Revelation 10:11

And they told me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — An angel addresses John immediately after he consumes the small scroll, shifting the focus from internal reception to external proclamation. The command occurs at the conclusion of the vision's symbolic act, marking a transition to renewed public declaration.

The words — δεῖ (dei) conveys "it is necessary," and προφητεῦσαι (prophēteusai) means "to prophesy." These terms frame the upcoming task as a divine obligation rather than a voluntary choice.

The thread — Ezekiel 37:4 and Ezekiel 37:9 record God commanding a prophet to speak to specific audiences, while Jeremiah 1:9 describes God placing words in a prophet's mouth. These passages are cited to show the recurring biblical pattern of commissioned divine speech.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize the mandate to deliver a message to diverse political and ethnic groups. It demands readiness to proclaim truth regardless of the audience's composition or the speaker's personal condition.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

καὶkaiAnd λέγουσίνlegousinthey say μοι·moito me;δεῖdeiIt is necessary σεsefor you πάλινpalinagain προφητεῦσαιprophēteusaito prophesy ἐπὶepiconcerning λαοῖςlaoispeoples καὶkaiand ἐπὶepiconcerning ἔθνεσινethnesinnations καὶkaiand γλώσσαιςglōssais[concerning] tongues καὶkaiand βασιλεῦσινbasileusin[concerning] kings πολλοῖς.¶polloismany.

King James Version

And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 37:4 And He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and tell them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!
Jeremiah 1:9 Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
Ezekiel 37:9 Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and tell the breath that this is what the Lord GOD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, so that they may live!”
Revelation 11:9 For three and a half days all peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will view their bodies and will not permit them to be laid in a tomb.
Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying overhead, with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation and tribe and tongue and people.
Revelation 17:15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.
Jeremiah 25:15 This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from My hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it.