Revelation of John 11:13 · Bible study
Revelation 11:13 Commentary: The Remnant Gives Glory to the God of Heaven
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Does the survivors' response in Revelation 11:13 represent genuine conversion or mere terror? Commentators are divided.
Research Summary
- Meaning: After the witnesses’ ascension, an earthquake destroys a tenth of the apostate city and kills seven thousand; the survivors respond with fear and give glory to God.
- Key words: Earthquake (seismos), “names of men” (onomata anthrōpōn, a Semitic idiom for persons), “gave glory” (edōkan doxan).
- Main debate: Does “gave glory” signify genuine repentance/conversion (Wesley, JFB) or merely a forced recognition of God’s power (Vincent)?
- Theological theme: Divine judgment as a means of producing acknowledgment of God, and the contrast between terror that leads to worship and terror that leads to hardness.
- Best use: As a passage that raises questions about the nature of repentance and the purpose of judgment, suitable for teaching on the book of Revelation, divine sovereignty, and the human response to crisis.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand were killed in the quake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
WEB World English Bible 2000
In that day there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
KJV King James Version 1769
And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell; and there were killed in the earthquake seven thousand persons: and the rest were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and in that hour came a great earthquake, and the tenth of the city did fall, and killed in the earthquake were names of men--seven thousands, and the rest became affrighted, and they gave glory to the God of the heaven.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and the tenth of the city fell, and seven thousand names of men were slain in the earthquake. And the remnant were filled with fear, and gave glory to the God of the heaven.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And at that hour there was made a great earthquake: and the tenth part of the city fell. And there were slain in the earthquake, names of men, seven thousand: and the rest were cast into a fear and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y en aquella hora fué hecho gran temblor de tierra, y la décima parte de la ciudad cayó, y fueron muertos en el temblor de tierra en número de siete mil hombres: y los demás fueron espantados, y dieron gloria al Dios del cielo.
E naquela mesma hora houve um grande terremoto, e a décima parte da cidade caiu, e no terremoto foram mortos sete mil nomes humanos; e os restantes ficaram muito atemorizados, e deram glória ao Deus do céu.
A cette heure-là, il y eut un grand tremblement de terre, et la dixième partie de la ville, tomba; sept mille hommes furent tués dans ce tremblement de terre, et les autres furent effrayés et donnèrent gloire au Dieu du ciel.
Und zu derselben Stunde ward ein großes Erdbeben, und der zehnte Teil der Stadt fiel; und wurden getötet in dem Erdbeben siebentausend Namen der Menschen, und die andern erschraken und gaben Ehre dem Gott des Himmels.
En in diezelfde ure geschiedde een grote aardbeving, en het tiende deel der stad is gevallen, en er zijn in de aardbeving gedood zeven duizend namen van mensen, en de overigen zijn zeer bevreesd geworden, en hebben den God des hemels heerlijkheid gegeven.
E in quell’ora si fece un gran terremoto, e la decima parte della città cadde, e settemila persone furono uccise nel terremoto; e il rimanente fu spaventato e dette gloria all’Iddio del cielo.
A w onęż godzinę stało się wielkie trzęsienie ziemi. I upadła dziesiąta część miasta, i pobito w onem trzęsieniu ziemi osób ludzi siedm tysięcy, a drudzy przestraszeni są, i dali chwałę Bogu niebieskiemu.
И в тот же час произошло великое землетрясение, и десятая часть города пала, и погибло при землетрясении семь тысяч имен человеческих; и прочие объяты были страхом и воздали славу Богу небесному.
正在 那 時候，地 大 震動，城 就 倒塌了 十分之一， 因 地震 而死的 有七 千 人； 其餘的 都恐懼， 歸 榮耀 給天上的 神。
And in that hour there was a great earth-shock and a tenth part of the town came to destruction; and in the earth-shock seven thousand persons came to their end: and the rest were in fear, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Revelation of John 11:13
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that the earthquake in Revelation 11:13 is a divine judgment following the vindication of the two witnesses. The partial destruction, a tenth of the city falls, seven thousand are killed, is read symbolically. Barnes calls it "such a revolution…as would be properly symbolized by an earthquake," while Gill and JFB see the numbers tied to the ten kingdoms or the complete destruction of the impenitent. The Greek phrase ὀνόματα ἀνθρώπων ("names of men") is a Semitic idiom for persons (Cambridge, Vincent).
The core disagreement centers on the survivors' response: "they gave glory to the God of heaven." Wesley labels this "true conversion," citing Jeremiah 13:16, and JFB affirms repentance. But Vincent argues the phrase means "recognition, not conversion, nor repentance," comparing Joshua 7:19 and John 9:24. All agree the response is positive, whether submission to God's power or saving faith, and marks a turning point from the earlier defiance of the witnesses (Rev 11:10).
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Genuine conversion view: Survivors 'gave glory' is linked to confession of sin and repentance (Jer 13:16; Joshua 7:19). Commentators like Wesley and JFB see it as turning to God.
- Acknowledgment/recognition view: Vincent argues the phrase signifies 'recognition, not conversion,' citing biblical parallels where glory is given without implication of saving faith.
What is clear: The survivors respond to the earthquake by fearing and giving glory to the God of heaven—an outward, positive acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty, which stands in contrast to the earlier rejection of the witnesses.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The nature of 'gave glory' | The survivors positively acknowledged God in response to the earthquake. | Some commentators argue it is genuine conversion and repentance (Wesley, JFB; cf. Jer 13:16). Others contend it is only a terrified recognition of divine power, not saving faith (Vincent; Josh 7:19, John 9:24). |
| Identity of 'the city' | It is the same 'great city' as in v.8, spiritually called Sodom and Egypt. | Wesley sees it as literal Jerusalem; Gill and JFB interpret it as Rome or the worldwide apostate system. The symbolic flexibility allows for multiple readings. |
| Symbolism of the numbers (tenth, seven thousand) | The numbers are symbolic, not necessarily literal counts. | JFB connects the tenth to the world kingdoms (Rev 17:10-12) and seven thousand to complete destruction of the impenitent. Barnes sees the tenth as a general fraction meaning a 'considerable portion.' |
| The earthquake as historical or symbolic event | It represents a massive upheaval following the church’s vindication. | Historicist readers (Gill, JFB) apply it to the fall of a persecuting power (e.g., papal France). Other traditions see it as a general apocalyptic image for God’s judgment at the end of the age. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse sits at the climax of the sixth trumpet (the second woe) in John's apocalypse. The "great earthquake" echoes the sixth seal (Rev 6:12; JFB) and is a common biblical symbol for divine visitation, overthrowing kingdoms and bringing repentance (see Isaiah 29:6). The city is the same "great city" of verse 8, spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where the Lord was crucified. Its identification has been debated: some see Jerusalem (Wesley), others Rome or apostate Christendom (Gill, JFB). The phrase "the God of heaven" was how Jews spoke of their God to Gentiles (Cambridge, citing Jonah 1:9; Ezra 1:2); it here contrasts with the earthly, rebellious power of the city.
The numbers carry symbolic weight. A tenth part fell, a fraction, not total destruction, leaving room for a remnant. Seven thousand combines the perfect numbers seven and thousand, suggesting completeness (JFB). The expression "names of men" (literally onomata anthrōpōn) is a Hebraism for persons (Vincent; cf. Acts 1:15). The "hour" of the event links directly to the ascension of the witnesses: the same hour they were taken up, the earthquake struck. This timing shows God's response to the world's persecution of his servants. Culturally, an earthquake was a terrifying omen, but here it produces not only fear but an act of giving glory, a response rare in Revelation, where the unrepentant typically curse God (Rev 16:9). That shift is the verse's great theological surprise.
Textual Notes
The supplied Greek manuscripts show no significant textual variants for revelation 11:13. The phrase ὀνόματα ἀνθρώπων ("names of men") is consistently attested across all major witnesses. Some English translations render it as "people" (WEB, BSB, KJV) for readability, while others preserve the literal "names of men" (YLT, Darby). This construction is a recognized Semitic idiom meaning "persons" (Vincent; cf. Acts 1:15). The variation between "the same hour" (WEB, BSB) and "in that hour" (YLT) reflects translational choices rather than a textual difference.
Reception History
The verse has been read through several interpretive lenses across church history. In the Protestant historicist tradition, the earthquake was seen as the downfall of a persecuting power: Gill identified it with the loss of a tenth of Rome’s dominion, and JFB saw the seven thousand as a complete removal of the impenitent. Wesley, reading more literally, viewed the city as Jerusalem and the survivors as the faithful remnant who convert. Vincent’s philological approach (late 19th century) challenged the conversion reading, arguing that “give glory” in Scripture often denotes a simple acknowledgment of God’s power (cf. Joshua 7:19, John 9:24). The verse has thus been central to debates about the nature of repentance under judgment and the place of Israel in the purposes of God.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Judgment follows vindication: The earthquake strikes immediately after the witnesses ascend. God's enemies see his power and cannot deny it.
- Judgment is partial, not final: Only a tenth of the city falls; seven thousand die. The rest survive, an opening for repentance rather than total destruction.
- Judgment produces a twofold response: Terror and glory. The survivors are afraid, yet they give glory to the God of heaven. The question becomes: is their glory genuine worship or coerced acknowledgment?
Five-point outline
- The timing: In the same hour the witnesses ascend, the earth shakes. Divine action is immediate.
- The earthquake: A symbol of political and spiritual upheaval (Barnes; cf. Rev 6:12). It exposes the fragility of human power.
- The toll: A tenth of the city and seven thousand lives, a measured judgment that leaves the majority alive to respond.
- The remnant's fear: They become emphoboi, terrified. This fear can be the beginning of wisdom or merely a passing fright.
- The giving of glory: They acknowledge the God of heaven. Whether this is saving faith or a forced confession, it marks a change from the earlier mockery of the witnesses (v.10).
Illustration hooks
- A natural disaster strikes a community. In the aftermath, some people turn to God in genuine repentance; others simply attribute it to fate or luck. The difference is the posture of the heart.
- A child caught doing wrong and confronted by a parent may say “I’m sorry” just to escape punishment, or may genuinely regret the act. The outward words are the same; the difference is inside.
- In times of national tragedy, churches often fill up for a few weeks. Some of those worshippers are returning to God; others are looking for comfort without commitment. Both respond to the same event.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God send disasters to get people’s attention? How should we read current events in light of this passage?
- If I am terrified by something in my life, how do I know whether my fear is leading me toward God or just making me anxious?
- What does it mean to “give glory to God” in the middle of a crisis? Is it enough to say the right words?
Leading a Discussion
Revelation 11:13 shows a sudden turn: the same world that rejoiced over the witnesses’ deaths (v.10) now trembles as God acts. The survivors are terrified and give glory to the God of heaven. But what kind of glory is this? As you read, think about what moves people from fear to genuine faith.
Discussion questions
- What events lead up to the earthquake in this passage? (Read vv.11, 12 first.) What has just happened to the two witnesses?
- Describe the scale of the earthquake’s destruction. A tenth of the city falls, seven thousand die. Why do you think John gives these numbers? Are they meant to be taken literally?
- The survivors become “terrified” (emphoboi). How do you interpret their fear? In what ways can fear be a positive step toward God?
- They “gave glory to the God of heaven.” What does this phrase mean in other parts of the Bible (e.g., Joshua 7:19; John 9:24)? Does their action necessarily imply true repentance, or could it be something less?
- Compare this response with the reaction of the unrepentant in Revelation 16:9, who curse God despite plagues. What makes the difference in people’s hearts?
- How does this verse challenge the way you think about God’s judgment? Does it invite hope as well as warning?
- When you face a crisis or a “wake-up call,” how can you tell if your response is moving you toward deeper faith or just toward temporary relief? What helps you give true glory to God?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 6:4 | The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when God’s sons came in to men’s daughters and had children with them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. |
| Joshua 7:19 | Joshua said to Achan, “My son, please give glory to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and make confession to him. Tell me now what you have done! Don’t hide it from me!” |
| I Samuel 6:5 | Therefore you shall make images of your tumors and images of your mice that mar the land; and you shall give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will release his hand from you, from your gods, and from your land. |
| Isaiah 26:15 | You have increased the nation, O Yahweh. You have increased the nation! You are glorified! You have enlarged all the borders of the land. |
| Isaiah 26:16 | Yahweh, in trouble they have visited you. They poured out a prayer when your chastening was on them. |
| Jeremiah 13:16 | Give glory to Yahweh your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it deep darkness. |
| Malachi 2:2 | If you will not listen, and if you will not take it to heart, to give glory to my name,” says Yahweh of Armies, “then I will send the curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you do not take it to heart. |
| Acts 1:15 | In these days, Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke reads the earthquake as a symbol of violent political upheavals against persecutors, not a physical tremor. The seven thousand slain represent many who died in these popular disturbances. The survivors, terrified by God's judgments, converted to the gospel and gave glory to God for both the judgment and their salvation.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes interprets the earthquake and falling city as symbols of political revolution after the witnesses triumph. The numbers are proportional, not literal, showing a significant loss for the persecuting power. The remnant's giving glory means they acknowledge God's hand in these events, not necessarily that they repent and believe.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that "gave glory" here carries the specific sense of confessing sin, as in Joshua and John's Gospel. He also observes that "the God of heaven" was a phrase Jews used when speaking to Gentiles, and he suggests the seven thousand represents roughly a tenth of Jerusalem's population.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
And they shall heare a great voyce from heauen, saying vnto them, Come vp hither. And they shall ascend vp to heauen in a cloude, and their enemies shall see them.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill interprets the earthquake as political upheaval and the tenth part of the city as a single kingdom, likely France, whose fall will trigger reformation from popery. He reads the seven thousand slain as
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB reads the earthquake and its casualties through a system of symbolic numbers: six marks the world's final triumph before destruction, ten points to the apostate world kingdoms, and seven thousand signifies the complete end of the unrepentant. He sees the survivors' repentance as proving that the God of heaven is also God of earth.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange reads this entire passage as sustained symbolism, not literal prophecy. He argues the temple represents the Church's inner life, the outer court the mass of nominal believers, and the two witnesses the Christian Church and State joined against Antichrist. For him, the measuring declares what God has defined and preserved, while the unmeasured outer court points to what remains indefinite and external.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent draws a careful distinction: the phrase "gave glory to the God of heaven" does not mean conversion, repentance, or thanksgiving. It means recognition, the simple acknowledgment of God's power or justice, a meaning consistent with several Old and New Testament passages.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley argues that the city is Jerusalem, not Babylon or Rome, because only a tenth part falls in an earthquake. The seven thousand killed are one tenth of the inhabitants, and the remaining sixty-three thousand are converted, marking a grand step toward the fulfilling of the mystery of God.