Devine Scripture

Revelation 16:9

What does Revelation 16:9 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 16:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 16:9 means

Instead of humbling themselves, those scorched by the great heat blaspheme the name of God, who clearly holds power over the plagues, and they refuse to repent and give Him glory. Judgment exposes, but it does not convert a heart set against God. A right response would be repentance that honors God; the wrong response is cursing His name. The verse highlights human responsibility: they know enough to blaspheme, yet they will not turn. This is not a failure of revelation but a willful resistance. The scene underscores the deep tragedy of sin, which prefers defiance even when suffering under undeniable evidence of divine sovereignty.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And 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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And 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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And men were burned with great heat: and they said evil things against the name of the God who has authority over these punishments; and they were not turned from their evil ways to give him glory.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and men were scorched with great heat, and they did speak evil of the name of God, who hath authority over these plagues, and they did not reform--to give to Him glory.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And men were scorched with great heat: and they blasphemed the name of God, who hath power over these plagues. Neither did they penance to give him glory.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the men were burnt with great heat, and blasphemed the name ofGod, who had authority over these plagues, and did not repent to give him glory.

Context

This summary of human reaction follows directly on the fourth bowl and prepares the reader for a similar refrain after the fifth and seventh bowls. The narrative will next direct the fifth bowl specifically against the throne of the beast, darkening his realm. By pairing judgments with the repeated note of impenitence, the chapter explains why the wrath continues: these are not wake-up calls any longer but the just response to hardened rebellion.

v.8And the fourth poured out his bowl upon the sun; and it was given unto it to scorch men with fire.

v.9This passage

v.10And the fifth poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom was darkened; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

Cross references

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

  • Revelation 16:10

    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,

  • Revelation 2:21

    And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication.

  • Daniel 5:22

    And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thy heart, though thou knewest all this,

  • 2 Chronicles 28:22

    And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against Jehovah, this same king Ahaz.

  • Ezekiel 24:13

    In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have cleansed thee and thou wast not cleansed, thou shalt not be cleansed from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my wrath toward thee to rest.

  • Revelation 9:20

    And the rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk:

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