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.

REVELATION 11:9KJV
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Revelation 11:9 (KJV)

What does Revelation 11:9 mean?

Revelation 11:9 describes how people from many different groups—nations, tribes, languages—will look at the dead bodies of two witnesses for three and a half days, and no one will allow their bodies to be buried. This verse shows a public display of their deaths and a refusal to honor them with burial.

The book of Revelation is a vision given to John, and in this part, he is describing what happens after two witnesses are killed in Jerusalem. The scene is dramatic: people from all over the world see the bodies lying in the street, and there is a deliberate choice not to bury them, which in ancient times was a sign of great disrespect and shame. This detail highlights how widely their deaths are noticed and how much hostility there is toward them.

The Greek behind Revelation 11:9

  • λαοί (laoi, G2992): This word means "peoples" or "nations," emphasizing that the witnesses' deaths are seen by a broad, diverse group, not just locals.
  • φυλαί (phylai, G5443): This word means "tribes" or "clans," pointing to subdivisions within nations, suggesting a very wide and inclusive audience.
  • γλῶσσαι (glōssai, G1100): This word means "tongues" or "languages," highlighting that people of different languages are included, reinforcing the global scope.
  • ἔθνη (ethnē, G1484): This word means "nations" or "Gentiles," again underlining the international attention.
  • θῆναι (thēnai, G5087): This verb means "to put" or "to place," used here for "put in graves," showing intentional action is withheld—people actively refuse to bury the bodies.
  • μνῆμα (mnēma, G3418): This word means "graves" or "tombs," indicating a proper burial place, which is denied to the witnesses.

Why Revelation 11:9 matters

  • Revelation 11:9 clarifies that the deaths of the two witnesses are not hidden or local events; they are made a spectacle for the whole world, which adds to the sense of drama and injustice.
  • The refusal to bury the bodies is a sign of contempt in the ancient world, making the hostility of the people toward the witnesses even clearer.
  • This verse sets up the tension for what follows in the story, as the public humiliation of the witnesses is contrasted with what God does next in the narrative.

Where else these words appear

“bodies” Greek G4430 · used in 4 verses

  • Matthew 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
  • Mark 6:29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
  • Revelation 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

“half” Greek G2255 · used in 5 verses

  • Mark 6:23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.
  • Luke 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
  • 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.

“graves” Greek G3418 · used in 7 verses

  • Mark 5:5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
  • Luke 23:53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
  • Acts 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

“kindreds” Greek G5443 · used in 23 verses

  • Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
  • Hebrews 7:13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
  • Revelation 7:5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.