Revelation 16:7
What does Revelation 16:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 16:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 16:7 means
The altar itself responds, “Yea,” affirming that the Lord God, the Almighty, is true and righteous in all His judgments. Earlier in Revelation, the altar is associated with the prayers and cries of martyrs. Here, that place of sacrifice and supplication concurs with heaven’s verdict: God’s ways are faithful and just. The witness of the altar adds solemn weight; those who suffered for their testimony are not forgotten, and the God they trusted proves upright. This brief acclamation seals the interpretive interlude, leaving no doubt that what follows is the outworking of divine truth, not blind calamity.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And I heard the altar saying, Yea, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And I heard the altar saying, Yea, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And a voice came from the altar, saying, Even so, O Lord God, Ruler of all, true and full of righteousness is your judging.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and I heard another out of the altar, saying, `Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous <FI>are<Fi> Thy judgments.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And I heard another, from the altar, saying: Yea, O Lord God Almighty, true and just are thy judgments.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And I heard the altar saying, Yea, LordGod Almighty, true and righteous [are] thy judgments.
Context
With two confirming voices—one angelic and one from the altar—the reader is anchored in a firm theology of judgment before the next wave of plagues arrives. The scene now turns from the waters below to the light above. Verses 8–9 describe the fourth bowl on the sun and the human response of blasphemy and impenitence. The pattern of reaction established there will reappear after the fifth bowl and at the chapter’s end, highlighting hardened hearts.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 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.
- Isaiah 6:6
Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
- Revelation 14:10
he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
- Revelation 6:9
And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
- Revelation 8:3
And another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should add it unto the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
- Ezekiel 10:2
And he spake unto the man clothed in linen, and said, Go in between the whirling wheels, even under the cherub, and fill both thy hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.
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