I heard the angel of the waters saying, “You are righteous, who are and who were, O Holy One, because you have judged these things. For they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this.” I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments.”
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Revelation 16:5-7 sits inside this longer paragraph.
The third poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. I heard the angel of the waters saying, “You are righteous, who are and who were, O Holy One, because you have judged these things. For they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this.” I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments.”
Parallel Translations
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I heard the angel of the waters saying, “You are righteous, who are and who were, O Holy One, because you have judged these things.
For they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this.”
I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments.”
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And I herde an angell saye: lorde which arte and wast thou arte ryghteous and holy because thou hast geve soche iudgmentes
for they shed out the bloude of sayntes and prophettes and therfore hast thou geven them bloud to drynke: for they are worthy.
And I herde another out of the aultre saye: even soo lorde god almyghty true and righteous are thy iudgementes.
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And I heard the Angel of the waters say, Lord, thou art iust, Which art, and Which wast: and Holy, because thou hast iudged these things.
For they shed the blood of the Saints, and Prophets, and therefore hast thou giuen them blood to drinke: for they are worthy.
And I heard another out of the Sanctuarie say, Euen so, Lord God almightie, true and righteous are thy iudgements.
Cross-references (49)
- Isaiah 49:26 (v6) I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh; and they will be drunk on their own blood, as with sweet wine. Then all flesh shall…
- Revelation 19:2 (vv5–7) for his judgments are true and righteous. For he has judged the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and…
- Revelation 1:8 (v5) “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
- Revelation 11:17 (v5) saying: “We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have taken your great power and reigned.
- Revelation 1:4 (v5) John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven…
Show all 45 cross-references
- Revelation 6:10-11 (v6) They cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the…
- Revelation 11:18 (v6) The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their…
- Psalms 145:17 (v5) Yahweh is righteous in all his ways, and gracious in all his works.
- Luke 11:49-50 (v6) Therefore also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles; and some of them they will kill and persecute, that the…
- Revelation 6:9 (v7) When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony…
- Revelation 15:3-4 (vv5, 7) They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the…
- Revelation 18:24 (v6) In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth.”
- Genesis 18:25 (v5) May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May…
- 2 Kings 24:4 (v6) and also for the innocent blood that he shed; for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and Yahweh would not pardon.
- Psalms 129:4 (v5) Yahweh is righteous. He has cut apart the cords of the wicked.
- Matthew 23:30-37 (v6) and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ Therefore…
- Romans 2:5 (v5) But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the…
- 2 Thessalonians 1:5-6 (v5) This is an obvious sign of the righteous judgment of God, to the end that you may be counted worthy of God’s Kingdom, for which you also…
- Revelation 4:8 (v5) The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. They have no rest day and night, saying,…
- Revelation 13:15 (v6) It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as…
- Revelation 17:6-7 (v6) I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great…
- Revelation 13:10 (vv6–7) If anyone is to go into captivity, he will go into captivity. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, he must be killed. Here is the…
- Isaiah 6:6 (v7) Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar.
- Lamentations 4:13 (v6) It is because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, That have shed the blood of the just in the middle of her.
- Daniel 9:14 (v5) Therefore Yahweh has watched over the evil, and brought it on us; for Yahweh our God is righteous in all his works which he does, and we…
- Matthew 21:35-41 (v6) The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they…
- Romans 3:5 (v5) But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.
- Revelation 8:3-5 (v7) Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of…
- Revelation 16:7 (v5) I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments.”
- Deuteronomy 32:42-43 (v6) I will make my arrows drunk with blood. My sword shall devour flesh with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the head of the…
- Isaiah 51:22-23 (v6) Your Lord Yahweh, your God who pleads the cause of his people, says, “Behold, I have taken out of your hand the cup of staggering, even the…
- Jeremiah 2:30 (v6) “I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
- Jeremiah 26:11 (v6) Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the princes and to all the people, saying, “This man is worthy of death; for he has prophesied…
- Jeremiah 26:16 (v6) Then the princes and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets: “This man is not worthy of death; for he has spoken to us in…
- Lamentations 1:18 (v5) “Yahweh is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment. Please hear all you peoples, and see my sorrow. My virgins and my young…
- Matthew 7:2 (v6) For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.
- Hebrews 10:29 (v6) How much worse punishment do you think he will be judged worthy of who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of…
- Revelation 14:18 (v7) Another angel came out from the altar, he who has power over fire, and he called with a great voice to him who had the sharp sickle,…
- Revelation 18:20 (v6) “Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets; for God has judged your judgment on her.”
- Ezekiel 10:2 (v7) He spoke to the man clothed in linen, and said, “Go in between the whirling wheels, even under the cherub, and fill both your hands with…
- Ezekiel 10:7 (v7) The cherub stretched out his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took some of it, and put it into…
- Luke 12:48 (v6) but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be…
- John 17:25 (v5) Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me.
- Revelation 14:10 (v7) he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and…
- Revelation 16:4 (v5) The third poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.
45 distinct cross-references across this passage (49 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (14 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v7 A confirmation of the praise before going, out of…
A confirmation of the praise before going, out of the sanctuary of God, whether immediately by Christ, or by some of his Angels, for Christ also is called another Angel, Rev. 3:8; 7:2; 12:1.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv5–7 5 And I heard the angel of the waters…
5 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.
Ver. 5. The angel of the waters] The same that poured forth his vial upon the waters, Rev 16:4.
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Thou art righteous] God’s judgments are sometimes secret, always just, and so to be acknowledged. We shall one day see the reason of all, and say as Jehu did, 2Ki 9:36.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv5–7 This and the two following verses do but express…
This and the two following verses do but express the honour and glory that shall be given unto God, when he shall have accomplished his great work in destroying those who feed, and uphold, and maintain the beast, partly by those instruments he shall use in that work, expressed here by
the angel of the waters, partly from others.
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Thou art righteous. O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus; acknowledging the Lord’s justice and righteousness in such destruction.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain On v5 These verses seem to be a key to let…
These verses seem to be a key to let us into the right understanding of the verses immediately foregoing; and clearly show, that as the idolatrous enemies of the church did shed the blood of saints and martyrs, so should theirs be shed: which is called their having blood to drink.
Here note, 1. The approbation which the angel gives of the equity and righteousness of God’s judgments upon these bloody persecutors. Righteous art thou, O Lord, for thou hast given them blood to drink. Where the retribution which God makes of blood for blood, shows the righteousness of God in his judgments inflicted; and also declares that Almighty God doth sometimes so suit his judgments to the sin committed, that persons may read their sin in their punishment. As these persecutors thirsted after blood, so here they get blood to drink.
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Note, 2. How the angel in the fifth verse, and the other in the seventh verse, do both rejoice in the execution of God’s judgments, and in the terrible revenge of the blood of saints. For thus they sing, Righteous art thou, O Lord, and just are thy judgments.
William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv5–7 For they have shed the blood of saints and…
For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,.... Which shows that rivers and fountains cannot be literally understood, but men are designed, wicked and bloody men; and it is notorious to all, how much of the blood of the saints, of the preachers of the Gospel, of the prophets and witnesses, have been shed in Italy, Savoy, and other places near Rome, as well as in Rome itself; see Rev 17:6.
And thou hast given them blood to drink; sent the sword among them, making great slaughter and devastation; see Isa 49:26
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for they are worthy; or deserving, to have their blood shed by the law of retaliation.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv5–7 The Gracious one - So he is styled when…
The Gracious one - So he is styled when his judgments are abroad, and that with a peculiar propriety. In the beginning of the book he is termed "The Almighty." In the time of his patience, he is praised for his power, which otherwise might then be less regarded. In the time of his taking vengeance, for his mercy. Of his power there could then be no doubt.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv5–6 Verse 5. The angel of the waters] The rabbins…
Verse 5. The angel of the waters] The rabbins attribute angels, not only to the four elements so called, but to almost every thing besides. We have already seen the angel of the bottomless pit, Re 9:11, and the angel of the fire, Re 14:18. The angel of the earth is spoken of in Yalcut Rubeni, fol. 13, 2, and is called Admael. They have also an angel that presides over the grass; another that presides over the cattle which feed upon the grass.
They say that God employed the angel of the sea to swallow up the waters at the creation, that the dry land might appear. He disobeyed, and God slew him; the name of the angel of the sea is Rahab. See Baba bathra, fol. 74, 2. It is plain from several places that the writer of the Apocalypse keeps these notions distinctly in view.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv5–7 And I heard the angel of the waters say…
And I heard the angel of the waters say - The angel who presides over the element of water; in allusion to the common opinion among the Hebrews that the angels presided over elements, and that each element was committed to the jurisdiction of a particular angel. Compare the notes on Rev 7:1.
Thou art righteous, O Lord - In view of the judgments that reddened these streams and fountains with the blood of people, the angel ascribes righteousness to God. These judgments seemed terrible - the numbers slain were so vast - the bloody stream indicated so great slaughter, and such severity of the divine judgment; yet the angel sees in all this only the act of a righteous God bringing just retribution on the guilty.
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Which art, and wast, and shalt be - That is, who art eternal - existing now; who hast existed in all past time; and who will exist ever onward. See the notes on Rev 1:8. The reason why this attribute of God is here referred to, seems to be that the mind of the angel adverts to it in the changes and desolations that were occurring around him. In such overturnings among people - such revolutions of kingdoms - such desolations of war - the mind naturally turns to one who is unchanging; to one whose throne is from everlasting to everlasting.
Because thou hast judged thus - Hast suffered these wars to occur that have changed rivers and fountains to blood.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv5–7 angel of the waters--that is, presiding over the waters.
angel of the waters--that is, presiding over the waters.
O Lord--omitted by A, B, C, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, and ANDREAS.
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and shalt be--A, B, C, Vulgate, and ANDREAS for this clause read, "(which art and wast) holy." The Lord is now no longer He that shall come, for He is come in vengeance and therefore the third of the three clauses found in Rev 1:4, Rev 1:8; Rev 4:8 is here and in Rev 11:17 omitted.
judged thus--literally, "these things." "Thou didst inflict this judgment."
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv5–7 5. The angel of the waters—Note on Rev_14:18. The…
5. The angel of the waters—Note on Rev_14:18. The water-angel might have complained at this sanguinary invasion of his domain, but he humbly acknowledges the divine justice. Note Rev_18:6. Not for his own sin, nor for the guilt of the waters, is this terrible transformation; but for the guilt of man, the idolatry of Babylon.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv5–7 5. the angel of the waters] Here at least…
5. the angel of the waters] Here at least there is no question (see on Rev_7:1, Rev_14:18) that we have an elemental Angel; see Exc. I.
O Lord] Should be omitted.
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which art, and wast, and shalt be] Read, which art and wast, the Holy One: the word for “holy” being the same as in Rev_15:4. As the phrase for “which art and wast” is ungrammatical (see on Rev_1:4), it is perhaps better to render “which is and which was.” For the omission of “which is to come,” cf. Rev_11:17. Its virtual insertion here in the A. V. seems to be an oversight in translation, not a mistaken reading.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv5–7 (5) And I heard the angel of the waters…
(5) And I heard the angel of the waters . . .—That is, the angel who was set over the waters, or the angel who is, on the heavenly side, representative of the waters. (See Excursus A: On the Angels.) The angel acknowledges God’s righteousness. Thou art righteous . . . because Thou didst judge these things—i.e., because of the righteous law which these judgments manifested.
(5-7) But this state of things is declared to be a just retribution, and reasonably so; for the corruption arises because the true power of life has been rejected: it is the refusal of the good, the want of the life-giving element, which is the secret of all death, physical, moral, spiritual. “’Tis life we want when breath is scant.” The world-power and its worshippers have driven away goodness and faith, the elements of the higher life of man; they have slain the just and the righteous, who were the salt of the earth; they have rejected Christ, who is the life of men; how can they reap anything but decay and death? They slay the righteous; the death of righteousness leaves them nothing but the lifeless blood behind; they can no longer drink moral life from the good; there is but the legacy of death. “Blood of saints and prophets did they pour out; and blood didst Thou give them to drink.”
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv5–7 And I heard the angel of the waters say.…
And I heard the angel of the waters say. The angels, throughout this book, are represented as having individual offices to fulfil. Here we have a reference to the angel whose duty it is to control the rivers, just as, in Rev_14:18, another angel is represented as having authority over fire. This verse and the following one are anticipations of Rev_19:2, which is a commentary on Revelation 18., which latter is an elaboration of the judgments here described. Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus; righteous art thou, which art and which wast, thou Holy One, because thou didst thus judge (Revised Version). There is scarcely any authority for inserting "O Lord," or "and shalt be". (cf. Rev_11:17) The angel, as having authority over the waters, and, as it were, a commission to see that they do their duty for men, acknowledges the justice of the sentence which makes them into an instrument for, and type of, man"s destruction. Though there is no authority for inserting "and shalt be," the idea is, no doubt, to express the eternal nature of God. The same expression occurs in Rev_15:3 (Revised Version) in almost exactly parallel connection; so also in Rev_11:17, Rev_11:18. Thou hast judged thus refers to the judgment of the third vial, possibly to all the first three, Note the marginal reading of the Revised Version (supported by Alford), which disconnects this verse from the succeeding one.
HOMILIES BY R. GREEN Vers. 5-7. The Divine righteous judgments.
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The spiritual aspects of these judgments must be especially kept in view. For under the veil of outward things the invisible and spiritual things are represented. The entire symbolism of these verses, and, indeed, of the whole section, plainly shows
I THAT JUDGMENT PROCEEDS FROM GOD. They are the judgments of the "Lord God, the Almighty." "Righteous art thou, which art and which wast, thou Holy One, because thou didst thus judge.
II THAT THE JUDGMENTS ASSUME THE FORM OF WRATHFUL INDIGNATION. "In them is finished the wrath of God." "Seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who liveth forever and ever." The terribleness of that "wrath" must be gathered from the character of the symbols of its expression. The nature of that "wrath" must be ascertained from the teachings on the nature of him whose "wrath" it is.
III THAT THE JUDGMENTS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY GREAT SUFFERINGS ON THE PART OF THEM ON WHOM THEY ARE INFLICTED. Here, doubtless, the spiritual is represented by the visible and material.
IV THAT THESE JUDGMENTS ARE JUSTLY AND RIGHTEOUSLY INFLICTED, "Righteous art thou, which art and which wast, thou Holy One, because thou didst thus judge;" "Righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages; Yea, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments." From these direful words we must exclaim truly, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God," when he ariseth to judgment. How definite is the call to men:
1. To guard against that devotion to evil which is "worshipping the beast and his image.
2. To the faithful to await with awe the final judgments of God upon the enemies of the truth, when he will "separate the just from the unjust," when "the tares shall be cast into the fire"! R.G.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv5–7 16:5-6 the angel who had authority over all water:…
16:5-6 the angel who had authority over all water: Angels and archangels are portrayed as having special roles in the hierarchy of heaven (see Dan 8:16; 9:21; 10:13, 21; 12:1; Luke 1:19, 26; see also 1 Enoch 66:1-2). This angel confirms these judgments as coming from God, who is both just and holy.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.