Revelation 19:16
in Revelation 19And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
KJV
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
⋯
This verse in Revelation 19
Commentary
13 notes on this verseThis name reveals the unity of the divine incarnation. For in this unity he who is God suffered in the flesh, and although man, he is King of kings and Lord of lords. Those who have ruled the passions and in cooperation with Christ have …
This site's exposition
proceeds a sharp sword
on Revelation 19:15-16
The sword from His mouth is the word of Hebrews 4:12 and 1:16, judgment by speech. He will rule them with an iron scepter answers the promise at 2:26-27, and the winepress draws on Isaiah 63:1-3. KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS is the Lamb's title at 17:14.
This site's exposition
written on His robe
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown picture the name running where the robe falls from the rider's thigh. Adam Clarke cites the ancient custom of inscribing titles on the garment or thigh of statues of gods, princes and victors. For Andreas of Caesarea the title joins God and man.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Christ is the basis and the foundation on which Paul builds as an architect. Christ is the good Shepherd "who gives his life for the sheep." Christ is the head of every dominion and power. He is himself the head of the church, wherefore it …
A commentator
Caesarius of ArlesEXPOSITION OF THE APOCALYPSE 19:16, HOMILY 17 · Written before 542.
proposed
This is a name that the proud do not know. For by serving [Christ], the church reigns in Christ, and she is lord of lords, that is, she conquers vices and sins.
And it is written upon his garment and on his thigh: King of kings and Lord of lords. The garment is understood to be the flesh of the Lord; it is interpreted spiritually as flesh and blood, according to the holy interpreters who cite Isaiah: …
A commentator
Primasius of HadrumetumCOMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:16 · Written before 560.
proposed
[The name is inscribed] on his robe, that is, on the church with which Christ is clothed and which, according to the apostle, "he cleansed by the washing of water with the word, that he might present to himself a church glorious, without spot or …
The Medieval Church1 voice
And he has on his robe and on his thigh a name written: King of kings and Lord of lords. This is the name that none of the proud know. But it is inscribed on the Church not with ink, but with the Spirit of …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh - That is, on the part of his vesture which is upon his thigh. A name written - It was usual of old, for great personages in the eastern countries, to have magnificent titles affixed to their garments.
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
On his vesture and on his thigh a name written - Dr. Dodd has well observed on this passage, that “it appears to have been an ancient custom among several nations to adorn the images of their deities, princes, victors at public games, and other eminent persons, with inscriptions, expressing either the character of the persons, their names, or some other circumstance which might contribute to their honor; and to that custom the description here given of Christ may possibly have some allusion. “There are several such images yet extant, with an inscription written either on the garment, or on one of the thighs, or on that part of the garment which was over the thigh; and probably this is the meaning of the apostle.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
"His name written on His vesture and on His thigh," was written partly on the vesture, partly on the thigh itself, at the part where in an equestrian figure the robe drops from the thigh.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And he hath on his vesture - That is, this name was conspicuously written on his garment - probably his military robe. And on his thigh - The robe or military cloak may be conceived of as open and flowing, so as to expose the limbs of the rider; and the idea is, that the name was conspicuously written not only on the flowing robe, but on the other parts of his dress, so that it must be conspicuous whether his military cloak were wrapped closely around him, or whether it was open to the breeze. Grotius supposes that this name was on the edge or hilt of the sword which depended from his thigh. A name written - Or a title descriptive of his character. King of kings, and Lord of lords - As in Rev 17:5, so here, there is nothing in the original to denote that this should be distinguished, as it is, by capital letters. As a conspicuous title, however, it is not improper. It means that he is, in fact, the sovereign over the kings of the earth, and that all nobles and princes are under his control - a rank that properly belongs to the Son of God. Compare the notes on Eph 1:20-22. See also Rev 19:12 of this chapter. The custom here alluded to of inscribing the name or rank of distinguished individuals on their garments, so that they might be readily recognized, was not uncommon in ancient times. For full proof of this, see Rosenmuller, Morgenland, vol. iii. pp. 232-236. The authorities quoted there are, Thevenot’s Travels, vol. i. p. 149; Gruter, p. 989; Dempster’s Etruria Regalis, t. ii. tab. 93; Montfaucon, Antiq. Expliq. t. iii. tab. 39. Thus Herodotus (vol. ii. p. 196), speaking of the figures of Sesostris in Ionia, says that, “Across his breast, from shoulder to shoulder, there is this inscription in the sacred characters of Egypt, ‘I conquered this country by the force of my arms.’” Compare Cic. Verr. iv. 23; LeMoyne a.d. Jer 23:6; Munter, Diss. a.d. […]
The words behind it
17 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 |
| ἔχει | echei | He has | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | upon | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἱμάτιον | himation | robe | G2440 → | 60 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | upon | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μηρὸν | meron | thigh | G3382 → | |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ὄνομα | onoma | a name | G3686 → | 227 times |
| γεγραμμένον· | gegrammenon | written: | G1125 → | 189 times |
| βασιλεὺς | basileus | King | G935 → | 114 times |
| βασιλέων | basileon | of kings | G935 → | 114 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| κύριος | kurios | Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| κυρίων.¶ | kurion | of Lords. | G2962 → | 711 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἔχειHe has
echeiG2192 →707 times
ἐπὶupon
epiG1909 →883 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ἱμάτιονrobe
himationG2440 →60 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐπὶupon
epiG1909 →883 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
μηρὸνthigh
meronG3382 →
αὐτοῦof Him
autouG846 →5565 times
ὄνομαa name
onomaG3686 →227 times
γεγραμμένον·written:
gegrammenonG1125 →189 times
βασιλεὺςKing
basileusG935 →114 times
βασιλέωνof kings
basileonG935 →114 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
κύριοςLord
kuriosG2962 →711 times
κυρίων.¶of Lords.
kurionG2962 →711 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 17:14They 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…
it leads to
- Romans 8:30
And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
- 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.
- Matthew 22:14
For many are called, but few are chosen.”
- Revelation 3:21
To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
- Daniel 2:47
The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”
- Romans 8:30
Through
1 Timothy 6:15which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time.
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 1:17
Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
- Revelation 17:14
Through
Daniel 2:47The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”
it leads to
- Daniel 2:22
He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.
- Daniel 2:22
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies22
On this verse
On this chapter
About Revelation

This page draws on 12 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 19:16; Apringius of Beja, TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:15-16; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Caesarius of Arles, EXPOSITION OF THE APOCALYPSE 19:16, HOMILY 17; 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; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation and Primasius of Hadrumetum, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:16.
