Revelation 19:16

{16} And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (16) The name agreeing to Christ according to the former qualities, expressed after the manner of the Hebrews.

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And on his thigh — Where his sword hangs, Psalms 45:3 ; Psalms 45:3 , to show that he will keep what he hath gained ( Vincere scis Hannibal, victoria uti nescis, said one), Non minor est virtus quam quaerere, parta tueri or "on his thigh," qui filiabitur nomine eius, Psalms 72:17 , the name of Christ shall endure for ever; it shall be begotten, as one generation is begotten of another; there shall be a succession of Christ’s name; "he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands," Isaiah 53:10 . ConferGenesis 46:26; Genesis 46:26 . Or, "on his thigh," that is, on his lower parts, his people. Christ "will make the place of his feet glorious," Isaiah 60:13 , that is, the Church in their lowest condition. Lord of lords — This title the pope usurps; but what said Miconius in a letter to Calvin upon the view of the Church’s enemies? Gaudeo quod Christus Dominus est; alioqui totus desperassem, I am glad that Christ is Lord of lords, for else I should have been utterly out of hope.

The same name as in Revelation 17:14 1 Timothy 6:15 ; See Poole on " Revelation 17:14 " , See Poole on " 1 Timothy 6:15 " ; denoting the sovereign power and authority which he had. This he always had, but he now comes forth openly to manifest it; therefore this name is said to be written on his vesture and on his thigh, that all might take notice of it.

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written,.... This name, afterwards expressed, is said to be written on his vesture, in allusion to the custom of persons of note and eminence having their names interwoven in their garments, and which was sometimes done in letters of gold, as Zeuxis had (t); and it is expressive of the conspicuousness of Christ's kingdom, which now will come with observation; his judgments, the administrations of his kingly office, will be manifest, and he will reign before his ancients gloriously: and its being said to be written on his thigh may mean either that it was upon that part of his garment which covered his thigh; or else that it was also on his sword, which he sometimes girt upon his thigh. Mr. Daubuz has given an instance out of Victor Vitensis, of Clementianus, a monk, who had written on his thigh, ""a manichee" disciple of Jesus Christ.'' And this being done in Africa, he supposes it to be a Phoenician custom continued. It may here denote the perpetuity of Christ's name, power, and dominion, which will continue to the latest posterity, Psalm 72:17 which spring from the thigh; and it may denote the subjection of his people to him, signified by the putting the hand under the thigh, Genesis 24:2 . And this name is King of kings and Lord of lords; which will well suit him now when he shall be openly King over all the earth; See Gill on Revelation 17:14 . (t) Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 35. c. 9.

Christ, the glorious Head of the church, is described as on a white horse, the emblem of justice and holiness. He has many crowns, for he is King of kings, and Lord of lords. He is arrayed in a vesture dipped in his own blood, by which he purchased his power as Mediator; and in the blood of his enemies, over whom he always prevails. His name is The Word of God; a name none fully knows but himself; only this we know, that this Word was God manifest in the flesh; but his perfections cannot be fully understood by any creature. Angels and saints follow, and are like Christ in their armour of purity and righteousness. The threatenings of the written word he is going to execute on his enemies. The ensigns of his authority are his name; asserting his authority and power, warning the most powerful princes to submit, or they must fall before him. The powers of earth and hell make their utmost effort. These verses declare important events, foretold by the prophets. These persons were not excused because they did what their leaders bade them. How vain will be the plea of many sinners at the great day! We followed our guides; we did as we saw others do! God has given a rule to walk by, in his word; neither the example of the most, nor of the chief, must influence us contrary thereto: if we do as the most do, we must go where the most go, even into the burning lake.

16. "His name written on His vesture and on His thigh," was written partly on the vesture, partly on the thigh itself, at the part where in an equestrian figure the robe drops from the thigh. The thigh symbolizes Christ's humanity as having come, after the flesh, from the loins of David, and now appearing as the glorified "Son of man." On the other hand, His incommunicable divine name, "which no man knew," is on His head (Re 19:12), [Menochius]. KING OF KINGS—Compare Re 17:14, in contrast with Re 19:17, the beast being in attempted usurpation a king of kings, the ten kings delivering their kingdom to him.

And he hath on his vesture - That is, this name was conspicuously written on his garment - probably his military robe. And on his thigh - The robe or military cloak may be conceived of as open and flowing, so as to expose the limbs of the rider; and the idea is, that the name was conspicuously written not only on the flowing robe, but on the other parts of his dress, so that it must be conspicuous whether his military cloak were wrapped closely around him, or whether it was open to the breeze. Grotius supposes that this name was on the edge or hilt of the sword which depended from his thigh. A name written - Or a title descriptive of his character. King of kings, and Lord of lords - As in Revelation 17:5 , so here, there is nothing in the original to denote that this should be distinguished, as it is, by capital letters. As a conspicuous title, however, it is not improper. It means that he is, in fact, the sovereign over the kings of the earth, and that all nobles and princes are under his control - a rank that properly belongs to the Son of God. Compare the notes on Ephesians 1:20-22 . See also Revelation 19:12 of this chapter. The custom here alluded to of inscribing the name or rank of distinguished individuals on their garments, so that they might be readily recognized, was not uncommon in ancient times. For full proof of this, see Rosenmuller, Morgenland, vol. iii. pp. 232-236. The authorities quoted there are, Thevenot's Travels, vol. i. p. 149; Gruter, p. 989; Dempster's Etruria Regalis, t. ii. tab. 93; Montfaucon, Antiq. Expliq. t. iii. tab. 39. Thus Herodotus (vol. ii. p. 196), speaking of the figures of Sesostris in Ionia, says that, "Across his breast, from shoulder to shoulder, there is this inscription in the sacred characters of Egypt, 'I conquered this country by the force of my arms.'" Compare Cic. Verr. iv. 23; LeMoyne a.d. Jeremiah 23:6 ; Munter, Diss. a.d. Revelation 17:5 , as referred to by Prof. Stuart, in loco.