Texts in Conversation
Revelation echoes an image from the Wisdom of Solomon, where God’s word or Torah descends from heaven like a warrior with a sharp sword to bring judgment. Revelation's use of this theme places it in continuity with this Jewish wisdom tradition.
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Wisdom of Solomon 18:15
Deuterocanon
14 For while all things were in quiet silence, and that night was in the midst of her swift course, 15 Thine Almighty word leaped down from heaven out of thy royal throne, as a fierce man of war into the midst of a land of destruction, 16 And brought thine unfeigned commandment as a sharp sword, and standing up filled all things with death; and it touched the heaven, but it stood upon the earth.
Date: 100-50 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Revelation 19:15
New Testament
14 The armies that are in heaven, dressed in white, clean, fine linen, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth extends a sharp sword so that with it he can strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod, and he stomps the winepress of the furious wrath of God, the All-Powerful. 16 He has a name written on his clothing and on his thigh: “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
Date: 92-96 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... The garments of God were stained with the blood of the winepress in Isaiah 63:2-3, when God was avenging his servants by judgment (compare Revelation 14:17-20); a later Jewish tradition naturally connects this text with the idea of Genesis 49:10-11, reading the latter as proclaiming that the warrior Messiah will be stained with blood. Compare Wisdom of Solomon 18:15-16, where God’s slaying the firstborn of Egypt is figuratively described as his Word leaping out of heaven like a mighty warrior; his commandment goes forth as a sharp sword (compare Revelation 19:15) ..."
Keener, Craig S.
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament
(p. 769) InterVarsity Press, 2014
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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