Revelation 19:15

And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — John reports what he sees: the Rider on the white horse (v. 11), followed by the armies of heaven (v. 14), named King of Kings and Lord of Lords (v. 16). The moment is the final judgment, immediately before the beast and false prophet are destroyed (vv. 19–20).

The words — ῥομφαία (rhomphaia) is a large two-handed sword and δίστομος (distomos) means "two-edged"; the BSB renders this as "sharp sword," dropping the double edge. ἐκπορεύεται (ekporeuetai) is present active, "goes forth" — an ongoing issuing, not a one-time event.

The thread — The sword from the mouth appears in Revelation 1:16 and 2:12; the iron scepter in Revelation 2:27 and Psalm 2:9; the winepress in Isaiah 63:2.

Why it lands — The weapon is the Word itself; judgment does not require a separate instrument. The reader is placed before a God whose speech is the execution of judgment, not merely a description of it.

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 out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Cross-references

Isaiah 63:2 Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress?
Revelation 1:16 He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
Revelation 2:27 He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery—just as I have received authority from My Father.
Psalms 2:9 You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery.”
2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival.
Isaiah 11:4 but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.
Revelation 19:21 And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
Revelation 12:5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.
Revelation 14:17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.
Revelation 2:12 To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword.