Devine Scripture

Revelation 16:5

What does Revelation 16:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 16:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 16:5 means

The “angel of the waters” declares God to be righteous and holy in these judgments. The title “who art and who wast” underscores His eternal, unchanging being; His holiness explains why He judges as He does. Heaven does not blush at God’s wrath, because it is the necessary expression of His holiness against entrenched evil. The praise comes precisely “because thou didst thus judge,” affirming that the form and timing of the plagues fit God’s character. When creation’s waters are struck, the angel responsible for those realms testifies that their Maker has done right. Adoration, not apology, is the fitting response to the justice of the Lord.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the voice of the angel of the waters came to my ears, saying, True and upright is your judging, O Holy One, who is and was from all time:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and I heard the messenger of the waters, saying, `righteous, O Lord, art Thou, who art, and who wast, and who shalt be, because these things Thou didst judge,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And I heard the angel of the waters saying: Thou art just, O Lord, who art and who wast, the Holy One, because thou hast judged these things.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And I heard the angel of the waters saying, Thou art righteous, who art and wast, the holy one, that thou hast judged so;

Context

This doxology sits between the act of turning waters to blood and the specific rationale given in verse 6. It assures the reader that these scenes are not chaotic disasters but moral judgments. The voice from heaven interprets the plagues as righteous, preparing us to see in verse 6 a measure-for-measure justice for the blood shed by persecutors. Then verse 7 adds a second confirming voice, before the narrative resumes with the next bowl poured upon the sun.

v.4And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; and it became blood.

v.5This passage

v.6for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and blood hast thou given them to drink: they are worthy.

Cross references

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

  • Revelation 11:17

    saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast; because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign.

  • Romans 2:5

    but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

  • Psalms 145:17

    Jehovah is righteous in all his ways, And gracious in all his works.

  • Genesis 18:25

    That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

  • Revelation 1:8

    I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

  • Revelation 19:2

    for true and righteous are his judgments; for he hath judged the great harlot, her that corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

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