Revelation 19:12
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
American King James Version (AKJV)
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
American Standard Version (ASV)
And his eyes are a flame of fire, and upon his head are many diadems; and he hath a name written which no one knoweth but he himself.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And his eyes are a flame of fire, and crowns are on his head; and he has a name in writing, of which no man has knowledge but himself.
Webster's Revision
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
World English Bible
His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself.
English Revised Version (ERV)
And his eyes are a flame of fire, and upon his head are many diadems; and he hath a name written, which no one knoweth but he himself.
Clarke's Revelation 19:12 Bible Commentary
His eyes were as a flame of fire - To denote the piercing and all-penetrating nature of his wisdom.
On his head were many crowns - To denote the multitude of his conquests, and the extent of his dominion.
A name written, that no man knew - This is a reference to what the rabbins call the shem hammephorash, or tetragrammaton, יהוה Yhvh; or what we call Jehovah. This name the Jews never attempt to pronounce: when they meet with it in the Bible, they read אדני Adonai for it; but, to a man, they all declare that no man can pronounce it; and that the true pronunciation has been lost, at least since the Babylonish captivity; and that God alone knows its true interpretation and pronunciation. This, therefore, is the name which no man knew but he himself.
Barnes's Revelation 19:12 Bible Commentary
His eyes were as a flame of fire - See the notes on Revelation 1:14.
And on his head were many crowns - Many diadems, indicative of his universal reign. It is not said how these were worn or arranged on his head - perhaps the various diadems worn by kings were in some way wreathed into one.
And he had a name written - That is, probably on the frontlet of this compound diadem. Compare the notes on Revelation 13:1; Revelation 14:1.
That no man knew but he himself - See the notes on Revelation 2:17. This cannot here mean that no one could read the name, but the idea is, that no one but himself could fully understand its import. It involved a depth of meaning, and a degree of sacredness, and a relation to the Father, which he alone could apprehend in its true import. This is true of the name here designated - "the Word of God" - the "Logos" - Λόγος Logos; and it is true of all the names which he bears. See Matthew 11:27. Compare a quotation from Dr. Buchanan in the Asiatic Researches, vol. 1, vi. p. 264, as quoted by Rosenmuller, Morgenland, in loco.
Wesley's Revelation 19:12 Bible Commentary
19:12 And his eyes are a flame of fire - They were said to be as or like a flame of fire, before, Revelation 1:14 ; an emblem of his omniscience. And upon his head are many diadems - For he is king of all nations. And he hath a name written, which none knoweth but himself - As God he is incomprehensible to every creature.
