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.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — John records a prophetic vision immediately following the capture of the beast and false prophet, describing the execution of the remaining opposing armies by the rider on the white horse. The moment captures the final phase of divine judgment after the primary antagonists have been removed.

The words — ῥομφαία (rhomphaia) translates literally to a large, curved sword, and ἀπεκτὴνθησαν (apektēnthēsan) means were completely killed. These terms specify the exact weapon used and the total finality of the slaughter.

The thread — The sword proceeding from the rider's mouth directly parallels Revelation 1:16, where a sharp double-edged sword emerges from Christ's mouth. The birds gorging on flesh fulfills the angel's summons in Revelation 19:17 to gather for a divine feast.

Why it lands — The text states that the remaining forces are destroyed by the spoken word of the mounted rider rather than by physical combat. It requires the reader to acknowledge that divine judgment is absolute, leaving no survivors for scavenging birds.

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 the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Cross-references

Revelation 19:11 Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war.
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 19:17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,
Revelation 17:16 And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.