Devine Scripture

Revelation 16:4

What does Revelation 16:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 16:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 16:4 means

The third bowl turns the rivers and springs into blood. Not only the sea but the sources of daily life are affected. Water that should refresh becomes a sign and instrument of judgment. God shows Himself Lord over what people presume to control—wells, fountains, and rivers that sustain cities and fields. The plague recalls the Nile turned to blood, but here the scope is broader. This comprehensive corruption of water vividly conveys that sin poisons the very streams that support life. It is a severe mercy, exposing the true cost of rebellion by touching what people value most: the ordinary provisions on which they rely.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; and it became blood.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; and it became blood.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the third let what was in his vessel come out into the rivers and the fountains of water; and they became blood.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And the third messenger did pour out his vial to the rivers, and to the fountains of the waters, and there came blood,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the third poured out his vial upon the rivers and the fountains of waters. And there was made blood.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the third poured out his bowl on the rivers, and [on] the fountains of waters; and they became blood.

Context

The first three bowls form a triad: sores on the beast’s worshipers, the sea made blood, then freshwater sources turned to blood. With the third bowl, heaven itself pauses to interpret what these judgments mean. Verses 5–7 will introduce the “angel of the waters” and the voice of the altar, affirming that the Lord’s holiness and justice stand behind these acts. That interpretive interlude teaches readers how to understand the plagues before the narrative proceeds to the fourth bowl.

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.

v.4This passage

v.5And I heard the angel of the waters saying, Righteous art thou, who art and who wast, thou Holy One, because thou didst thus judge:

Cross references

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

  • Exodus 8:5

    And Jehovah said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thy hand with thy rod over the rivers, over the streams, and over the pools, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.

  • Revelation 14:7

    and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.

  • Revelation 8:10

    And the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the waters;

  • Revelation 16:5

    And I heard the angel of the waters saying, Righteous art thou, who art and who wast, thou Holy One, because thou didst thus judge:

  • Isaiah 50:2

    Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stink, because there is no water, and die for thirst.

  • 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.

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