Revelation 11:6
What does Revelation 11:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 11:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 11:6 means
The witnesses wield authority reminiscent of Elijah and Moses: they can shut the sky to withhold rain, turn waters into blood, and strike the earth with plagues as often as needed. These are covenantal judgments—acts that confront idolatry and injustice and press for repentance. The phrase “as often as they desire” does not suggest caprice; it means their desires are aligned with their commission. Their ministry alternates between proclamation and penal signs, showing that God’s patience includes warnings and consequences. The world that rejects their call will experience tangible reminders of divine reality. Thus their witness is comprehensive: word and work, mercy and severity, each reinforcing the other under God’s rule.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000These have the power to shut the heaven, that it rain not during the days of their prophecy: and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they shall desire.
KJV
King James Version · 1611These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901These have the power to shut the heaven, that it rain not during the days of their prophecy: and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they shall desire.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949These have the power to keep the heaven shut, so that there may be no rain in the days when they are prophets: and they have power over the waters to make them into blood, and to send every sort of disease on the earth as their pleasure is.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862These have authority to shut the heaven, that it may not rain rain in the days of their prophecy, and authority they have over the waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the land with every plague, as often as they may will.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: And they have power over waters, to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890These have power to shut the heaven that no rain may fall during the days of their prophecy; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth as often as they will with every plague.
Context
This expands the list of protections and powers begun in the previous verse. Having shown that attempts to harm the witnesses backfire, John now portrays them as agents of drought, blood, and plagues. The narrative builds toward a paradox: though they exercise overwhelming power during their appointed days, they are not invincible on their own terms. Once their testimony is finished, the next verse reveals, God permits an adversary to strike them down. This shift from protected strength to martyrdom will frame the gospel paradox of apparent defeat preceding vindication.
v.5And if any man desireth to hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies; and if any man shall desire to hurt them, in this manner must he be killed.
v.6This passage
v.7And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that cometh up out of the abyss shall make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 4:25
But of a truth I say unto you, There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land;
- Psalms 105:26
He sent Moses his servant, AndAaron whom he had chosen.
- Ezekiel 7:1
Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
- James 5:16
Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.
- Exodus 7:17
Thus saith Jehovah, In this thou shalt know that I am Jehovah: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in my hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.
- 1 Samuel 4:8
Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? these are the gods that smote the Egyptians with all manner of plagues in the wilderness.
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