Revelation 20:13 Meaning and Explanation
“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The sea, death, and the grave give up their dead, and each person is judged according to his works.
What Does Revelation 20:13 Mean?
The vision presses home that none are missing. The sea surrenders those lost in its depths; death and the grave yield up all they hold. Every place that has ever swallowed the dead now gives them back to stand before God. And again the standard is named: each is judged according to his works.
No grave is so deep and no loss so forgotten that God cannot reach it. The reach of the resurrection extends to every place the dead have gone. For those who fear that a loved one slipped beyond God's care, the answer is that nothing and no one is outside His knowledge. The God who calls the dead from the sea remembers each soul by name.
Revelation 20:13 in the Original Language
hades (ᾅδης), 'hell' -- the realm of the dead, pictured here surrendering those it has held.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 20:13
What does Revelation 20:13 mean?
The sea, death, and the grave give up their dead, and each person is judged according to his works.