Revelation 11:3
New International Version
And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

New Living Translation
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will be clothed in burlap and will prophesy during those 1,260 days.”

English Standard Version
And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

Berean Standard Bible
And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

Berean Literal Bible
And I will grant to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy a thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."

King James Bible
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

New King James Version
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

New American Standard Bible
And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

NASB 1995
“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

NASB 1977
“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And I will give authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

Amplified Bible
And I will grant authority to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days (forty-two months; three and one-half years), dressed in sackcloth.”

Christian Standard Bible
I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.”

American Standard Version
And I will give unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Contemporary English Version
My two witnesses will wear sackcloth, while I let them preach for 1,260 days.

English Revised Version
And I will give unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I will allow my two witnesses who wear sackcloth to speak what God has revealed. They will speak for 1,260 days."

Good News Translation
I will send my two witnesses dressed in sackcloth, and they will proclaim God's message during those 1, 260 days."

International Standard Version
I will give my two witnesses who wear sackcloth the authority to prophesy for 1,260 days."

Majority Standard Bible
And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.?

NET Bible
And I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.

New Heart English Bible
I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."

Webster's Bible Translation
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

Weymouth New Testament
And I will authorize My two witnesses to prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.

World English Bible
I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and I will give to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand, two hundred, sixty days, clothed with sackcloth”;

Berean Literal Bible
And I will grant to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy a thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."

Young's Literal Translation
and I will give to My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy days, a thousand, two hundred, sixty, arrayed with sackcloth;

Smith's Literal Translation
And I will give to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, surrounded with sackcloth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will give unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I will present my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

New American Bible
I will commission my two witnesses to prophesy for those twelve hundred and sixty days, wearing sackcloth.”

New Revised Standard Version
And I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days, wearing sackcloth.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand and two hundred and three score days, clothed in sackcloth.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And I shall grant my two witnesses to prophesy 1260 days while wearing sackcloth.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And I will give to my two witnesses, that they may prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

Godbey New Testament
And I will give to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

Haweis New Testament
And I will give charge to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

Mace New Testament
by virtue of my power, my two witnesses shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days cloathed in sackcloth.

Weymouth New Testament
And I will authorize My two witnesses to prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.

Worrell New Testament
And I will give to My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."

Worsley New Testament
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Two Witnesses
2But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months. 3And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.…

Cross References
Zechariah 4:11-14
Then I asked the angel, “What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?” / And I questioned him further, “What are the two olive branches beside the two gold pipes from which the golden oil pours?” / “Do you not know what these are?” he inquired. “No, my lord,” I replied. ...

Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Daniel 12:7
And the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by Him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, and times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people has finally been shattered, all these things will be completed.”

Luke 10:1
After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit.

Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Matthew 10:18
On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.

1 Kings 17:1
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”

Malachi 4:5-6
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. / And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

Joel 2:28-32
And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. / Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days. / I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. ...

Acts 2:17-21
‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. / Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. / I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. ...

Matthew 17:3
Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.

2 Kings 2:8
And Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and to the left, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

John 8:17
Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.

Deuteronomy 19:15
A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Jeremiah 5:14
Therefore this is what the LORD God of Hosts says: “Because you have spoken this word, I will make My words a fire in your mouth and this people the wood it consumes.


Treasury of Scripture

And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days, clothed in sackcloth.

I will give power, etc.

John 3:27
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

1 Corinthians 12:28
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Ephesians 4:11
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

two.

Numbers 11:26
But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp.

Deuteronomy 17:6
At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

Deuteronomy 19:15
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

witnesses.

Revelation 20:4
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Luke 24:48
And ye are witnesses of these things.

John 15:27
And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

they shall.

Revelation 19:10
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

a thousand.

Revelation 11:2
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

Revelation 12:6
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

clothed.

Genesis 37:34
And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.

1 Chronicles 21:16
And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

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Revelation 11
1. The two witnesses prophesy.
6. They have power to shut heaven so that it rain not.
7. The beast shall fight against them, and kill them.
8. They lie unburied;
11. and after three and a half days rise again.
14. The second woe is past.
15. The seventh trumpet sounds.














And I will empower
The phrase "I will empower" signifies divine authority and enablement. The Greek word used here is "δίδωμι" (didōmi), which means to give or grant. This empowerment is not of human origin but is a direct endowment from God, emphasizing His sovereignty and the divine nature of the mission. In the biblical context, empowerment by God often precedes significant acts of prophecy or leadership, as seen with figures like Moses and Elijah.

my two witnesses
The "two witnesses" are central figures in this passage. The Greek word for witnesses is "μάρτυς" (martys), which can mean both witness and martyr. Historically, witnesses were those who testified to the truth, often at great personal cost. The number two is significant in biblical terms, as it fulfills the requirement for a valid testimony according to Jewish law (Deuteronomy 19:15). These witnesses are seen as prophetic figures, possibly representing the Law and the Prophets, or the Church and Israel, symbolizing the continuity and fulfillment of God's covenant.

and they will prophesy
The act of prophesying involves speaking forth the word of God. The Greek word "προφητεύω" (prophēteuō) means to speak under divine inspiration. This indicates that their message is not self-derived but is a direct revelation from God. Prophecy in the biblical sense often includes both foretelling future events and forth-telling God's truth to the present generation, calling for repentance and faithfulness.

for 1,260 days
The period of "1,260 days" is significant in apocalyptic literature, corresponding to three and a half years. This timeframe is often associated with periods of trial and tribulation. It is half of the perfect number seven, symbolizing incompleteness and a time of testing. This duration is also mentioned in Daniel and Revelation, indicating a period of intense spiritual conflict and divine intervention.

clothed in sackcloth
Sackcloth is a coarse material traditionally worn as a sign of mourning, repentance, or humility. The Greek word "σάκκος" (sakkos) reflects this cultural practice. The imagery of sackcloth indicates the somber and urgent nature of the witnesses' message. It is a call to repentance, echoing the prophetic tradition of the Old Testament where prophets like Jonah and Jeremiah wore sackcloth to signify the seriousness of their divine message and the need for the people to turn back to God.

(3-14) The Two WITNESSES.--It is the opinion of one able and pre-eminently painstaking commentator that "no solution has ever been given of this portion of the prophecy." I quote this that none may be disappointed when no satisfactory solution is given here; further light in the knowledge of the Bible, and the light of history, and, above all, the aid of the Holy Spirit, may show what the real solution is. At present it is best to lay down the lines which seem to lead in the direction of such a solution. First, the aim of the present vision must be kept in mind; and secondly, the vision in Zechariah (Zechariah 4, all), on which this is professedly built, must be remembered. Now the aim of our present vision seems to be to explain that in the great progress towards victory the Church itself will suffer through corruptions and worldliness, but that the true Temple--the kernel, so to speak, of the Church--will be unharmed and kept safe in her Master's hands. But the position of this hidden and enshrined Church will not be one of idle security; in that Temple will be reared in secret, as the rightful king Josiah was, those who will witness undaunted and undefiled for their Lord; throughout the whole of that chequered period of profanation and pain there will never be wanting true witnesses for righteousness and faith. To assure the sacred seer that this would be the ease, to exhibit the nature of their work and its results, is the apparent aim of the vision. If this be so, the witnesses can scarcely be literal individual men, though it is true that many literal individual men have played the part of these witnesses. Turning to the foundation vision in Zechariah, we find that the vision there is designed to encourage the weak and restored exiles in their work of rebuilding the Temple; they are shown that, weak as they are, there is a hidden strength, like a sacred stream of oil, which can make them triumph over all their difficulties: not by might or power, but by God's Spirit, the mountain would become a plain (Zechariah 4:6-7), and "Grace! Grace!" would be the triumphant shout when the headstone of the Temple was raised. In both visions, then, our minds are turned to the hidden sources of divine strength; there is a safe and secret place measured off by God, where He gives His children strength--not of ordinary might or power, but strength of grace. This is the grace which made Zerubbabel and Joshua strong to achieve their work; this is the grace which can make the two witnesses strong to do their part in the building of that more glorious spiritual temple which is built on the foundation of Apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner-stone. The witnesses, then, stand as the typical representatives of those who, in the strength of God, have, through the long ages, borne witness for Christ against all wrong and falsehood, against a world in arms or a Church in error, or against a nominal Christianity in danger of becoming as corrupt and as cruel as heathenism. Such witnesses stand, like the two columns Jachin and Boaz, before the true Temple of God.

(3) And I will give . . .--Translate, And I will give (omit "power") to my two witnesses, and they shall . . . These are the words of God Himself; the omission of the words "and the angel stood" from Revelation 11:1 prevents any confusion of thought on this point. Two witnesses were required for competent evidence (Deuteronomy 17:6; Deuteronomy 19:15, et al.), and there has constantly been a sending forth of God's chosen messengers in pairs-- Moses and Aaron, Elijah and Elisha, besides Joshua and Zerubbabel, alluded to by Zechariah; and in New Testament times our Lord sent forth His disciples "two and two," as afterwards Paul and Barnabas, or Paul and Silas, went forth to preach. There is, besides the mere mutual support which two can give, a need for the association of two different characters in the same sort of work: the energy and the sympathy, the elucidator of doctrines and the messenger to the conscience, the apologist and the evangelist, the man of thought and the man of action, the Son of Thunder and the Son of Consolation; it is well that in a world-wide work this duality of power should be brought into play. The witnesses prophesy: the word prophesy must surely be allowed a much wider meaning than merely to predict or foretell future events. The compass of their work, as described afterwards, embraces much more than this (see Revelation 11:5-7): they work wonders, showing tokens that remind us of the days of Moses and Aaron; their words are mighty; their life is a testimony. . . .

Verse 3. - And I will give power unto my two witnesses. Omit "power." What is given follows, viz. "they shall prophesy," etc. The voice, speaking in the name of Christ, says, "My: The two witnesses of me;" τοῖς, "the," as though they were well known. There is much diversity of interpretation in regard to "the two witnesses." It seems reasonable to understand the two witnesses as representative of the elect Church of God (embracing both Jewish and Christian) and of the witness which she bears concerning God, especially in the Old and New Testaments. The following considerations seem to support this interpretation:

(1) The vision is evidently founded on that in Zechariah 4, where it is emblematical of the restored temple, which only in the preceding verse (Revelation 11:2) is a type of the elect of God's Church (vide supra).

(2) The Apocalypse continually represents the Church of God, after the pattern of the life of Christ, in three aspects - that of conflict and degradation; that of preservation; that of triumph (see Professor Milligan's Baird Lectures, 'The Revelation of St. John,' lect. 2 and 5.). This is a summary of the vision here.

(3) Much of the Apocalypse follows our Lord's description in Matthew 24. In that chapter (vers. 13, 14) we have, "He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Again, a brief description of this vision. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

I will empower
δώσω (dōsō)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

my
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

two
δυσὶν (dysin)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1417: Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.

witnesses,
μάρτυσίν (martysin)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3144: A witness (judicially) or figuratively (genitive case); by analogy, a 'martyr'.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

they will prophesy
προφητεύσουσιν (prophēteusousin)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4395: From prophetes; to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office.

for 1,260
χιλίας (chilias)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 5507: A thousand. Plural of uncertain affinity; a thousand.

days,
ἡμέρας (hēmeras)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2250: A day, the period from sunrise to sunset.

clothed in
περιβεβλημένοι (peribeblēmenoi)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4016: From peri and ballo; to throw all around, i.e. Invest.

sackcloth.”
σάκκους (sakkous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4526: Sack-cloth, a sign of mourning. Of Hebrew origin; 'sack'-cloth, i.e. Mohair.


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NT Prophecy: Revelation 11:3 I will give power to my two (Rev. Re Apocalypse)
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