Revelation 13:3

One of the heads of the beast appeared to have been mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The apostle John records a vision given to him, depicting the beast rising from the sea after the dragon transfers his power, throne, and authority. This scene occurs during the revelation of future judgments and the emergence of a persecuting political-religious entity.

The words — The text highlights ὡς (hōs), meaning "as" or "as if," which frames the head's wound as an appearance rather than a confirmed reality. John also uses εἶδον (eidon), "I saw," to ground the vision in his prophetic sight.

The thread — The motif of a healed fatal wound and global marvel follows the pattern in Revelation 17:8, where the beast "was, and now is no more, but is about to come up." This deception through miraculous signs parallels the warning in Revelation 13:14 about a second agent performing signs to deceive the inhabitants of the earth.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that apparent miraculous restoration will trigger widespread fascination and allegiance to the beast. Readers must distinguish between superficial wonder and genuine worship, resisting the pull of a system that substitutes visible power for divine authority.

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 I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

Cross-references

Revelation 17:8 The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.
Revelation 13:14 Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived.
Revelation 17:10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. But when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.
Revelation 17:17 For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
Ezekiel 30:24 I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king and place My sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, who will groan before him like a mortally wounded man.
Acts 8:13 Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed.
Revelation 13:1 Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
Revelation 13:12 And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed.
Revelation 17:13 These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast.
Luke 2:1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.