Revelation 13:12-15

13:12 He ¹  exercised all the ruling authority ²  of the first beast on his behalf, ³  and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, the one whose lethal wound had been healed. 13:13 He ⁴  performed momentous signs, even making fire come down from heaven in front of people ⁵  13:14 and, by the signs he was permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth. He told ⁶  those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who had been wounded by the sword, but still lived. 13:15 The second beast ⁷  was empowered ⁸  to give life ⁹  to the image of the first beast ¹⁰  so that it could speak, and could cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

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¹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

² tn For the translation “ruling authority” for ἐξουσία (exousia) see L&N 37.35.

³ tn For this meaning see BDAG 342 s.v. ἐνώπιον 4.b, “by the authority of, on behalf of Rv 13:12, 14; 19:20.”

⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

⁵ tn This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo"), referring to both men and women.

⁶ tn Grk “earth, telling.” This is a continuation of the previous sentence in Greek.

sn He told followed by an infinitive (“to make an image…”) is sufficiently ambiguous in Greek that it could be taken as “he ordered” (so NIV) or “he persuaded” (so REB).

⁷ tn Grk “it”; the referent (the second beast) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁸ tn Grk “it was given [permitted] to it [the second beast].”

⁹ tn Grk “breath,” but in context the point is that the image of the first beast is made to come to life and speak.

¹⁰ tn Grk “of the beast”; the word “first” has been supplied to specify the referent.