Devine Scripture

Revelation 16:10

What does Revelation 16:10 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 16:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 16:10 means

The fifth bowl targets the center of the beast’s authority—his throne—and plunges his kingdom into darkness. The effect is both political and existential: the regime is crippled, and its subjects “gnaw their tongues” from pain, a vivid expression of anguish and confusion. Darkness, a classic sign of judgment, exposes the false light of the beast’s dominion. The power that seemed unassailable is shown to be brittle under God’s hand. This plague echoes the darkness over Egypt, but now it falls on the empire that exalted itself against God and demanded worship. The stronghold of opposition is itself engulfed in misery and gloom.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the fifth poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom was darkened; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the fifth poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom was darkened; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the fifth let what was in his vessel come out on the high seat of the beast; and his kingdom was made dark; and they were biting their tongues for pain.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And the fifth messenger did pour out his vial upon the throne of the beast, and his kingdom did become darkened, and they were gnawing their tongues from the pain,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast. And his kingdom became dark: and they gnawed their tongues for pain.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast; and its kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues with distress,

Context

This bowl shifts the focus from general plagues to a direct strike against the beast’s realm. The previous bowl scorched; this one darkens—an intentional pair that emphasizes God’s control over both light and darkness. The following verse will record the familiar response: blasphemy without repentance. That reaction helps explain why the next, sixth bowl does not immediately punish but prepares the scene for the final gathering of the world’s powers against God.

v.9And men were scorched with great heat: and they blasphemed the name of God who hath the power over these plagues; and they repented not to give him glory.

v.10This passage

v.11and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they repented not of their works.

Cross references

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

  • Revelation 18:21

    And a strong angel took up a stone as it were a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at all.

  • Matthew 22:13

    Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

  • Matthew 8:12

    but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast forth into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

  • Revelation 9:2

    And he opened the pit of the abyss; and there went up a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

  • Exodus 10:21

    And Jehovah said unto Moses, Stretch out thy hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.

  • Matthew 13:42

    and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

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