Revelation 11:9

And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

And {G2532} they {G991} of {G1537} the people {G2992} and {G2532} kindreds {G5443} and {G2532} tongues {G1100} and {G2532} nations {G1484} shall see {G991} their {G846} dead bodies {G4430} three {G5140} days {G2250} and {G2532} an half {G2255}, and {G2532} shall {G863} not {G3756} suffer {G863} their {G846} dead bodies {G4430} to be put {G5087} in {G1519} graves {G3418}.

Some from the nations, tribes, languages and peoples see their bodies for three-and-a-half days and do not permit the corpses to be placed in a tomb.

For three and a half days all peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will view their bodies and will not permit them to be laid in a tomb.

And from among the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations do men look upon their dead bodies three days and a half, and suffer not their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.

Context

Revelation 11:9 is part of a pivotal section in the Book of Revelation, detailing the ministry, death, and resurrection of the two mysterious Two Witnesses. These witnesses are empowered by God to prophesy during a significant period of tribulation, often understood to be the latter part of the "Great Tribulation." Their ministry is cut short when they are overcome and killed by the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit. Verse 9 describes the global reaction to their death, specifically the public display of their bodies, highlighting the intense animosity towards God's messengers in those days.

Key Themes

  • Global Opposition to God's Witnesses: The phrase "people and kindreds and tongues and nations" emphasizes a universal, worldwide audience. This signifies that the witness of these two prophets, and the subsequent opposition to them, will be known and celebrated across all humanity, transcending cultural and geographic boundaries. This global reach underscores the spiritual battle's intensity and the pervasive influence of evil in the end times.
  • Public Desecration and Mockery: The refusal to allow the bodies to be buried is an act of extreme disrespect and public humiliation. In ancient cultures, denying burial was a severe insult, meant to display triumph over an enemy and prevent any honorable remembrance. It serves as a stark symbol of the world's open defiance against God and His servants.
  • Temporary Triumph of Evil: The "three days and an half" represents a brief period during which the enemies of God will rejoice and gloat over the death of the witnesses. This short duration foreshadows their ultimate and swift reversal, as described in Revelation 11:11, where the witnesses are resurrected.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "people and kindreds and tongues and nations" translates from the Greek words laoi (peoples), phulai (tribes/kindreds), glōssai (tongues/languages), and ethnē (nations/Gentiles). This comprehensive enumeration is a recurring motif in Revelation (e.g., Revelation 7:9, Revelation 13:7), consistently highlighting the global scope of prophetic events and God's ultimate sovereignty over all humanity.

Practical Application

While this verse describes a future prophetic event, it offers timeless insights for believers today:

  • The Reality of Spiritual Conflict: It reminds us that faithful witness for God can provoke intense opposition from a world hostile to His truth. Christians should be prepared for potential rejection and even persecution for their faith.
  • God's Sovereignty Over Evil: Even in moments of apparent triumph for evil, God remains in control. The "three days and an half" is a divinely appointed, limited period, signaling that darkness will not ultimately prevail.
  • The Call to Bold Witness: The Two Witnesses serve as a model of unwavering faithfulness, even unto death. Their story encourages believers to stand firm in their faith and proclaim the Gospel, knowing that their ultimate vindication comes from God.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 79:2

    The dead bodies of thy servants have they given [to be] meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.

  • Psalms 79:3

    Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and [there was] none to bury [them].

  • Revelation 17:15

    And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

  • Revelation 11:2

    But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty [and] two months.

  • Revelation 11:3

    ¶ And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

  • Revelation 11:11

    And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

  • Revelation 10:11

    And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

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