God’s Word Translation
Revelation 16:6
6You have given them blood to drink because they have poured out the blood of God’s people and prophets. This is what they deserve.”
Revelation 16:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
- New International Version (NIV)for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!"
- New King James Version (NKJV)For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.”
Context of Revelation 16:6
4The third angel poured his bowl over the rivers and the springs. They turned into blood. 5Then I heard the angel of the water say, “You are fair. You are the one who is and the one who was, the holy one, because you have judged these things. You have given them blood to drink because they have poured out the blood of God’s people and prophets. This is what they deserve.” 7Then I heard the altar answer, “Yes, Lord God Almighty, your judgments are true and fair.” 8The fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun. The sun was allowed to burn people with fire.
Read all of Revelation 16Revelation 16:6 word by word
ὅτι αἷμα ἁγίων καὶ προφητῶν ἐξέχεαν, καὶ αἷμα αὐτοῖς δέδωκας πιεῖν· ἄξιοί εἰσιν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- they have shedἐκχέωekcheō ekchunō · to pour outG1632
- the bloodαἷμαaima · bloodG129
- of saintsἅγιοςhagios · holy: saintG40
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- prophetsπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396
- thou hast givenδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- to drinkπίνωpinō piō poō · to drinkG4095
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- they areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- worthyἄξιοςaxios · worthyG514
Cross-references for Revelation 16:6
- Revelation 6:10They cried out in a loud voice, “Holy and true Master, how long before you judge and take revenge on those living on earth who shed our blood?”
- Revelation 13:10If anyone is taken prisoner, he must go to prison. If anyone is killed with a sword, with a sword he must be killed. In this situation God’s holy people need endurance and confidence.
- Revelation 17:6I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people and of those who testify about Jesus. I was very surprised when I saw her.
- Revelation 18:24“The blood of prophets, God’s people, and everyone who had been murdered on earth was found in it.”
- Revelation 19:2His judgments are true and fair. He has condemned the notorious prostitute who corrupted the world with her sexual sins. He has taken revenge on her for the blood of his servants.”
- Deuteronomy 32:42My arrows will drip with blood from those who were killed and taken captive. My sword will cut off the heads of the enemy who vowed to fight.
- 2 Kings 24:4including the innocent blood he had shed. He had a lot of innocent people in Jerusalem killed, and the Lord refused to forgive him.
- Isaiah 49:26I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and they will become drunk on their own blood as though it were new wine. Then all humanity will know that I am the Lord, who saves you, the Mighty One of Jacob, who reclaims you.
- Isaiah 51:22The Lord your God defends his people. This is what your master says: I’m taking from your hand the cup that makes people stagger, the bowl, the cup of my fury. You will never drink from it again.
- Jeremiah 2:30“I have punished your children without results. They didn’t respond to correction. You killed my prophets like a raging lion.
- Lamentations 4:13⌞They got through⌟ because of the sins of Jerusalem’s prophets and the crimes of its priests, who spilled the blood of righteous people within it.
- Matthew 7:2Otherwise, you will be judged by the same standard you use to judge others. The standards you use for others will be applied to you.
- Matthew 21:35The workers took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned a third to death.
- Matthew 23:30Then you say, ‘If we had lived at the time of our ancestors, we would not have helped to murder the prophets.’
- Revelation 11:18“The nations were angry, but your anger has come. The time has come for the dead to be judged: to reward your servants, the prophets, your holy people, and those who fear your name, no matter if they are important or unimportant, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
- Revelation 18:20“Gloat over it, heaven, God’s people, apostles, and prophets. God has condemned it for you.”
Commentaries on Revelation 16:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Thou hast given them blood to drink - They thirsted after blood and massacred the saints of God; and now they have got blood to drink! It is said that when Tomyris, queen of the Scythians, had vanquished Cyrus, she cut off his head and threw it into a vessel of blood, saying these words: Satia te sanguine, quem sitisti, cujusque insatiabilis semper fuisti; "Satisfy thyself with blood, for which thou hast thirsted, and for which thy desire has been…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6For they have shed the blood of saints - The nations here referred to. They have been engaged in scenes of bloody persecution, and this is a just recompense. And prophets - Teachers of religion; ministers of truth. It is not necessary to understand the word “prophets” here in its technical sense, as denoting those who are raised up by God and sent forth as inspired men, but it may be understood in its more common signification in the New Testament as…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6Punishing God's enemies is fair because they killed God's holy people and prophets. Since they shed blood, they must drink blood. The principle of lex talionis (the law of retribution), which is the basis of Roman and Jewish law, shows that God is completely fair in judging and rewarding people based on their actions (see Revelation 2:23; 11:18; 14:13; 18:6; 20:12, 13; 22:12).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. (Re 11:18, end; Ge 9:6; Is 49:26.) An anticipation of Re 18:20, 24; compare Re 13:15. For--A, B, C, and Andreas omit.Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 16:6
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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