies of heaven followed him, riding on white horses and dressed in clean white linen.
15 Out of his mouth came a sharp sword, with which he will defeat the nations. He will rule over them with a rod of iron, and he will trample out the wine in the wine press of the furious anger of the Almighty God.
16 On his robe and on his thigh was written the name: "King of kings and Lord of lords."
17 Then I saw an angel standing on the sun. He shouted in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair: "Come and gather together for God's great feast!
18 Come and eat the flesh of kings, generals, and soldiers, the flesh of horses and their riders, the flesh of all people, slave and free, great and small!"

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Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.