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Revelation 13:11

in Revelation 13

Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like unto a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

KJV

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

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This verse in Revelation 13

Commentary

3 notes on this verse

A commentator

Irenaeus

Against Heresies Book V · Written before 202.

After this he likewise describes his armour-bearer, whom he also terms a false prophet: "He spake as a dragon, and exercised all the power of the first beast in his sight, and caused the earth, and those that dwell therein, to adore the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he shall perform great wonders, so that he can even cause fire to descend from heaven upon the earth in the sight of men, and he shall lead the inhabitants of the earth astray."

This site's exposition

two horns like a lamb

A second beast rises, this one out of the earth rather than the sea, with two horns like a lamb but a voice that speaks as a dragon, an appearance of gentleness concealing the same source of authority as the first beast. This second beast is named the false prophet in 16:13, 19:20, and 20:10, completing a counterfeit trinity many teachers name outright, the dragon standing in for the Father, the sea beast for a counterfeit Christ, and this beast for a counterfeit spirit who directs worship toward the first rather than toward himself. Rising from the earth rather than the sea suggests a more settled, more familiar origin than the first beast's rise from the restless nations, a deceiver whose lamb-like appearance is precisely what makes him dangerous. His voice betrays what his horns conceal, the dragon's own speech coming from a figure got up to look harmless.

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

As the first beast was like the Lamb in being, as it were, wounded to death, so the second is like the Lamb in having two lamb-like horns (its essential difference from the Lamb is marked by its having TWO, but the Lamb SEVEN horns, Re 5:6). The former paganism of the world power, seeming to be wounded to death by Christianity, revives.

The words behind it

18 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

2 Corinthians 11:13–15For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.7 worksDaniel 7:8While I was contemplating the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like those of a man and a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.7 worksMatthew 7:15Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.6 worksRevelation 17:6I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.4 worksIsaiah 27:1In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent—Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea.4 worksDaniel 7:24–25And the ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. After them another king, different from the earlier ones, will rise and subdue three kings.3 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Romans 16:18For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.3 worksRevelation 11:7When the two witnesses have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will wage war with them, and will overpower and kill them.3 worksRevelation 12:3–4Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads.3 worksRevelation 16:13And I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.3 worksRevelation 13:17so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of its name.3 works2 Peter 2:18With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.3 worksRevelation 12:17And the dragon was enraged at the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.2 works2 Thessalonians 2:4He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.2 worksEzekiel 29:3Speak to him and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies among his rivers, who says, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it myself.’2 worksDaniel 7:17‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth.2 worksEzekiel 22:25The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her.2 worksRevelation 17:8The 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.1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Matthew 7:15

    Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

    it leads to

    • 1 John 4:1

      Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

    • 2 Peter 2:1–3

      Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on…

    • Matthew 24:11

      and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.

    • Acts 20:29–31

      I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.

    • Mark 13:22–23

      For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

  • Through

    Revelation 17:6

    I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.

    it leads to

    • Revelation 16:6

      For they have spilled the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink, as they deserve.”

    • Revelation 13:15

      The second beast was permitted to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed.

  • Through

    Daniel 7:8

    While I was contemplating the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like those of a…

    it leads to

    • Revelation 13:5–6

      The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months.

Where this verse is studied

About Revelation

The Transfiguration — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
The Transfiguration — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
Revelation: the study guide →Read Revelation 13 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Irenaeus, Against Heresies Book V and Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Revelation 13 →