Revelation 19:16; He Hath on His Vesture and on His Thigh Written

Posted on Posted in Devotions Tagged with , ,

Revelation 19:16 (KJV)  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 

The final statement of the paragraph divulges another of the ruler’s descriptive titles – and He has on His vesture and on His thigh written, KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS.

this final title is on the part of the vesture or garment that covers His thigh, this garment being the same one mentioned in v13.

Revelation 19:13 (KJV)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 

This give a better sense than understanding part of the name written on the garment and part on the thigh. As He sits on His white horse, the part of the cloak covering the thigh is the most conspicuous part and is visible to all (Swete).

With a prominence all its own, the name King of kings and Lord of lord’s gains even more prominence by being chosen to end the description from v11-16. This title, already assigned to the Lamb inn reverse order (Revelation 17:14), is the fourth name or title applied to the rider in this paragraph. “Faithful and true (v11), the unknown name (v12), and “the Word of God” (v13) are the other three. Paul uses almost identical wording in referring to the Father in 1 Timothy 6:15.

Revelation 19:11 (KJV)  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 

Revelation 19:12 (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. 

1 Timothy 6:15 (KJV)  Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 

Titles similar to this occur in Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 136:2-3; Daniel 2:37, 47; 8:25; 11:36 (Lee).

Deuteronomy 10:17 (KJV)  For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: 

Psalm 136:2-3 (KJV)  O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. 

Daniel 2:37 (KJV)  Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 

Daniel 2:47 (KJV)  The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. 

Daniel 8:25 (KJV)  And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. 

Daniel 11:36 (KJV)  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 

The doubling of the name “King of kings” was a practice of the Persians and Parthians to emphasise the supremacy of their royalties (Moffatt). John courageously adopts this device in spite of comparable claims of the Roman emperor responsible for this exile. The Messiah alone has a rightful claim to the title “King of kings and Lord of lords”. [Wall, Revelation, 2. 229]

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1995, 390-391]