17The seventh poured out his bowl into the air. A loud voice came out of the sanctuary from the throne, saying: "It is done!" [16:18] Flashes of lightning, voices, and thunders followed, and a great earthquake occurred — such as had not occurred since humanity came to be on the earth, so great and so mighty was that earthquake. [16:19] The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of his furious wrath. [16:20] Every island fled, and no mountains were found. [16:21] Enormous hailstones — each weighing about a talent — fell from heaven on people. And people blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, for the plague was extremely severe.
REV 16:17-21
The Seventh Bowl of Wrath
In the world it was spoken into
In the first-century Mediterranean world, natural disasters like earthquakes were often interpreted as divine judgments or cosmic disturbances. The imagery of the seventh bowl, poured into the air, evokes the ancient belief that the air was a realm of spiritual forces and divine activity. The (bowl) used here recalls temple rituals where libations were poured out as offerings or acts of judgment. The (earthquake) described is not merely geological but signifies a cosmic upheaval, echoing prophetic traditions where such events marked God’s intervention. The splitting of the great city into three parts mirrors the fragmentation of empires, a familiar theme in apocalyptic literature. The mention of Babylon, a symbol of oppressive power, aligns with Jewish and early Christian critiques of Rome. The (hailstones) weighing a talent (about 60 pounds) would have been unimaginably destructive, underscoring the severity of divine wrath. This passage would have resonated with audiences familiar with Jewish apocalyptic expectations and Roman imperial realities.
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How other translations render this
REV 16:17
- KJV
- And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
- BSB
- Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came from the throne in the temple, saying, “It is done!”
- Koinōnos
- The seventh poured out his bowl into the air. A loud voice came out of the sanctuary from the throne, saying: "It is done!
REV 16:18
- KJV
- And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
- BSB
- And there were flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder, and a great earthquake the likes of which had not occurred since men were upon the earth—so mighty was the great quake.
- Koinōnos
- Flashes of lightning, voices, and thunders followed, and a great earthquake occurred — such as had not occurred since humanity came to be on the earth, so great and so mighty was that earthquake.
REV 16:19
- KJV
- And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
- BSB
- The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. And God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath.
- Koinōnos
- The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of his furious wrath.
REV 16:20
- KJV
- And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
- BSB
- Then every island fled, and no mountain could be found.
- Koinōnos
- Every island fled, and no mountains were found.
REV 16:21
- KJV
- And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
- BSB
- And great hailstones weighing almost a hundred pounds each rained down on them from above. And men cursed God for the plague of hail, because it was so horrendous.
- Koinōnos
- Enormous hailstones — each weighing about a talent — fell from heaven on people. And people blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, for the plague was extremely severe.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, WarsWars 1.19.4
›Josephus, Wars Wars 1.19.4
“It is true, you might justly be dismayed at that providential chastisement which hath befallen you; but to suffer yourselves to be equally terrified at the invasion of men is unmanly.”
Cited to ground: natural disasters like earthquakes were often interpreted as divine judgments or cosmic disturbances
Translator's notes
REV 16:17
- the:The word translated 'bowl' here refers to a broad, shallow dish, often used for pouring out liquids, rather than a deep, rounded bowl.
REV 16:18
- an earthquake:The term used here for 'an earthquake' emphasizes a violent shaking or shock, not just a minor tremor, often with destructive implications.
REV 16:19
- fury:The word translated 'fury' describes a passionate, intense outburst of emotion, often associated with anger, but can also refer to strong desire or spirit.
REV 16:21
- a talent weight:The phrase 'a talent weight' indicates an extremely heavy measure, equivalent to about 75 pounds, highlighting the immense size and impact of the hailstones.