REV 15:1-4

The Song of Moses and the Lamb

1And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

2And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and his image and the number of his name standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.

3And they sing the song of Moses the slave of God and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations.

4Who will not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy; for all the nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."

In the world it was spoken into

In the first-century Mediterranean world, the imagery of Revelation 15:1-4 would have resonated deeply with Jewish and early Christian audiences familiar with apocalyptic literature and the Exodus narrative. The 'sea of glass mingled with fire' evokes the Red Sea crossing, a symbol of divine deliverance and judgment. The 'seven angels with seven plagues' recalls the Exodus plagues, signaling God’s final, decisive intervention against evil. The 'song of Moses' (Exodus 15) was a well-known hymn celebrating God’s victory over Pharaoh, now reinterpreted as the 'song of the Lamb,' linking Jesus’ sacrificial death to this ultimate triumph. The term (wrath) conveys God’s righteous indignation against systemic injustice, a theme familiar to oppressed communities under Roman rule. The (conquering) ones are those who resist idolatry and persecution, embodying loyalty to God in a world dominated by imperial cults. The (slave) designation underscores total allegiance to God, contrasting with Roman claims of lordship. (Almighty) asserts God’s supreme authority over all earthly powers.

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How other translations render this

REV 15:1

KJV: And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
BSB: Then I saw another great and marvelous sign in heaven: seven angels with the seven final plagues, with which the wrath of God is completed.
Koinōnos: And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

REV 15:2

KJV: And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
BSB: And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, beside which stood those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name. They were holding harps from God,
Koinōnos: And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and his image and the number of his name standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.

REV 15:3

KJV: And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
BSB: and they sang the song of Godʼs servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!
Koinōnos: And they sing the song of Moses the slave of God and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations.

REV 15:4

KJV: Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
BSB: Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Koinōnos: Who will not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy; for all the nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

REV 15:1

wrath:The word translated 'wrath' here refers to a passionate, intense outburst of anger, often implying a sudden and violent emotional response rather than a settled disposition.

REV 15:2

conquering:The term translated 'conquering' implies a decisive victory, often in a struggle or contest, where one overcomes an opponent or obstacle.

REV 15:3

servant:The word translated 'servant' in this context specifically refers to a slave, someone who is entirely owned and subject to the will of another, not merely an employee or free person who serves.