New International Version
Revelation 16:18
18Then 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.
Revelation 16:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- 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
16Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. 17The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 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. 19The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20Every island fled away and the mountains could not be 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- 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 4:5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.
- Revelation 8:5Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
- Revelation 11:19Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
- Revelation 11:13At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
- Daniel 12:1“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.
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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries