Revelation 16:1-7

Context

The Bowls of God’s Wrath

16:1 Then¹ 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.”² 16:2 So³ the first angel⁴ went and poured out his bowl on the earth. Then⁵ ugly and painful sores⁶ appeared on the people⁷ who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.

16:3 Next,⁸ the second angel⁹ 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 Then¹⁰ the third angel¹¹ poured out his bowl on the rivers and the springs of water, and they turned into blood. 16:5 Now¹² I heard the angel of the waters saying:

“You are just¹³ – the one who is and who was,

the Holy One – because you have passed these judgments,¹⁴

16:6 because they poured out the blood of your saints and prophets,

so¹⁵ you have given them blood to drink. They got what they deserved!”¹⁶

16:7 Then¹⁷ I heard the altar reply,¹⁸ “Yes, Lord God, the All-Powerful,¹⁹ your judgments are true and just!”

[16:1] ¹tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.

[16:1] ²tn Or “anger.” Here τοῦ θυμοῦ (tou qumou) has been translated as a genitive of content.

[16:2] ³tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the directions given by the voice from the temple.

[16:2] ⁴tn Grk “the first”; the referent (the first angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[16:2] ⁵tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

[16:2] ⁶tn Or “ulcerated sores”; the term in the Greek text is singular but is probably best understood as a collective singular.

[16:2] ⁷tn Grk ‘the men,” but this is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") and refers to both men and women.

[16:3] ⁵tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “next” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

[16:3] ⁶tn Grk “the second”; the referent (the second angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[16:4] ⁷tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

[16:4] ⁸tn Grk “the third”; the referent (the third angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[16:5] ⁹tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the somewhat parenthetical nature of the remarks that follow.

[16:5] ¹⁰tn Or “righteous,” although the context favors justice as the theme.

[16:5] ¹¹tn Or “because you have judged these things.” The pronoun ταῦτα (tauta) is neuter gender.

[16:6] ¹¹tn 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.

[16:6] ¹²tn Grk “They are worthy”; i.e., of this kind of punishment. By extension, “they got what they deserve.”

[16:7] ¹³tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

[16:7] ¹⁴tn Grk “the altar saying.”

[16:7] ¹⁵tn On this word BDAG 755 s.v. παντοκράτωρ states, “the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One) only of God…(ὁ) κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ π. …Rv 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7; 21:22.”