Revelation 10:11
in Revelation 10And they told me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And they say unto me, Thou must prophesy again over many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.
KJV
And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
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This verse in Revelation 10
Commentary
13 notes on this verseA commentator
Victorinus of PettauCommentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John · Written before 304.
"And He says unto me, Thou must again prophesy to the peoples, and to the tongues, and to the nations, and to many kings." He says this, because when John said these things he was in the island of Patmos, condemned to the labour of the mines by Caesar Domitian. There, therefore, he saw the Apocalypse; and when grown old, he thought that he should at length receive his quittance by suffering, Domitian being killed, all his judgments were discharged. And John being dismissed from the mines, thus subsequently delivered the same Apocalypse which he had received from God.
This site's exposition
sweet as honey
on Revelation 10:10-11
John eats the scroll and finds it as sweet as honey in my mouth, but his stomach turned bitter. He is told You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings, the fourfold phrase of 5:9.
This site's exposition
You must prophesy again
Victorinus reads the command to prophesy again as fulfilled when John was set free from the mines of Patmos after Domitian died. Barnes reads prophesy as speaking the truth of God to many peoples, nations, tongues and kings. John had more to speak.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
In the one angel he clearly shows the body of the church. Although he speaks of one, he shows many. "He says to me, 'You must preach again.' " When did the church ever cease from its preaching, so that she should preach again what …
And he says to me, "You must prophesy again concerning peoples, nations, languages, and many kings," as if he said: because you have already seen in a vision both the end of the present age and the wrath against the ungodly, do not consider the …
The Medieval Church3 voices
This passage indicates either that after the vision of the divine Revelation, that which was seen will not immediately receive its fulfillment, but that the saint must prophesy to those who read his Gospel and his Revelation until the consummation. Or the passage indicates that …
And he said to me: Thou must prophesy again to many peoples, and nations, and kings, and tongues. This is said to John specifically, and to preachers generally. They are ordered to prophesy, that is to preach, again, so as to proclaim again by their …
And he said to me: You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations. He explains what the book eaten and the sweetness mixed with bitterness signify, namely, that, being freed from exile, he would preach the Gospel to the nations, sweet indeed with love, …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And he did prophesy, by "measuring the temple," chap. xi, 1; as a prophecy may be delivered either by words or actions. Concerning people, and nations, and tongues, and many kings - The people, nations, and tongues are contemporary; but the kings, being many, succeed one another. These kings are not mentioned for their own sake, but with a view to the "holy city," chap. xi, 2.
And he said unto me,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And he said unto me - The angel then said. Thou must prophesy - The word “prophesy” here is evidently used in the large sense of making known divine truth in general; not in the comparatively narrow and limited sense in which it is commonly used, as referring merely to the foretelling of future events. See the word explained in the Rom 12:6 note; 1Co 14:1 note.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
he said--A, B, and Vulgate read, "they say unto me"; an indefinite expression for "it was said unto me." Thou must--The obligation lies upon thee, as the servant of God, to prophesy at His command. again--as thou didst already in the previous part of this book of Revelation. before, &c.--rather as Greek (epilaois), "concerning many peoples," &c., namely, in their relation to the Church.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Thou must prophesy again - Thou must write, not only for the instruction of the Jews in Palestine, but of those in the different provinces, as well as the heathens and heathen emperors and potentates in general. The reader will find, on comparing this chapter with Daniel 8:1-27; Dan 12:1-13, and Ezekiel 2:1-3:27, that there are several things similar in both; and the writer of the Apocalypse appears to keep these two prophets continually in view. I must once more say that I do not understand these prophecies, therefore I do not take upon me to explain them. I see with regret how many learned men have mistaken their way here. Commentators, and even some of the most modern, have strangely trifled in these solemn things; all trumpets, vials, woes, etc., are perfectly easy to them; yet from their descriptions, none get wise either to common sense or to the things that make for their peace. On the same ground I cannot admit the interpretation that is given of the word χρονος, translated time in Rev 10:6, which some have construed into an artificial period of 1,111 years, which they term chronos; hence we have the chronos, half-chronos, and non-chronos. Bengel has said much on these points, but to very little purpose; the word in the above place seems to signify delay simply, and probably refers to the long-suffering of God being ended in reference to Jerusalem; for I all along take for probable that this book was written previously to the destruction of that city.
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| λέγουσίν | legousin | they say | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| μοι· | moi | to me; | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| δεῖ | dei | It is necessary | G1163 → | 101 times |
| σε | se | for you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| πάλιν | palin | again | G3825 → | |
| προφητεῦσαι | propheteusai | to prophesy | G4395 → | |
| ἐπὶ | epi | concerning | G1909 → | 883 times |
| λαοῖς | laois | peoples | G2992 → | 141 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἔθνεσιν | ethnesin | nations | G1484 → | 161 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| γλώσσαις | glossais | [concerning] tongues | G1100 → | 49 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| βασιλεῦσιν | basileusin | [concerning] kings | G935 → | 114 times |
| πολλοῖς.¶ | pollois | many. | G4183 → | 367 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
λέγουσίνthey say
legousinG3004 →1325 times
μοι·to me;
moiG3165 →1936 times
δεῖIt is necessary
deiG1163 →101 times
σεfor you
seG4771 →2973 times
πάλινagain
palinG3825 →
προφητεῦσαιto prophesy
propheteusaiG4395 →
ἐπὶconcerning
epiG1909 →883 times
λαοῖςpeoples
laoisG2992 →141 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἔθνεσινnations
ethnesinG1484 →161 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
γλώσσαις[concerning] tongues
glossaisG1100 →49 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
βασιλεῦσιν[concerning] kings
basileusinG935 →114 times
πολλοῖς.¶many.
polloisG4183 →367 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ezekiel 37:4And He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and tell them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!
it leads to
- John 5:25
Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
- John 5:28–29
Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice
- Matthew 21:21
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain,…
- Ezekiel 36:1
“And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say: O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD.
- Jeremiah 22:29
O land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD!
- John 5:25
Through
Ezekiel 37:9Then 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…
it leads to
- John 3:8
The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
- Song of Solomon 4:16
Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind. Breathe on my garden and spread the fragrance of its spices. Let my beloved come into his garden and taste its choicest fruits.
- John 3:8
Through
Revelation 14:6Then 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.
it leads to
- Mark 16:15
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
- Mark 16:15
Where this verse is studied
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About Revelation

This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alcuin of York, COMMENTARY ON REVELATION; Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 10:11; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation; Ticonius, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 10:11 and Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John.
