And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause (G4160) as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed (G615).
Hyperbole is exaggeration for effect. If your kids say they’ve been waiting for you to stop talking after church, “for forever”, that’s hyperbole. It’s hyperbole to say to someone who isn’t actually trying to kill you “you’re killing me” when they’ve given you a lot of work or told a funny story.
Some reasons for my thinking:
- The Beasts are metaphorical: they are not actual beasts that come from the sea or earth. It was described that they come from there for effect. If they are metaphorical, it should be considered whether their recorded actions are likely to be illustrative rather than literal or absolute.
- We make the Beast in Revelation 13:14. It is not a literal empire, and it was borne out of a deception. But we made it.
- The Beast can “speak” but cannot move. Scripture does not say it has any authority.
- It is just an image; it is doubtful that it could actually cause people to be killed by its own command. However, it can express the idea that people ought to be killed. The question is whether the Earth Beast would implement it.
- Perhaps some governments in the past might execute people who would not worship them, but it was a minority, and that is highly unlikely today. Governments today simply jail, exile, destroy their reputations, or financially strangle them, much like the Candadian government did with the truckers protesting vaccine mandates, or simply impose movement or job restrictions.
It is a good time to refresh your understanding of the prophecies of John the Baptist. This is important. Elijah never came. John did. And while we accept that John is the fulfillment of the prophecies, it we hold to a literalist brand of prophetic interpretation, we would have missed John and Christ. Likewise, obstinate literalism may cause you to miss fulfillment.
Are there legitimate translation variants for Revelation 13:15?
Given the possible hyperbolic nature of the verse, but by no means dependent on that case, are variant translations possible?
If the Beast has no actual power, since it can only speak, there are two key words that the understanding of the entire verse rests on.
And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause (G4160) as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed (G615).
cause (ποιήσῃ[1])(G4160)
According to Strongs G4160, when it relates to speaking, ’cause’ can be translated as “declare” (John 5:18; John 8:53; John 10:33; John 19:7, 12; 1 John 1:10; 1 John 5:10; Matthew 12:33). This actually makes more sense, for the Image Beast being given the power of speak and it then it declares something. Nowhere does it say it was given the power to act or move, let alone command. Translators have argued that the grammatical structure fits “cause” or “make” rather than “declare”. However, as per the example references above where G4160 is translated as “declare” or even where “make” is used, it is in fact a declarative statement and not a causative statement. Moreover, none, use the formula “speak and cause”. It stands to reason that the “cause” is the product of speaking, and in the examples above, it is a declarative statement. And if the Image Beast that we make (v.14) has no authority, only the ability to speak, then the “cause” must be held at a distance, not as a command, but that it is desiring the outcome and works towards it.
For example: during COVID, the unvaccinated were shunned. What caused this? The media’s relentless demonisation of the unvaccinated. There are countless examples of the media doing this and calling for others to reject the unvaccinated from society, or to refuse to let them buy food, have a job, get medical treatment. The media did not command this, but it certainly caused the unvaccinated to be treated appallingly.
Killed (ἀποκτανθῶσιν):
One of the definitions by Strongs (G615[2]) is “to destroy, to allow to perish”, whether literally or metaphorically.
Google translates “ἀποκτανθῶσιν“ as “get rid of”. Perhaps it is, as Strongs’ says, it may be figuratively “to destroy” (Romans 7:11; Ephesians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 3:6).
Some will argue that “kill” means “kill”. However the Greek word for actual killing is G5407. For example: Matthew 5:21 “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill (G5407); and whosoever shall kill (G5407) shall be in danger of the judgment:”
Some translations render Mark 3:4 not as “…to save a life or to kill…” but “…to save a life or to let them perish…”.
Thus, ἀποκτανθῶσιν does not have to be literal murder of those who refuse the Mark, but rather they are to be “allowed to perish” or metaphorically “destroyed”.
Conclusion
Providing more nuance to the critical words demonstrates that the text does not require that the Image Beast command the murder of those who refuse the Mark. It doesn’t refute it, but the text, even without hyperbolic lens, allows that the Image Beast that we make, merely expresses the desire and incites others to seek to destroy or get rid of those who refuse the Mark.
A possible, nuanced rendering:
And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and declare as many as do not worship the image of the beast should be got rid of.
[1] https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4160/kjv/tr/0-1/
[2] https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g615/kjv/tr/0-1/