SEV Biblia, Chapter 19:16
Y en su vestidura y en su muslo tiene escrito este nombre: REY DE REYES Y SEOR DE SEORES.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Revelation 19:16
Verse 16. On his vesture and on his thigh a name written] Dr. Dodd has well observed on this passage, that "it appears to have been an ancient custom among several nations to adorn the images of their deities, princes, victors at public games, and other eminent persons, with inscriptions, expressing either the character of the persons, their names, or some other circumstance which might contribute to their honour; and to that custom the description here given of Christ may possibly have some allusion. "There are several such images yet extant, with an inscription written either on the garment, or on one of the thighs, or on that part of the garment which was over the thigh; and probably this is the meaning of the apostle. And as these inscriptions are placed on the upper garment, Grotius seems very justly to have explained the words epi to imation, by his imperial robe, that his power in this victory might be conspicuous to all. But as a farther confirmation of this sense of the passage it may not be improper here to describe briefly several remarkable figures of this sort, which are still extant." This description I shall give from my own examination.
1. HERODOTUS, Euterpe, lib. ii. p. 127, edit. Gale, speaking of the actions of Sesostris, and of the images he set up in the countries which he conquered, has the following words: eisi peri iwnihn duo tupoi en petrhsi egkekolammenoi toutou tou androv, k. t. l. "Two images likewise of this man are seen in Ionia, on the way that leads from Ephesus to Phocaea, and from Sardis to Smyrna. The figure is five palms in height; in his right hand he holds a dart, in his left a bow, armed after the manner of the Egyptians and Ethiopians. On a line drawn across the breast, from one shoulder to the other, are these words, written in Egyptian hieroglyphics: ego thnde thn cwrhn wmoisi toisi emoisi ekthsamhn? 'I obtained this country by these my shoulders;'" i.e., by my own power.
2. In the Etruria Regalis of Dempster, in the appendix at the end of vol. ii., there is a beautiful female figure of brass, about twelve inches high, the hair gracefully plaited, and the head adorned with a diadem. She has a tunic without sleeves, and over that a sort of pallium. On the outside of the right thigh, close to the tunic, and probably on it, in the original, is an inscription in Etruscan characters. What these import I cannot say.
Dempster has given a general explanation of the image in the appendix to the above volume, p. 108. The plate itself is the eighty-third of the work.
3. There are two other images found in the same author, vol. i., p. 91, tab. xxiv.; the first is naked, with the exception of a short loose jupe, or petticoat, which goes round the loins, and over the left arm. On the left thigh of this image there is an inscription in Etruscan characters. The second has a similar jupe, but much longer, which extends to the calf of the leg, and is supported over the bended left arm. Over the right thigh, on this vesture, there is an Etruscan inscription in two lines.
4. MONTFAUCON, Antiquite Expliquee, vol. iii., part 2, p. 268, has introduced an account of two fine images, which are represented tab. CLVII. The first is a warrior entirely naked, except a collar, one bracelet, and boots. On his left thigh, extending from the groin to a little below the knee, is an inscription in very ancient Etruscan characters, in two lines, but the import is unknown.
The second is a small figure of brass, about six inches long, with a loose tunic, which is suspended from the left shoulder down to the calf of the legs. On this tunic, over the left thigh, is an inscription (perhaps) in very ancient Latin characters, but in the Etruscan language, as the learned author conjectures. It is in one line, but what it means is equally unknown.
5. In the same work, p. 269, tab. CLVIII., another Etruscan warrior is represented entirely naked; on the left thigh is the following words in uncial Greek letters, kafisodwrov, and on the right thigh, aisclamiou, i.e., "Kaphisodourus, the son of Aischlamius." All these inscriptions are written longitudinally on the thigh.
6. GRUTER, vol. iii., p. DCCCCLXXXIX, sub. tit. Affectus Servorum et Libertinorum inter se, et in suos, gives us the figure of a naked warrior, with his left hand on an axe, the end of whose helve rests on the ground, with the following inscription on the inside of his left thigh, longitudinally written, as in all other cases:- A. POBLICIUS. D. L. ANTIOC.
TI. BARBIUS. Q. P. L. TIBER.
7. The rabbins say, that "God gave to the Israelites a sword, on which the ineffable name hwhy Yehovah was inscribed; and as long as they held that sword the angel of death had no power over them." Shemoth Rabba, sec.
51, fol. 143, 2. Bemidbar Rabba, sec. 12, fol. 214, 2.
In the latter tract, sec. 16, fol. 232, 3, and in Rab. Tanchum, fol. 66, mention is made of the guardian angels of the Israelites, who were clothed with purple vestments, on which was inscribed rwpmh shem hammephorash, the ineffable name. See more in Schoettgen.
8. But what comes nearer to the point, in reference to the title given here to Christ, is what is related of Sesostris by DIodourUS Siculus, lib. i. c. 55, p. 166, edit. Bipont, of whom he says: "Having pushed his conquests as far as Thrace, he erected pillars, on which were the following words in Egyptian hieroglyphics: thnde thn cwran oploiv katestreyato toiv eautou basileuv basilewn, kai despothv despotwn, sesowsiv?" This province, Sesoosis, (Sesostris,) KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, conquered by his own arms. This inscription is conceived almost in the words of St. John. Now the Greek historian did not borrow the words from the apostle, as he died in the reign of Augustus, about the time of our Lord's incarnation. This cannot be the same inscription mentioned above by Herodotus, the one being in Ionia, the other in Thrace: but as he erected several of those pillars or images, probably a nearly similar inscription was found on each.
9. This custom seems to have been common among the ancient Egyptians.
Inscriptions are frequently found on the images of Isis, Osiris, Anubis, &c., at the feet, on the head, on the back, on the girdle, &c., &c. Eight of those ancient images in my own collection abound with these inscriptions.
1. Osiris, four inches and a quarter high, standing on a thrones all covered over with hieroglyphics exquisitely engraved.
2. Anubis, six inches high, with a tiara, on the back of which is cut legornuq, in uncial Greek characters.
3. The Cercopithecus, seven inches long, sitting on a pedestal, and at his feet, in the same characters, cadeo.
4. An Isis, about eight inches high, on her back drugo.
5. Ditto, seven inches, beautifully cut, standing, holding a serpent in her left hand, and at her feet etapugi.
6. Ditto, five inches and a quarter, round whose girdle is pieucudi; but part of this inscription appears to be hidden under her-arms, which are extended by her side.
7. Ditto, five inches high, hooded, with a loose stola, down the back of which are seven lines of Greek uncial characters, but nearly obliterated.
8. Ditto, four inches high, with a girdle going round the back immediately under the arms, the front of which is hidden under a sort of a stomacher; on the part that appears are these characters, cenla. These may be all intended as a kind of abrasaxas or tutelary deities; and I give this notice of them, and the inscriptions upon them, partly in illustration of the text, and partly to engage my learned and antiquarian readers in attempts to decipher them. I would have given the Etruscan characters on the other images described above, but have no method of imitating them except by an engraving.
As these kinds of inscriptions on the thigh, the garments, and different parts of the body, were in use among different nations, to express character, conduct, qualities, and conquests, we may rest assured that to them St. John alludes when he represents our sovereign Lord with an inscription upon his vesture and upon his thigh; and had we not found it a custom among other nations, we should have been at a loss to account for its introduction and meaning here.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written , etc.] 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 f429 ; 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).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 11-21 - Christ, the glorious Head of the church, is described as on a whit 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 dippe 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 i "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 perfection 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 an power, warning the most powerful princes to submit, or they must fal before him. The powers of earth and hell make their utmost effort These verses declare important events, foretold by the prophets. Thes 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 followe our guides; we did as we saw others do! God has given a rule to wal 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 __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 εχει 2192 5719 επι 1909 το 3588 ιματιον 2440 και 2532 επι 1909 τον 3588 μηρον 3382 {1: αυτου 846 το 3588 ονομα 3686 } {2: αυτου 846 ονομα 3686 } γεγραμμενον 1125 5772 βασιλευς 935 βασιλεων 935 και 2532 κυριος 2962 κυριων 2962
Vincent's NT Word Studies
16. On His thigh. Some explain, on the garment where it covers the thigh to which the sword is bound. Compare Psalm xlv. 3. Others, partly on the vesture, partly on the thigh itself, where, in an equestrian figure, the robe drops from the thigh. According to the former explanation kai and is to be taken as explanatory or definitive of the words on His vesture. Others again suppose a sword on the hilt of which the name is inscribed. Expositors refer to the custom of engraving the artist's name on the thigh of a statue. Thus Cicero says: "A most beautiful statue of Apollo, on the thigh of which the name of Myron had been graven in tiny letters of silver" ("Against Verres," iv., 43). Herodotus describes a figure of Sesostris, bearing across the breast from shoulder to shoulder the inscription written in the sacred character of Egypt: "With my own shoulders I conquered this land" (ii., 106). Rawlinson says that Assyrian figures are found with arrow-headed inscriptions engraved across them, and over the drapery as well as the body.
