13:1 Then 5 I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It 6 had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, 7 and on its heads a blasphemous name. 8
1 tn L&N 79.31 states, “‘fiery red’ (probably with a tinge of yellow or orange).”
2 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
3 tn The word “permission” is implied; Grk “it was given to him to take peace from the earth.”
4 tn BDAG 979 s.v. σφάζω states, “Of the killing of a person by violence…σφάζειν τινά butcher or murder someone (4 Km 10:7; Jer 52:10; Manetho: 609 fgm. 8, 76 Jac. [in Jos., C. Ap. 1, 76]; Demetr.[?]: 722 fgm. 7; Ar. 10, 9) 1J 3:12; Rv 6:4. Pass. (Hdt. 5, 5) 5:9; 6:9; 18:24.”
5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
6 tn Grk “having” (a continuation of the previous sentence). All of the pronouns referring to this beast (along with the second beast appearing in 13:11) could be translated as “it” because the word for beast (θηρίον, qhrion) is neuter gender in Greek and all the pronouns related to it are parsed as neuter in the Gramcord/Accordance database. Nevertheless, most interpreters would agree that the beast ultimately represents a human ruler, so beginning at the end of v. 4 the masculine pronouns (“he,” “him,” etc.) are used to refer to the first beast as well as the second beast appearing in 13:11.
7 tn For the translation of διάδημα (diadhma) as “diadem crown” see L&N 6.196.
sn Diadem crowns were a type of crown used as a symbol of the highest ruling authority in a given area, and thus often associated with kingship.
8 tc ‡ Several
sn Whether this means a single name on all seven heads or seven names, one on each head, is not clear.