God’s Word Translation
Revelation 2:27
27Those people will rule the nations with iron scepters and shatter them like pottery.
Revelation 2:27 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
- New International Version (NIV)that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father.
- English Standard Version (ESV)and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.
- New King James Version (NKJV)‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father;
Context of Revelation 2:27
25Just hold on to what you have until I come. 26I have received authority from my Father. I will give authority over the nations to everyone who wins the victory and continues to do what I want until the end. Those people will rule the nations with iron scepters and shatter them like pottery. 28I will also give them the morning star. 29Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
Read all of Revelation 2Revelation 2:27 word by word
καὶ ποιμανεῖ αὐτοὺς ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ, ὡς τὰ σκεύη τὰ κεραμικὰ συντρίβεταιRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- he shall ruleποιμαίνωpoimainō · to shepherdG4165
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- withἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- a rodῥάβδοςrhabdos · rodG4464
- of ironσιδήρεοςsidēreos · ironG4603
- asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- the vesselsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the vesselsσκεῦοςskeuos · vesselG4632
- of a potterκεραμικόςkeramikos · made of clayG2764
- shall they be broken to shiversσυντρίβωsuntribō · to breakG4937
- Iκἀγώkagō kamoi kame · and IG2504
- receivedλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- ofπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
- myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
Cross-references for Revelation 2:27
- Revelation 12:5She gave birth to a son, a boy, who is to rule all the nations with an iron scepter. Her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne.
- Revelation 19:15A sharp sword comes out of his mouth to defeat the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter and tread the winepress of the fierce anger of God Almighty.
- Psalms 2:8Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance and the ends of the earth as your own possession.
- Psalms 49:14Like sheep, they are driven to hell with death as their shepherd. (Decent people will rule them in the morning.) Their forms will decay in the grave, far away from their comfortable homes.
- Psalms 149:5Let godly people triumph in glory. Let them sing for joy on their beds.
- Daniel 7:22It did this until the Ancient One, who has lived for endless years, came and judged in favor of the holy people of the Most High. The time came when the holy people took possession of the kingdom.
- Matthew 11:27“My Father has turned everything over to me. Only the Father knows the Son. And no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal him.
- Luke 22:29So as my Father has given me a kingdom, I’m giving it to you.
- John 17:24“Father, I want those you have given to me to be with me, to be where I am. I want them to see my glory, which you gave me because you loved me before the world was made.
Commentaries on Revelation 2:27
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27He shall rule them with a rod of iron - He shall restrain vice by the strictest administration of justice; and those who finally despise the word and rebel shall be broken and destroyed, so as never more to be able to make head against the truth. This seems to refer to the heathen world; and perhaps Constantine the Great may be intended, who, when he overcame Licinius, became the instrument in God's hand of destroying idolatry over the whole Roman empire…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27And he shall rule them with a rod of iron - There is an allusion here to Psalm 2:9; “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter‘s vessel.” There is a slight change in the passage, “he shall rule,” instead of “thou shalt break,” in order to adapt the language to the purpose of the speaker here. The allusion in the Psalm is to the Messiah as reigning triumphant over the nations, or subduing them under him; and the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-29Verses 18-29 Even when the Lord knows the works of his people to be wrought in love, faith, zeal, and patience; yet if his eyes, which are as a flame of fire, observe them committing or allowing what is evil, he will rebuke, correct, or punish them. Here is praise of the ministry and people of Thyatira, by One who knew the principles from which they acted. They grew wiser and better. All Christians should earnestly desire that their last works may be…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26-28Christ promises that those who obey will share authority with him. This is symbolized by the iron rod that will break the opposition like clay pots (quoting Psalm 2:8–9; compare Revelation 12:5; 19:15). The morning star is the planet Venus, which signals the coming of a new day. Here, it refers to the promise of resurrection when Christ returns (Revelation 22:16; 2 Peter 1:19).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2727. From Psa 2:8, 9. rule--literally, "rule as a shepherd." In Psa 2:9 it is, "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron." The Septuagint, pointing the Hebrew word differently, read as Revelation here. The English Version of Psa 2:9 is doubtless right, as the parallel word, "dash in pieces," proves. But the Spirit in this case sanctions the additional thought as true, that the Lord shall mingle mercy to some, with judgment on others; beginning by…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 2:27
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Revelation 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries