God’s Word Translation
Revelation 16:21
21Large, heavy hailstones fell from the sky on people. The people cursed God because the plague of hail was such a terrible plague.
Revelation 16:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
- New International Version (NIV)From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.
Context of Revelation 16:21
19The important city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. God remembered to give Babylon the Great the cup of wine from his fierce anger. 20Every island vanished, and the mountains could no longer be seen. Large, heavy hailstones fell from the sky on people. The people cursed God because the plague of hail was such a terrible plague.
Read all of Revelation 16Revelation 16:21 word by word
καὶ χάλαζα μεγάλη ὡς ταλαντιαία καταβαίνει ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀνθρώπους. καὶ ἐβλασφήμησαν οἱ ἄνθρωποι τὸν θεὸν ἐκ τῆς πληγῆς τῆς χαλάζης, ὅτι μεγάλη ἐστὶν ἡ πληγὴ αὐτῆς σφόδρα.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- there fellκαταβαίνωkatabainō · to come/go downG2597
- uponἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- menὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- a greatμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
- hailχάλαζαchalaza · hailG5464
- out ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
- aboutὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- the weight of a talentταλαντιαῖοςtalantiaios · weighing a talentG5006
- blasphemedβλασφημέωblasphēmeō · to blasphemeG987
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- the plagueπληγήplēgē · plague/blow/woundG4127
- forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- thereofαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- exceedingσφόδραsphodra · veryG4970
Cross-references for Revelation 16:21
- Revelation 8:7When the first angel blew his trumpet, hail and fire were mixed with blood, and were thrown on the earth. One-third of the earth was burned up, one-third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
- Revelation 11:19God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his promise was seen inside his temple. There was lightning, noise, thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
- Exodus 9:23When Moses lifted his staff toward the sky, the Lord sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the Lord made it hail on Egypt.
- Joshua 10:11As they fled from the Israelites down the slope of Beth Horon toward Azekah, the Lord threw huge hailstones on them. More died from the hailstones than from Israelite swords.
- Isaiah 30:30The Lord will make his majestic voice heard. He will come down with all his might, with furious anger, with fire storms, windstorms, rainstorms, and hailstones.
- Ezekiel 13:11Tell those who cover up the wall with paint that their wall will fall down. Rain will pour down, hailstones will fall on it, and stormy winds will break it to pieces.
- Ezekiel 38:21I will declare war against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Almighty Lord. Each person will use his sword against his relative.
- Revelation 16:9They were severely burned. They cursed the name of God, who has the authority over these plagues. They would not change the way they think and act and give him glory.
- Isaiah 8:21They will pass through the land when they are hard-pressed and hungry. When they are hungry, they will be furious. Then they will look up, cursing their king and God.
Commentaries on Revelation 16:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21A great hail - about the weight of a talent - Has this any reference to cannon balls and bombs? It is very doubtful; we are all in the dark in these matters. The words ̔ , as a talent, are used to express something great, excessively oppressive; as , terrible diseases, not diseases of the weight of a talent. See Rosenmuller.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven - Perhaps this is an allusion to one of the plagues of Egypt, Exodus 9:22-26. Compare the notes on Revelation 11:19. For a graphic description (by Com. Porter) of the effects of a hailstorm, see the notes on Isaiah 30:30. Compare the notes on Job 38:22. Every stone about the weight of a talent - The Attic talent was equal to about 55 lbs. or 56 lbs. Troy weight; the Jewish talent to about 113 lbs. Troy…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-21Verses 17-21 The seventh and last angel poured forth his vial, and the downfal of Babylon was finished. The church triumphant in heaven saw it and rejoiced; the church in conflict on earth saw it and became triumphant. God remembered the great and wicked city; though for some time he seemed to have forgotten her idolatry and cruelty. All that was most secure was carried away by the ruin. Men blasphemed: the greatest judgments that can befal men, will not…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21Despite the severity of these plagues, people around the world cursed God instead of understanding his reasons for the judgments (see Revelation 9:20; 16:9, 11). The terrible hailstorm reminds us of the seventh plague on Egypt (Exodus 9:23–24).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. fell--Greek, "descends." upon men--Greek, "the men." and men blasphemed God--not those struck who died, but the rest. Unlike the result in the case of Jerusalem (Re 11:13), where "the remnant ... affrighted ... gave glory to the God of heaven." was--Greek, "is."Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 16:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Revelation 16
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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