King James Version
Revelation 16:18
18And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
Revelation 16:18 in other versions
- New International Version (NIV)Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then the thunder crashed and rolled, and lightning flashed. And a great earthquake struck—the worst since people were placed on the earth.
Context of Revelation 16:18
16And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. 17And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 19And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 20And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
Read all of Revelation 16Revelation 16:18 word by word
καὶ ἐγένοντο ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί, καὶ σεισμὸς ἐγένετο μέγας οἷος οὐκ ἐγένετο ἀφ᾽ οὗ ἄνθρωπος ἐγένετο ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, τηλικοῦτος σεισμὸς οὕτω μέγας.Read the interlinear
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- there wereγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- voicesφωνήphōnē · voice/sound: noiseG5456
- thundersβροντήbrontē · thunderG1027
- lightningsἀστραπήastrapē · lightningG796
- a greatμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
- earthquakeσεισμόςseismos · earthquakeG4578
- such asοἷοςoios · such asG3634
- notοὐou · noG3756
- sinceἀπόapo · away fromG575
- ·ὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- menὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- uponἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- the earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
- so mightyτηλικοῦτοςtēlikoutos tēlikautē · so greatG5082
- soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
Cross-references for Revelation 16:18
- Revelation 4:5And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
- Revelation 8:5And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
- Revelation 11:19And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
- Revelation 11:13And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
- Daniel 12:1And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Commentaries on Revelation 16:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18A great earthquake - Most terrible commotions, both civil and religious. Or a convulsion, shaking, or revolution.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings - Accompanying the voice that was heard from the throne. See the notes on Revelation 4:5; Revelation 11:19. And there was a great earthquake, - See the notes on Revelation 6:12; Revelation 11:19. The meaning is, that a judgment followed as if the world were shaken by an earthquake, or which would be properly represented by that. So mighty an earthquake, and so great - All this is intensive, and is…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. 18-20This judgment scene repeats the events showing the world's destruction (Revelation 6:12–14; 11:13). It also hints at the final judgment (Revelation 20:11–15) when the earth will be taken apart to allow for a new creation (21:1; compare Isaiah 45:2; Romans 8:19–22).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. voice ... thunders ... lightnings--A has the order, "lightnings ... voices ... thunders." This is the same close as that of the seven seals and the seven thunders; but with the difference that they do not merely form the conclusion, but introduce the consequence, of the last vial, namely, the utter destruction of Babylon and then of the Antichristian armies. earthquake--which is often preceded by a lurid state of air, such as would result from the…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 16:18
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
King James Version — Public Domain except in the United Kingdom (Crown rights)
Commentaries