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Revelation 19:17

in Revelation 19

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid heaven, Come and be gathered together unto the great supper of God;

KJV

And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

This verse in Revelation 19

Commentary

15 notes on this verse

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

an--Greek, "one." in the sun--so as to be conspicuous in sight of the whole world. to all the fowls-- (Eze 39:17-20). and gather yourselves--A, B, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, and ANDREAS read, "be gathered," omitting "and." of the great God--A, B, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, and ANDREAS read, "the great supper (that is, banquet) of God."

Hand restore 2026-08-25 under the only-carrier rule from the silent-verse audit.

This site's exposition

an angel standing in the sun

on Revelation 19:17-18

A second supper answers the marriage supper of verse 9: the great supper of God, to which birds are summoned. The summons echoes Ezekiel 39:17-20, where birds and beasts feast on the fallen army of Gog. Its list runs from kings and commanders to slave and free, small and great.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers5 voices

A commentator

Apringius of Beja

TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:17-18 · Written before 600.

proposed

He saw an angel standing upon the sun. The sun upon which this angel is standing is the Faith of the catholic church. Concerning this angel also Daniel spoke as follows: "At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who stands before the sons …

A commentator

Caesarius of Arles

EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:17-18, HOMILY 17 · Written before 542.

proposed

We know that this in fact happens in the church. For when all nations are incorporated in the church, they are spiritually devoured. Indeed, those who have been devoured by the devil become the body of the devil, while those who have been received by …

A commentator

Caesarius of Arles

EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:18, HOMILY 17 · Written before 542.

proposed

[The angel in the sun] is the preaching that takes place in the church.… Depending on the context, we interpret birds or beasts to represent the good or the wicked. For example, "The wild beast will bless me," or, "The Lion from the tribe of …

A commentator

Primasius of Hadrumetum

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:17 · Written before 560.

proposed

The angel refers to the church in her preaching. Rightly it adds "one," for "my dove is only one." In this manner the mystery of unity is preserved. [The angel] is "in the sun," where it may be already brightly visible and not further hidden …

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 550.

proposed

I believe this holy angel about whom the speech now is to be some sort of military herald of the divine host. And that he commands all the holy angels in heaven, whom he conventionally calls birds because of their elevation and ability to fly …
8 more voices on this verse

The Medieval Church5 voices

A commentator

Andreas of Caesarea

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:17-18 · Written before 614.

proposed

That will of God is to be regarded as foremost which is called both his "good pleasure" and the supper most desired by him, namely, that "people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth" and that they turn and live. But second, …

A commentator

Andreas of Caesarea

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:17 · Written before 614.

proposed

We think that this angel is one of the highest of the angels and exhorts the others to rejoice over the punishment of the sinners and the cessation of sin. He has called the angels "birds" due to the exalted and sublime nature that they …

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 735.

proposed

And I saw an angel standing in the sun, etc. That is, the proclamation in the Church, which the more it is oppressed, the more it shines clearly and resounds more freely.

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 735.

proposed

Saying to all the birds, etc. He calls the saints birds, living in the life of heaven: Wherever the corpse is, there the eagles will gather (Matt. 24). Bringing them together into one body, he referred to them as an eagle flying in mid-heaven.

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 735.

proposed

Come, gather for the great supper of God, etc. Come, he says, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matt. 5), to the feast of the coming kingdom, where, with the fury of the proud subdued, you may be satisfied with the light of divine …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

And I saw an angel standing in the sun,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

An angel standing in the sun - Exceedingly luminous; every part of him emitting rays of light. From this representation, Milton has taken his description of Uriel, the angel of the sun. Paradise Lost, b. iii. l. 648 - “The Archangel Uriel, one of the seven Who, in God’s presence, nearest to his throne Stands ready at command and are his eyes That run through all the heavens, or down to the earth Bears his swift errands over moist and dry, Over sea and land.” All the fowls that fly - The carcasses of God’s enemies shall be food for all the fowls of heaven. This is according to a Jewish tradition, Synopsis Sohar, p. 114, n. 25: “In the time when God shall execute vengeance for the people of Israel, he shall feed all the beasts of the earth for twelve months with their flesh and all the fowls for seven years.” It is well known that both beasts and birds of prey are accustomed to frequent fields of battle, and live upon the slain.
And I saw an angel standing in the sun - A different angel evidently from the one which had before appeared to him. The number of angels that appeared to John, as referred to in this book, was very great, and each one came on a new errand, or with a new message. Everyone must be struck with the image here. The description is as simple as it can be; and yet as sublime. The fewest words possible are used; and yet the image is distinct and clear.

The words behind it

30 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.

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

    Revelation 8:13

    And as I observed, I heard an eagle flying overhead, calling in a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded…

    it leads to

    • Revelation 9:12

      The first woe has passed. Behold, two woes are still to follow.

    • Revelation 11:14

      The second woe has passed. Behold, the third woe is coming shortly.

    • Hebrews 1:14

      Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

    • Revelation 14:6

      Then I saw another angel flying overhead, with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation and tribe and tongue and people.

    • Ezekiel 2:10

      which He unrolled before me. And written on the front and back of it were words of lamentation, mourning, and woe.

  • Through

    Jeremiah 12:9

    Is not My inheritance to Me like a speckled bird of prey with other birds of prey circling against her? Go, gather all the beasts of the field; bring them to devour her.

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 56:9

      Come, all you beasts of the field; eat greedily, all you beasts of the forest.

    • Jeremiah 7:33

      The corpses of this people will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to scare them away.

  • Through

    Revelation 19:21

    And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

    it leads to

    • Revelation 19:11–15

      Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war.

Where this verse is studied

About Revelation

The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, Jan and Hubert van Eyck, about 1430 to 1432. Public domain.
The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, Jan and Hubert van Eyck, about 1430 to 1432. Public domain.
This page draws on 13 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 19:17-18; Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:17; Apringius of Beja, TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:17-18; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Caesarius of Arles, EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:17-18, HOMILY 17; Caesarius of Arles, EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:18, HOMILY 17; 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; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation and Primasius of Hadrumetum, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:17.