Devine Scripture

Revelation 9:13

What does Revelation 9:13 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 9:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 9:13 means

When the sixth angel sounds, John hears a voice from the horns of the golden altar before God. Earlier, that altar was connected to the saints’ prayers and to judgments proceeding from God’s presence. The voice at the altar’s horns—symbols of strength—signals that what follows is not accident but decree. Judgment rises in response to heaven’s justice. The location before God highlights that this is holy action, however dreadful. The scene reassures the faithful that the unfolding terrors are governed from the throne room and are not the triumph of evil but the outworking of divine purposes in history.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And at the sounding of the sixth angel a voice came to my ears from the horns of the gold altar which is before God,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And the sixth messenger did sound, and I heard a voice out of the four horns of the altar of gold that is before God,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the sixth angel sounded the trumpet: and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before the eyes of God,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the sixth angel sounded [his] trumpet: and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which [is] beforeGod,

Context

This initiates the sixth trumpet after the brief transition of verse 12. The voice will issue a command in verse 14 that unleashes the next agents of judgment. The altar connection links these events to earlier scenes in Revelation, anchoring them in God’s presence and the cries of His people. The subsequent verses (14–19) will describe the release of bound angels and a massive cavalry that brings death to a third of humanity.

v.12The first Woe is past: behold, there come yet two Woes hereafter.

v.13This passage

v.14one saying to the sixth angel that had the trumpet, Loose the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates.

Cross references

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

  • 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.

  • Exodus 30:2

    A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be; and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of one piece with it.

  • Hebrews 9:24

    For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:

  • Hebrews 10:21

    and having a great priest over the house of God;

  • Revelation 9:1

    And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth: and there was given to him the key of the pit of the abyss.

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