Revelation 19:12
in Revelation 19He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And his eyes are a flame of fire, and upon his head are many diadems; and he hath a name written which no one knoweth but he himself.
KJV
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
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This verse in Revelation 19
Commentary
21 notes on this verseHis eyes were as a flame of fire - To denote the piercing and all-penetrating nature of his wisdom. On his head were many crowns - To denote the multitude of his conquests, and the extent of his dominion. A name written, that no man knew - This is a reference to what the rabbins call the shem hammephorash, or tetragrammaton, יהוה Yhvh; or what we call Jehovah.
This site's exposition
called Faithful and True
on Revelation 19:11-13
Heaven stands open as at 4:1; the rider is called Faithful and True. His eyes like blazing fire recall 1:14, and His many royal crowns answer the crowned heads of the dragon and beast in chapters 12 and 13. His name is The Word of God, as in John 1:1.
This site's exposition
many royal crowns on His head
He has many royal crowns on His head and a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. Verse 13 then gives a name, The Word of God.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
And his eyes, he says, are a flame of fire. The wrath against the enemies, he shows by the burning of the eyes. And on his head he says many crowns, as many certainly as there are orders reigning in heaven and on earth. He …
As fire penetrates everything which contains it and leaves no portion untouched by the force of its burning heat, so the eyes of the Lord cannot be avoided, for they are everywhere and pervade all things, and seeing all things which people do, they investigate …
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 2.60 · Written before 253.
proposed
The living Word alone understands some things because of the natural inferiority in those who came into existence after him. None of them can contemplate all the things that he grasps. And perhaps also only those who share in the Word, in contradistinction to those who do not, know what the others are missing.
A commentator
Primasius of HadrumetumCOMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:12 · Written before 560.
proposed
Perfect knowledge of the Word of God is revealed to those who are worthy to be the body of Christ and members [of him], since the Head especially gives knowledge of himself to the body, and he knows what the church is worthy to know …
In him "in whom we shall perform great deeds," in him the multitude of the saints are said to have the beauty of crowns.
13 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers2 voices
A commentator
Lucius Caecilius Firmianus LactantiusCommentary (church-history corpus) · Written before 325.
proposed
-testify that He was born of God. His name is known to none, except to Himself and the Father, as John teaches in the Revelation.
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 2.57-59 · Written before 253.
proposed
As the flame is bright and at the same time illuminating, and further also has a nature that is fiery and consumes the more material elements, so the eyes of the Word, if I may speak in this way, with which he sees, and everyone who participates in him, destroy and obliterate the more material and gross elements of thoughts by grasping them by means of the spiritual powers inherent in him.
The Medieval Church5 voices
The flames of fire come forth from his eyes, that is, from his all-seeing power. For those who are righteous, this fire does no harm but illumines and makes bright. However, for the sinners this fire burns but does not make bright. The multiple diadems …
That his name is unknown signifies the incomprehensibility of his essence. By virtue of his works he is known by many names, such as Good, Shepherd, Sun, Light, Life, Righteousness, Holiness, Redemption. Similarly, he is called by terms of negation, such as Incorruptible, Invisible, Immortal, …
And on his head are many diadems. In him we find our strength; in him, the multitude of saints is said to be adorned with a crown.
He has a name written that no one knows but himself. He says, no one knows but himself, because all the Church is in him. The perfect knowledge of the Word of God is revealed to those who have deserved to be the body and …
His eyes are like a flame of fire. Sometimes the eyes of God are called his commandments, sometimes the spirit. Your word is a lamp to my feet, O Lord (Psalm 119). And of the Spirit: I came to cast fire on the earth (Luke …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And his eyes are a flame of fire - They were said to be as or like a flame of fire, before, chap. i, 14; an emblem of his omniscience. And upon his head are many diadems - For he is king of all nations.
His eyes were as a flame of fire,.... Which denotes the perspicuity and penetration of them, the omniscience of Christ to look into and discover the secret machinations, schemes, and devices of his enemies against his people, and his exercise of it in favour of them, his eyes, like a flame of fire, running to and fro on their behalf; and also this may signify the fierceness of his anger against the enemies of his people, the eyes of his glory being provoked by their cruelty and wickedness; and likewise the suddenness of their destruction, and the inevitableness of it.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
AH, WELL YE KNOW what head this was, and ye have not forgotten its marvellous history. A head which once in infancy reclined upon the bosom of a woman! A head which was meekly bowed in obedience to a carpenter! A head which became in after years a fountain of water, and a reservoir of tears. A head which “sweat as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground!”
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Identifying Him with the Son of man similarly described, Re 1:14. many crowns--Greek, "diadems": not merely (Greek, "stephanoi") garlands of victory, but royal crowns, as KING OF KINGS. Christ's diadem comprises all the diadems of the earth and of heavenly powers too.
AH, WELL YE KNOW what head this was, and ye have not forgotten its marvellous history. A head which once in infancy reclined upon the bosom of a woman! A head which was meekly bowed in obedience to a carpenter! A head which became in after years a fountain of water, and a reservoir of tears. A head which “sweat as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground!” A head which was spit upon, whose hair was plucked: A head which at the last in the grim agony of death, crowned with thorns, gave utterance to the terrible death-shriek—lama sabachthani! A head which afterwards slept in the grave; and—glory be unto him that liveth and was dead, but is alive for evermore—a head which afterwards rose again from the tomb, and looked with radiant eyes of love upon the holy women waiting at the sepulcher. This is the head whereof John speaks in the words of the text. Who would have thought that a head, the visage of which was more marred than that of any other man—a head which suffered more from the tempests of heavenward of earth than ever mortal brow before, should now be surrounded with these many diadems, these star-bestudded crowns! My brethren, it needs John himself to expound this glorious vision to you. Alas my eye has not yet seen the heavenly glory, nor has my ear heard the celestial song, I am therefore but as a little child among topless mountains, overawed with grandeur, and speechless with awe. Pray for me that I may utter a few words which the Holy Spirit may comfortably apply to your souls, for if he help me not, I am helpless indeed. With his divine aid, I dare to look upon the glorious diadems of our Lord and King. The crowns upon the head of Christ are of three sorts. First, there are the crowns of dominions, many of which are on his head. Next, there are the crowns of victory, which he has won in many a terrible battle.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
His eyes were as a flame of fire - See the notes on Rev 1:14. And on his head were many crowns - Many diadems, indicative of his universal reign. It is not said how these were worn or arranged on his head - perhaps the various diadems worn by kings were in some way wreathed into one. And he had a name written - That is, probably on the frontlet of this compound diadem. Compare the notes on Rev 13:1; Rev 14:1. That no man knew but he himself - See the notes on Rev 2:17. This cannot here mean that no one could read the name, but the idea is, that no one but himself could fully understand its import. It involved a depth of meaning, and a degree of sacredness, and a relation to the Father, which he alone could apprehend in its true import. This is true of the name here designated - “the Word of God” - the “Logos” - Λόγος Logos; and it is true of all the names which he bears. See Mat 11:27. Compare a quotation from Dr. Buchanan in the Asiatic Researches, vol. 1, vi. p. 264, as quoted by Rosenmuller, Morgenland, in loco.
The words behind it
23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οἱ | hoi | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | And | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὀφθαλμοὶ | ophthalmoi | the eyes | G3788 → | 100 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ὡς | hos | [are] like | G5613 → | 500 times |
| φλὸξ | phlox | a flame | G5395 → | 6 times |
| πυρὸς | puros | of fire | G4442 → | 70 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | upon | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κεφαλὴν | kephalen | head | G2776 → | 75 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| διαδήματα | diademata | royal crowns | G1238 → | 3 times |
| πολλὰ | polla | many | G4183 → | 367 times |
| ἔχων | echon | having | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ὄνομα | onoma | a name | G3686 → | 227 times |
| γεγραμμένον | gegrammenon | written | G1125 → | 189 times |
| ὃ | ho | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| οὐδεὶς | oudeis | no [one] | G3762 → | 232 times |
| οἶδεν | oiden | knows | ||
| εἰ | ei | only | G1487 → | 508 times |
| μὴ | me | except | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| αὐτὸς | autos | He Himself | G846 → | 5565 times |
οἱ<the>
hoiG3588 →19766 times
δὲAnd
deG1161 →2765 times
ὀφθαλμοὶthe eyes
ophthalmoiG3788 →100 times
αὐτοῦof Him
autouG846 →5565 times
ὡς[are] like
hosG5613 →500 times
φλὸξa flame
phloxG5395 →6 times
πυρὸςof fire
purosG4442 →70 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐπὶupon
epiG1909 →883 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
κεφαλὴνhead
kephalenG2776 →75 times
αὐτοῦof Him
autouG846 →5565 times
διαδήματαroyal crowns
diademataG1238 →3 times
πολλὰmany
pollaG4183 →367 times
ἔχωνhaving
echonG2192 →707 times
ὄνομαa name
onomaG3686 →227 times
γεγραμμένονwritten
gegrammenonG1125 →189 times
ὃwhich
hoG3739 →1405 times
οὐδεὶςno [one]
oudeisG3762 →232 times
οἶδενknows
oiden
εἰonly
eiG1487 →508 times
μὴexcept
meG3361 →1066 times
αὐτὸςHe Himself
autosG846 →5565 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
Matthew 11:27All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses…
it leads to
- John 14:6–9
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
- Matthew 28:18
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
- Luke 10:22
All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to…
- 2 John 1:9
Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son.
- John 17:25–26
Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me.
- John 14:6–9
Through
Revelation 19:16And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
it leads to
- Revelation 17:14
They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen…
- 1 Timothy 6:15
which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time.
- Revelation 17:14
Through
Revelation 1:14The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire.
it leads to
- Daniel 10:6
His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of…
- Daniel 10:6
Where this verse is studied
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About Revelation

This page draws on 16 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 (1832-1869); Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:11-12; Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:12; Apringius of Beja, TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:11-13; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Charles Spurgeon, The New Park Street Pulpit, Sermon No. 281: “The Saviour's Many Crowns” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); 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; Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius, Commentary (church-history corpus); Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 2.60; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 2.57-59; Primasius of Hadrumetum, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:12 and Ticonius, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:12.
