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Revelation 13:8

in Revelation 13

And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain.

KJV

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

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This verse in Revelation 13

Commentary

3 notes on this verse

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 735.

The Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world. The Lamb, as Peter says, without blemish, foreordained indeed before the foundation of the world, but manifest in these last times (1 Peter I). Another edition translates it as the Lamb marked from the …

This site's exposition

the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world

All that dwell upon the earth worship the beast, all whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, one description in the verse doing double duty over both the book and the Lamb. Read one way, the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world, God's redemptive plan fixed in eternity before Eden's fall, matching 1 Peter 1:19-20's foreordained before the foundation of the world. Read the other way, using 17:8's nearly identical wording as the guide, it is the names that are written from the foundation of the world, the book of life itself as old as creation. Both readings are held by careful interpreters and both leave the same comfort standing, that the saints' security was never an afterthought.

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

The former is in the Greek more obvious and simple. "Whatsoever virtue was in the sacrifices, did operate through Messiah's death alone. As He was "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," so all atonements ever made were only effectual by His blood" [BISHOP PEARSON, Exposition of the Creed].

The words behind it

27 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.

Romans 8:29For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.420 works1 Peter 1:19–20but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.132 worksEphesians 1:4For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love116 worksMatthew 25:34Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.96 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.76 worksRomans 12:2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.59 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Revelation 3:5Like them, he who overcomes will be dressed in white. And I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His angels.57 worksTitus 1:2in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.55 worksRevelation 21:27But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.45 worksJohn 1:29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!45 worksRevelation 5:12In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”44 worksDaniel 12:1“At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.34 worksPhilippians 4:3Yes, and I ask you, my true yokefellow, to help these women who have labored with me for the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.31 worksLuke 10:20Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”30 worksExodus 32:32Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.”28 worksRevelation 5:6–9Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.24 worksIsaiah 4:3Whoever remains in Zion and whoever is left in Jerusalem will be called holy—all in Jerusalem who are recorded among the living—19 worksRevelation 3:20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.16 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

    Ephesians 1:4

    For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love

    it leads to

    • 2 Timothy 1:9

      He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.

    • Romans 8:28–30

      And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

    • Ephesians 2:10

      For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

    • Matthew 25:34

      Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

    • 1 Peter 2:9

      But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

  • Through

    Revelation 3:5

    Like them, he who overcomes will be dressed in white. And I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His…

    it leads to

    • Matthew 10:32

      Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven.

    • Revelation 21:27

      But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

    • Luke 12:8

      I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God.

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 Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible and John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament.

Read on in Revelation 13 →