Devine Scripture

Revelation 15:6

What does Revelation 15:6 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 15:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 15:6 means

From the opened temple come the seven angels, clothed in dazzling purity, like garments set with precious stone, and girded with golden sashes. Their attire reflects holiness, dignity, and readiness, reminiscent of priestly service and royal authority. They are not independent actors; they proceed from God’s sanctuary, showing that their mission bears divine commission. The emphasis on purity counters any thought that these plagues are unjust or tainted. These messengers, radiant and disciplined, embody the gravity of the task: to administer judgments that are consistent with the character of the God who sends them.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and there came out from the temple the seven angels that had the seven plagues, arrayed withprecious stone, pure and bright, and girt about their breasts with golden girdles.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and there came out from the temple the seven angels that had the seven plagues, arrayed withprecious stone, pure and bright, and girt about their breasts with golden girdles.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the seven angels who had the seven punishments came out from the house of God, clothed with linen, clean and bright and with bands of gold about their breasts.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and come forth did the seven messengers having the seven plagues, out of the sanctuary, clothed in linen, pure and shining, and girded round the breasts with golden girdles:

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed with clean and white linen and girt about the breasts with golden girdles.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in pure bright linen, and girded about the breasts with golden girdles.

Context

With the temple opened (verse 5), verse 6 presents the agents who will execute the decreed judgments. Their description slows the narrative to stress the sacred nature of their work. Next, in verse 7, they will receive the instruments of judgment—the golden bowls full of God’s wrath—from one of the four living creatures. The careful buildup magnifies the solemnity of the moment before the chapter closes with the unmistakable sign of God’s manifest presence halting all entry (verse 8).

v.5And after these things I saw, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

v.6This passage

v.7And one of the four living creatures gave unto the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 15:1

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

  • Revelation 14:15

    And another angel came out from the temple, crying with a great voice to him that sat on the cloud, Send forth thy sickle, and reap: for the hour to reap is come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

  • Revelation 1:13

    and in the midst of the candlesticks one like unto a son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about at the breasts with a golden girdle.

  • Luke 24:4

    And it came to pass, while they were perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel:

  • Ezekiel 44:17

    And it shall be that, when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, while they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.

  • Exodus 28:5

    And they shall take the gold, and the blue, and the purple, and the scarlet, and the fine linen.

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