Rev 13:5-6 | NETfull | STEP | The beast was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies, and he was permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months.

Revelation of John 13:5-6

5 The beast ^{▼▼ Grk “and there was given to him.” Here the passive construction has been simplified, the referent (the beast) has been specified for clarity, and καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.} was given a mouth speaking proud words ^{▼▼ For the translation “proud words” (Grk “great things” or “important things”) see BDAG 624 s.v. μέγας 4.b.} and blasphemies, and he was permitted ^{▼▼ Grk “to it was granted.”} to exercise ruling authority ^{▼▼ For the translation “ruling authority” for ἐξουσία (exousia) see L&N 37.35.} for forty-two months. 6 So ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the permission granted to the beast.} the beast ^{▼▼ Grk “he” (or “it”); the referent (the beast) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} opened his mouth to blaspheme against God – to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, ^{▼▼ The reading “and his dwelling place” does not occur in codex C, but its omission is probably due to scribal oversight since the phrase has the same ending as the phrase before it, i.e., they both end in “his” (αὐτοῦ, autou). This is similar to the mistake this scribe made in 12:14 with the omission of the reading “and half a time” (καὶ ἥμισυ καιροῦ, kai {ēmisu kairou).} that is, those who dwell in heaven.