Revelation 2:27
in Revelation 2He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery—just as I have received authority from My Father.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father:
KJV
And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
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This verse in Revelation 2
Commentary
14 notes on this verseSeize the opportunity of unexpected felicity: that you, who sometime were in God's sight nothing but "a drop of a bucket," and "dust of the threshing-floor," and "a potter's vessel," may thenceforward become that "tree which is sown beside the waters, is perennial in leaves, bears fruit at its own time," and shall not see fire," nor "axe.
This site's exposition
power over the nations
on Revelation 2:26-29
The overcomer's promise to Thyatira reaches furthest of the four, power over the nations and to rule them with a rod of iron, Psalm 2:9's messianic scepter now shared with the church that overcomes, a promise the site's futurist reading cashes at 20:4's reign of the saints with Christ a thousand years. And I will give him the morning star adds a second gift, Christ himself under that title at 22:16, so that the overcomer's reward reaches all the way to deeper possession of the Lord who gives it. He that hath an ear closes all four letters alike, the Spirit's word to the churches never restricted to the one church first addressed.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
God promises that he will give to him power over the nations and kingdoms, so that he might reign over them with an iron rod and destroy them as though they were a clay pot. He refers to the apostate angels who abandoned their own …
The church has this power in Christ. Whoever holds fast to his body will be co-heir with the Lord and will have whatever the Son of man received, for "he has given us all things with him."
And to the one who overcomes the evil one, I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. This …
The Medieval Church2 voices
"To him who does my works," the Lord says, "I will give authority over five or ten cities," as he said in the Gospel. Or, this passage refers to the judgment of the unfaithful, through which the deceived will be crushed, as though beaten with …
And he that shall overcome, and keep my works unto the end, I will give him power over the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, and as the vessel of a potter they shall be broken, as I also have …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
And he shall rule them with a rod of iron. He governs the meek with inflexible justice, so that they may bear more fruit; but he destroys the obstinate, so that they either perish eternally, or the earthly desires and muddy affairs of the old …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
(2.) Knowledge and wisdom, suitable to such power and dominion: I will give him the morning-star. Christ is the morning-star. He brings day with him into the soul, the light of grace and of glory; and he will give his people that perfection of light and wisdom which is requisite to the state of dignity and dominion that they shall have in the morning of the resurrection.
And he shall rule them - That is, shall share with me when I do this. With a rod of iron - With irresistible power, employed on those only who will not otherwise submit; who will hereby be dashed in pieces - Totally conquered.
And he shall rule them with a rod of iron,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And he shall rule them with a rod of iron - There is an allusion here to Psa 2:9; “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” There is a slight change in the passage, “he shall rule,” instead of “thou shalt break,” in order to adapt the language to the purpose of the speaker here.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
From Ps 2:8, 9. rule--literally, "rule as a shepherd." In Ps 2:9 it is, "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron." The Septuagint, pointing the Hebrew word differently, read as Revelation here. The English Version of Ps 2:9 is doubtless right, as the parallel word, "dash in pieces," proves.
He shall rule them with a rod of iron - He shall restrain vice by the strictest administration of justice; and those who finally despise the word and rebel shall be broken and destroyed, so as never more to be able to make head against the truth. This seems to refer to the heathen world; and perhaps Constantine the Great may be intended, who, when he overcame Licinius, became the instrument in God’s hand of destroying idolatry over the whole Roman empire; and it was so effectually broken as to be ever after like the fragments of an earthen vessel, of no use in themselves, and incapable of being ever united to any good purpose.
The words behind it
12 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 |
| ποιμανεῖ | poimanei | he will shepherd | G4165 → | 11 times |
| αὐτοὺς | autous | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐν | en | with | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ῥάβδῳ | rhabdo | a rod | G4464 → | 12 times |
| σιδηρᾷ, | sidera | of iron, | G4603 → | 5 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σκεύη | skeue | vessels [of] | G4632 → | 23 times |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κεραμικὰ | keramika | potter | G2764 → | |
| συντρίβεται | suntribetai | are broken in pieces | G4937 → |
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ποιμανεῖhe will shepherd
poimaneiG4165 →11 times
αὐτοὺςthem
autousG846 →5565 times
ἐνwith
enG1722 →2738 times
ῥάβδῳa rod
rhabdoG4464 →12 times
σιδηρᾷ,of iron,
sideraG4603 →5 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
σκεύηvessels [of]
skeueG4632 →23 times
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
κεραμικὰpotter
keramikaG2764 →
συντρίβεταιare broken in pieces
suntribetaiG4937 →
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 19:15And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath…
it leads to
- Psalms 2:9
You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 63:2–6
Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress?
- 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.
- Psalms 2:9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Revelation
This page draws on 14 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); Alcuin of York, COMMENTARY ON REVELATION; Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:26-27; Apringius of Beja, TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:26-27; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation; Tertullian, On Repentance and Ticonius, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:26-27.