Devine Scripture

Revelation 16:2

What does Revelation 16:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 16:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 16:2 means

The first angel obeys, and a painful, foul sore strikes those identified with the beast—those who bear his mark and worship his image. The affliction is targeted; God distinguishes between those who have aligned themselves with the beast and those who have not. As in the plagues on Egypt, bodily torment exposes the emptiness of idolatry. The mark promised protection and prosperity, yet it cannot shield from divine judgment. These sores reveal the moral rot beneath a system that demanded worship. God’s judgment is personal enough to be felt in flesh and blood, reminding us that rebellion is not merely abstract; it bears bitter fruit in the lives of the unrepentant.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth; and it became a noisome and grievous sore upon the men that had the mark of the beast, and that worshipped his image.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth; and it became a noisome and grievous sore upon the men that had the mark of the beast, and that worshipped his image.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the first went, and let what was in his vessel come down on the earth; and it became an evil poisoning wound on the men who had the mark of the beast, and who gave worship to his image.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the first did go away, and did pour out his vial upon the land, and there came a sore--bad and grievous--to men, those having the mark of the beast, and those bowing to his image.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the first went and poured out his vial upon the earth. And there fell a sore and grievous wound upon men who had the character of the beast: and upon them that adored the image thereof.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the first went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and there came an evil and grievous sore upon the men that had the mark of the beast, and those who worshipped its image.

Context

This is the first in a cascade of bowls. Having received the command in verse 1, the angel acts immediately. The focus is on judgment restricted to the beast’s loyalists, underscoring God’s discernment. The next bowls widen in scope—from human bodies to the wider environment. Verse 3 will move from land to sea, demonstrating that creation itself is pressed into the service of God’s justice, and that the entire order which supported the beast begins to collapse.

v.1And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth.

v.2This passage

v.3And the second poured out his bowl into the sea; and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living soul died, even the things that were in the sea.

Cross references

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

  • Isaiah 3:17

    therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and Jehovah will lay bare their secret parts.

  • Revelation 8:7

    And the first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

  • Revelation 16:11

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

  • Luke 16:20

    and a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores,

  • 2 Chronicles 21:15

    and thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by day.

  • Deuteronomy 7:15

    And Jehovah will take away from thee all sickness; and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, will he put upon thee, but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.

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