Revelation 11:6

Revelation 11:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
• New International Version (NIV)They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
• English Standard Version (ESV)They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.
• New King James Version (NKJV)These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

Context of Revelation 11:6

4These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands standing in the presence of the Lord of the earth. 5If anyone wants to hurt them, fire comes out of the witnesses’ mouths and burns up their enemies. If anyone wants to hurt them, he must be killed the same way. These witnesses have authority to shut the sky in order to keep rain from falling during the time they speak what God has revealed. They have authority to turn water into blood and to strike the earth with any plague as often as they want. 7When the witnesses finish their testimony, the beast which comes from the bottomless pit will fight them, conquer them, and kill them. 8Their dead bodies will lie on the street of the important city where their Lord was crucified. The spiritual names of that city are Sodom and Egypt.

Revelation 11:6 word by word

οὗτοι ἔχουσιν τὴν ἐξουσίαν κλεῖσαι τὸν οὐρανὸν ἵνα μὴ ὑετὸς βρέχῃ τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς προφητείας αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐξουσίαν ἔχουσιν ἐπὶ τῶν ὑδάτων στρέφειν αὐτὰ εἰς αἷμα καὶ πατάξαι τὴν γῆν ἐν πάσῃ πληγῇ ὁσάκις ἐὰν θελήσωσιν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• powerἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
• to shutκλείωkleiō · to shutG2808
• heavenὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• ·ὑετόςhuetos · rainG5205
• it rainβρέχωbrechō · to rain downG1026
• notμήmē · notG3361
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the daysἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
• of theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• prophecyπροφητείαprophēteia · prophecyG4394
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• overἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• watersὕδωρhudōr hudatos · waterG5204
• to turnστρέφωstrephō · to turnG4762
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• bloodαἷμαaima · bloodG129
• to smiteπατάσσωpatassō · to strikeG3960
• the earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
• with allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• plaguesπληγήplēgē · plague/blow/woundG4127
• as oftenὁσάκιςhosakis · wheneverG3740
• asἐάνean · ifG1437
• they willθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309

Cross-references for Revelation 11:6

• 1 Kings 17:1Elijah, who was from Tishbe but had settled in Gilead, said to Ahab, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord God of Israel whom I serve lives, there will be no dew or rain during the next few years unless I say so.”
• Luke 4:25“I can guarantee this truth: There were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time. It had not rained for three-and-a-half years, and the famine was severe everywhere in the country.
• James 5:16So admit your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you will be healed. Prayers offered by those who have God’s approval are effective.
• Ezekiel 7:1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said,
• Psalms 105:26He sent his servant Moses, and he sent Aaron, whom he had chosen.

Commentaries on Revelation 11:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6These have power to shut heaven - As Elijah did, 1 Kings 17:1-18:46. To turn them to blood - As Moses did, Exodus 7:19-25. They shall have power to afflict the land with plagues, similar to those which were inflicted on the Egyptians.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6These have power to shut heaven - That is, so far as rain is concerned - for this is immediately specified. There is probably a reference here to an ancient opinion that the rain was kept in the clouds of heaven as in reservoirs or bottles, and that when they were opened it rained; when they were closed it ceased to rain. So Job, “He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not rent under them,” Job 26:8. “Which the clouds do drop and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-13Verses 3-13 In the time of treading down, God kept his faithful witnesses to attest the truth of his word and worship, and the excellence of his ways, The number of these witnesses is small, yet enough. They prophesy in sackcloth. It shows their afflicted, persecuted state, and deep sorrow for the abominations against which they protested. They are supported during their great and hard work, till it is done. When they had prophesied in sackcloth the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6These two witnesses received the power to stop the rain and bring plagues, similar to Elijah (see 1 Kings 17:1; 18:41–46) and Moses (see Exodus 7:14–24; 8:1–11:10).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. These ... power--Greek, "authorized power." it rain not--Greek, "huetos brechee," "rain shower not," literally, "moisten" not (the earth). smite ... with all plagues--Greek, "with (literally, 'in') every plague."Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 11:6

• Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena
• Plague
• Vision

In the dictionaries

• Authority in Religion
• Ford
• Revelation of John

Commentaries on Revelation 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings