Devine Scripture

Revelation 6:16

What does Revelation 6:16 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 6:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 6:16 means

In panic, people beg mountains and rocks to fall on them, to hide them from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. They recognize the true source of the calamities: God and His Messiah. The phrase "wrath of the Lamb" is striking—the One who was slain to save is also Judge to punish. Their request reveals tragedy: rather than repent, they seek annihilation or concealment. Yet the attempt is futile; created things cannot shield from the Creator. A day will come when evasion ends, and every heart must face the One it has ignored or opposed.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Come down on us, covering us from the face of him who is seated on the high seat, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, `Fall upon us, and hide us from the face of Him who is sitting upon the throne, and from the anger of the Lamb,'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And they say to the mountains and the rocks: Fall upon us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth upon the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and have us hidden from [the] face of him that sits upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;

Context

This verse provides the theological interpretation of the sixth seal’s signs: they are the outworking of divine wrath. It continues the response begun in verse 15 and leads to the final acknowledgment in verse 17 that the great day has come. Recognizing the Lamb here points back to the Lamb of chapter 5, tying salvation and judgment together in the same Person.

v.15And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains;

v.16This passage

v.17for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand?

Cross references

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

  • Psalms 2:9

    Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

  • Psalms 14:5

    There were they in great fear; For God is in the generation of the righteous.

  • Revelation 19:15

    And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.

  • Zechariah 1:14

    So the angel that talked with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.

  • Revelation 6:10

    and they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Master, the holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

  • Revelation 4:2

    Straightway I was in the Spirit: and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting upon the throne;

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