Revelation 16:6

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.
• 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.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)Since they shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, you have given them blood to drink. It is their just reward.”

Context of Revelation 16:6

4The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: “You are just in these judgments, O Holy One, you who are and who were; for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” 7And I heard the altar respond: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.” 8The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire.

Revelation 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 called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”
• Revelation 13:10“If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.” This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.
• Revelation 17:6I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.
• Revelation 18:24In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people, of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”
• Revelation 19:2for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
• Deuteronomy 32:42I will make my arrows drunk with blood, while my sword devours flesh: the blood of the slain and the captives, the heads of the enemy leaders.”
• 2 Kings 24:4including the shedding of innocent blood. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord was not willing to forgive.
• Isaiah 49:26I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. Then all mankind will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
• Isaiah 51:22This is what your Sovereign Lord says, your God, who defends his people: “See, I have taken out of your hand the cup that made you stagger; from that cup, the goblet of my wrath, you will never drink again.
• Jeremiah 2:30“In vain I punished your people; they did not respond to correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a ravenous lion.
• Lamentations 4:13But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous.
• Matthew 7:2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
• Matthew 21:35“The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.
• Matthew 23:30And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’
• Revelation 11:18The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small— and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
• Revelation 18:20“Rejoice over her, you heavens! Rejoice, you people of God! Rejoice, apostles and prophets! For God has judged her with the judgment she imposed on 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

• Blood
• God Continued...
• Martyrdom
• Prophets
• Temple
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Angel
• Gnaw
• Vial
• Bishop
• Blood
• Dragon
• Justification
• Persecution
• Print; Printing; Printed
• Retribution

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