Text -- Revelation 16:1-6 (NET)

The Bowls of God’s Wrath

16:1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple declaring to the seven angels: “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.” 16:2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth. Then ugly and painful sores appeared on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image. 16:3 Next, the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea and it turned into blood, like that of a corpse, and every living creature that was in the sea died. 16:4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and the springs of water, and they turned into blood. 16:5 Now I heard the angel of the waters saying: “You are just– the one who is and who was, the Holy One– because you have passed these judgments, 16:6 because they poured out the blood of your saints and prophets, so you have given them blood to drink. They got what they deserved!”

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Rev 16:1

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.

² tn Or “anger.” Here τοῦ θυμοῦ (tou qumou) has been translated as a genitive of content.

NET Notes: Rev 16:2

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the directions given by the voice from the temple.

² tn Grk “the first”; the referent (the first angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

⁴ tn Or “ulcerated sores”; the term in the Greek text is singular but is probably best understood as a collective singular.

⁵ tn Grk ‘the men,” but this is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") and refers to both men and women.

NET Notes: Rev 16:3

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “next” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

² tn Grk “the second”; the referent (the second angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

NET Notes: Rev 16:4

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

² tn Grk “the third”; the referent (the third angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

NET Notes: Rev 16:5

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the somewhat parenthetical nature of the remarks that follow.

² tn Or “righteous,” although the context favors justice as the theme.

³ tn Or “because you have judged these things.” The pronoun ταῦτα (tauta) is neuter gender.

NET Notes: Rev 16:6

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate that this judgment is the result of what these wicked people did to the saints and prophets.

² tn Grk “They are worthy”; i.e., of this kind of punishment. By extension, “they got what they deserve.”