Revelation 13:10
in Revelation 13“If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he will go; if anyone is to die by the sword, by the sword he must be killed.” Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
KJV
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
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This verse in Revelation 13
Commentary
11 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Here--"Herein": in bearing their appointed sufferings lies the patient endurance . . . of the saints. This is to be the motto and watchword of the elect during the period of the world kingdom. As the first beast is to be met by patience and faith (Re 13:10), the second beast must be opposed by true wisdom (Re 13:18).
This site's exposition
He who has an ear
on Revelation 13:9-10
He who has an ear, let him hear repeats the call of the seven letters inside the vision itself. Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints names their answer to the beast's war on them in verse 7.
This site's exposition
the perseverance and faith of the saints
The Berean text follows manuscripts that make the saying echo Jeremiah 15:2, a word about what the saints must suffer. Older English versions read a warning to the persecutor. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown pair this call with 13:18, patience and faith against the first beast and wisdom against the second.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
If anyone prepared for murders, he will die the spiritual death in the worship of the Devil. Therefore, he says, is the endurance and the faith of the saints. Therefore one becomes innocent of the slavery to the evil one, from which slavery may we …
The Medieval Church3 voices
Every one will receive a recompense worthy of his deeds. Those who are willing to harm their neighbor will be captured by the devil and will undergo the death of his soul by the satanic sword. For, as the great James says, they are made …
He who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. He who now persecutes the Church with either carnal or even spiritual death, the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth, and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. He had promised that the murderer would be killed, but because no one is crowned unless he competes lawfully, now he says there is a need for strong spirits and firm hearts. Having first described …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
), and those who led the people of God into captivity shall themselves be made captives. Here now is that which will be proper exercise for the patience and faith of the saints --patience under the prospect of such great sufferings, and faith in the prospect of so glorious a deliverance.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity,.... As the devil, by whom men are led captive at his will, and the Romish antichrist, who leads multitudes of souls to hell; these shall be taken and cast into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity - The Latin empire here spoken of must go into captivity, because it has led into captivity, by not only propagating among the various nations its abominable antichristian system, but also in compelling them to embrace it under the penalty of forfeiting the protection of the empire. He that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword - The Latin empire must be also broken to pieces by the sword, because it has killed the saints of God.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
He that leadeth into captivity - This is clearly intended to refer to the power or government which is denoted by the beast. The form of expression here in the Greek is special - “If anyone leadeth into captivity,” etc. - Εἴ τις αἰχμαλωσίαν συνάγει Ei tis aichmalōsian sunagei. The statement is general, and is intended to make use of a general or prevalent truth with reference to this particular case. The general truth is, that people will, in the course of things, be dealt with according to their character and their treatment of others; that nations characterized by war and conquests will be subject to the evils of war and conquest - or that they may expect to share the same lot which they have brought on others. This general statement accords with what the Saviour says in Mat 26:52; “All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” This has been abundantly illustrated in the world; and it is a very important admonition to nations not to indulge in the purposes of conquest and to individuals not to engage in strife and litigation. The particular idea here is, that it would be a characteristic of the power here referred to that it would “lead others into captivity.” This would be fulfilled if it was the characteristic of this power to invade other countries and to make their inhabitants prisoners of war; if it made slaves of other people; if it set up an unjust dominion over other people; or if it was distinguished for persecuting and imprisoning the innocent, or for depriving the nations of liberty. It is unnecessary to say that this is strikingly descriptive of Rome, considered in any and every point of view, whether under the republic or the empire, whether secular or ecclesiastical, whether pagan or papal. […]
The words behind it
25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἴ | ei | If | G1487 → | 508 times |
| τις | tis | anyone | G5100 → | 528 times |
| εἰς | eis | into | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| αἰχμαλωσίαν | aichmalosian | captivity | G161 → | |
| εἰς | eis | into | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| αἰχμαλωσίαν | aichmalosian | captivity | G161 → | |
| ὑπάγει, | hupagei | he goes, | G5217 → | 79 times |
| εἴ | ei | If | G1487 → | 508 times |
| τις | tis | anyone | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ἐν | en | with | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| μαχαίρῃ | machaire | [the] sword | G3162 → | 29 times |
| ἀποκτανθῆναι, | apoktanthenai | is to be killed, | G615 → | 74 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐν | en | by | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| μαχαίρῃ | machaire | [the] sword | G3162 → | 29 times |
| ἀποκτανθῆναι· | apoktanthenai | [is] to be killed; | G615 → | 74 times |
| ὧδέ | hode | Here | G5602 → | 61 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑπομονὴ | hupomone | endurance | G5281 → | 32 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πίστις | pistis | faith | G4102 → | 242 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἁγίων.¶ | hagion | saints. | G40 → | 220 times |
εἴIf
eiG1487 →508 times
τιςanyone
tisG5100 →528 times
εἰςinto
eisG1519 →1755 times
αἰχμαλωσίανcaptivity
aichmalosianG161 →
εἰςinto
eisG1519 →1755 times
αἰχμαλωσίανcaptivity
aichmalosianG161 →
ὑπάγει,he goes,
hupageiG5217 →79 times
εἴIf
eiG1487 →508 times
τιςanyone
tisG5100 →528 times
ἐνwith
enG1722 →2738 times
μαχαίρῃ[the] sword
machaireG3162 →29 times
ἀποκτανθῆναι,is to be killed,
apoktanthenaiG615 →74 times
αὐτὸνhim
autonG846 →5565 times
ἐνby
enG1722 →2738 times
μαχαίρῃ[the] sword
machaireG3162 →29 times
ἀποκτανθῆναι·[is] to be killed;
apoktanthenaiG615 →74 times
ὧδέHere
hodeG5602 →61 times
ἐστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
ὑπομονὴendurance
hupomoneG5281 →32 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
πίστιςfaith
pistisG4102 →242 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἁγίων.¶saints.
hagionG40 →220 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
Revelation 3:10Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the…
it leads to
- 2 Peter 2:9
if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.
- Revelation 14:12
Here is a call for the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
- Daniel 12:10
Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.
- Zechariah 13:9
This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They…
- 2 Peter 2:9
Through
Luke 21:19By your patient endurance you will gain your souls.
it leads to
- Revelation 3:10
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 10:36
You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
- James 1:3
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
- Matthew 10:22
You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
- Revelation 3:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies13
On this verse
On this chapter
About Revelation
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 13:9-10; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation.