King of Swords
Learn the King of Swords tarot card meaning. Discover upright and reversed interpretations for this swords card in love, career, and personal growth readings.
The Card Imagery
A king sits on a throne decorated with butterflies and angels, holding a sword in his right hand. His expression is stern but fair.
King of Swords Upright Meaning
The King of Swords represents authority, truth, and intellectual strength. He governs with clear thinking, fairness, and unwavering principles.
Upright Keywords:
Now read it for someone
Greta asks
“Just a general reading, please — it's my birthday.”
The King of Swords came up. What do you tell Greta?
King of Swords Reversed Meaning
Reversed indicates abuse of power, manipulation, tyranny, or cold detachment.
Reversed Keywords:
Example Reading
Question:
“How should I approach this important decision?”
Interpretation:
The King of Swords says use logic and ethics. Remove emotion from the equation, gather the facts, and decide based on principles, not feelings.
Related Content
Related Cards:
Try These Spreads:
Knowing King of Swords isn't the same as reading it
The fastest way to make this card stick is to use it in a real reading. Our free tarot exercises put King of Swords — and every other card — in front of you with a real seeker and a real question, then give you feedback on your interpretation.
Read the King of Swords for Greta →Learn King of Swords properly
Take the interactive King of Swords lesson: learn it upright and reversed, then read it for a real seeker and get instant feedback.
Start the King of Swords lesson →