And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”
We have here an account of the rise, figure, and progress of the first beast; and observe, 1. From what situation the apostle saw this monster. He seemed to himself to stand upon the sea-shore, though it is probable he was still in a rapture; but he took himself to be in the island Patmos, but whether in the body or out of the body he could not tell. 2.
Commenting on Revelation 13:1-10
And they worshipped the dragon,.... The devil, in the idols, images, angels, and saints departed, to whom they give adoration, as did the Gentiles, whose successors they are, and whose name they bear; see Co1 10:20; which gave power unto the beast, as in Rev 13:2; and they worshipped the beast; not only in a civil way, being subject to him as their temporal lord...
Verse 4. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast. ; . That is, they in fact worshipped him. The word worship--τροσκυνεω--is not always, however, used in a religious sense. It means, properly, to kiss; to kiss towards any one; that is, to kiss his own hand and to extend it towards a person, in token of respect and homage.-- Rob. Lex. Compare .