Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon.
Parallel translations
- WEB I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon.
- KJV And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
- NKJV Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.
- NASB Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.
- NLT Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, but he spoke with the voice of a dragon.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A second beast rises from the earth, looking lamb-like but speaking like the dragon. It is a deceiver that mimics Christ while serving Satan.
Overview
This beast, later called the false prophet, has two horns like a lamb but speaks like the dragon—an image of religious deception that imitates Christ outwardly while voicing Satan's lies. It represents false prophecy and ideology that enforces worship of worldly power. Its lamb-like appearance warns the church that the most dangerous deception wears a religious disguise.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Dan 7:8While I was contemplating the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like those of a man and a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.
- 2 Cor 11:13–15For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
- Matt 7:15Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
- Rev 17:6I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.
- Rom 16:18For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
- Rev 11:7When the two witnesses have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will wage war with them, and will overpower and kill them.
- Rev 16:13And I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.
- Rev 12:3–4Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads.
- Rev 13:17so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of its name.
- Dan 7:24–25And the ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. After them another king, different from the earlier ones, will rise and subdue three kings.
- Rev 12:17And the dragon was enraged at the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.
- 2 Th 2:4He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
- Rev 17:8The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 13:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.