Revelation 11:10

And those who dwell on the earth will gloat over them and celebrate and send one another gifts, because these two prophets had tormented them.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — John records a vision of the earth’s inhabitants immediately after the two witnesses are killed and their bodies left exposed. The description captures their reaction before the witnesses are resurrected and taken up.

The words — κατοικοῦντες (katoikountes) literally means “dwelling,” identifying the global population that remains under divine judgment. χαίρουσιν (chairousin) translates as “rejoices” or “gloats,” describing their active celebration over the prophets’ deaths.

The thread — This hostility toward God’s messengers echoes the world’s pattern of celebrating prophetic judgment, as seen when Ahab calls Elijah a “troubler of Israel” (1 Kings 18:17). The psalmist’s plea against enemies who gloat (Psalm 35:24) establishes the biblical baseline that worldly celebration of the righteous’ suffering is a mark of spiritual opposition.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that earthly celebration of divine judgment is a symptom of rebellion, not a sign of victory. Readers must evaluate their own response to prophetic warning against the pattern of those who rejoice in the absence of God’s voice.

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

King James Version

And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

Cross-references

1 Kings 18:17 When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?”
1 Kings 22:8 The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.
Psalms 35:24 Vindicate me by Your righteousness, O LORD my God, and do not let them gloat over me.
Micah 7:8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will arise; though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.
Matthew 10:22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
John 7:7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil.
Acts 5:33 When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death.
Acts 7:54 On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him.
Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Revelation 11:5 If anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouths and devours their enemies. In this way, anyone who wants to harm them must be killed.