Revelation 16:4

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

And the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they turned to blood.

American Standard Version (1901)

And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; and it became blood.

Bible in Basic English

And the third let what was in his vessel come out into the rivers and the fountains of water; and they became blood.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And the third poured out his vial upon the rivers and the fountains of waters; and there was made blood.

Free Bible Version

The third poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and the water turned into blood.

Geneva Bible 1599

And the third Angel powred out his viall vpon the riuers and fountaines of waters, and they became blood.

King James (Authorized) Version

And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

Translation for Translators

The third angel poured out on the rivers and water springs the wine/liquid [MTY] that was in his bowl. As a result, the water in the rivers and springs turned into blood.

Unlocked Literal Bible

The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood.

Noah Webster Bible

And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

World English Bible

The third poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.

Young's Literal Translation

And the third messenger did pour out his vial to the rivers, and to the fountains of the waters, and there came blood,

Context

The First Six Bowls of Wrath

³And the second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it turned to blood like that of the dead, and every living thing in the sea died.⁴And the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they turned to blood. ⁵And I heard the angel of the waters say: “Righteous are You, O Holy One, who is and was, because You have brought these judgments.

Sermons

To Friends in the Ministry in Pennsylvania and New Jersey

George Fox

Summary

This verse describes the third bowl judgment poured out by an angel, causing the rivers and springs to turn into blood. This catastrophic event is a direct consequence of the wickedness and rebellion of humanity against God. The symbolism of blood signifies judgment, highlighting the severity of God's wrath against sin. This plague serves as a warning of the impending divine judgment and the consequences of rejecting God's authority and grace.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Upon the rivers and fountains of waters - This is an allusion to the first Egyptian plague, Exo 7:20; and to those plagues in general there are allusions throughout this chapter. It is a sentiment of the rabbins that "whatever plagues God inflicted on the Egyptians in former times, he will inflict on the enemies of his people in all later times." See a long quotation on this subject from Rabbi Tanchum in Schoettgen.

John Gill Bible Commentary

And the third angel poured his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters,.... Which also is not to be literally understood of a stagnation of them, before the burning of the world; nor of the destruction of Popish fleets and navies, such as the Spanish armada in 1588, and others since; but rather of Popish writings, of the most learned and subtle men among them, who like rivers and fountains, which supply and fill the sea, support and keep up the Romish jurisdiction and hierarchy; and of the confutation of them by Protestant writers; and of the utter destruction of their principal orders, and chief men among them, as cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests, Jesuits, &c. though it seems chiefly to design the places near to Rome, such as Italy and Savoy; for as the third trumpet affects the rivers and fountains, Rev 8:10 and brings in the Huns into Italy, and issued in the destruction of the empire; so the third vial affects the same, and brings terrible wars, and great effusion of blood, where so much of the blood of the saints have been shed: hence it follows, and they became blood; these countries will be covered with blood, and a reformation will ensue upon it; the allusion is to Exo 7:19. . Revelation 16:5 rev 16:5 rev 16:5 rev 16:5And I heard the angel of the waters say,.... So we read in Jewish writings (t) of an angel that was , "the prince of the sea", and of angels that were over the waters, and others over fire (u); though here is designed not one of the "angels of the water", that presided ove the waters, as another over fire; See Gill on Rev 14:18, but the third angel that poured out his vial upon the waters; when he had so done, he said as follows. Dr. Lightfoot thinks, and that not without reason, that since these angels appeared in the garb of priests, Rev 15:6 and since there was a priest appointed to take care of the wells, and fountains, and ditches about Jerusalem, that the people might have water at the feasts (w), there is an allusion to him; and certain it is that there was such an officer; there was one Nechoniah, who was over the fountains and ditches (x); and in the same office was Nicodemon ben Gorion (y), thought to be the Nicodemus mentioned in the New Testament. Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shall be: which may be understood either of God the Father, who had power over these plagues, Rev 16:9 and sent them; or of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, and is righteous in all his ways and works, in all his judgments on antichrist, and is the eternal "I AM", which is, and was, and shall be; see Rev 1:8. The Alexandrian copy, and most others, and the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions, read "holy", instead of "shalt be"; for the purity and holiness of Christ will be seen in the judgments which he will exercise, as follows: because thou hast judged thus; or "these things"; or "them", as the Ethiopic version reads; that is, has brought these judgments upon the men signified by rivers and fountains, and made great havoc and slaughter of them, expressed by their becoming blood; the justice of which appears from the following reason. (t) T. Bab. Gittin, fol. 68. 3. (u) Yalkut Simeoni, par. 2. fol. 58. 4. par. 2. fol. 167. 4. (w) Maimon, Cele Hamikdash, c. 7. sect. 15. (x) Misn. Shekalim, c. 5. sect. 1. (y) Abot R. Nathan, c. 5. fol. 3. 2.

Revelation 16:4

The First Six Bowls of Wrath

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

And the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they turned to blood.

American Standard Version (1901)

And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; and it became blood.

Bible in Basic English

And the third let what was in his vessel come out into the rivers and the fountains of water; and they became blood.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And the third poured out his vial upon the rivers and the fountains of waters; and there was made blood.

Free Bible Version

The third poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and the water turned into blood.

Geneva Bible 1599

And the third Angel powred out his viall vpon the riuers and fountaines of waters, and they became blood.

King James (Authorized) Version

And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

Translation for Translators

The third angel poured out on the rivers and water springs the wine/liquid [MTY] that was in his bowl. As a result, the water in the rivers and springs turned into blood.

Unlocked Literal Bible

The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood.

Noah Webster Bible

And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

World English Bible

The third poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.

Young's Literal Translation

And the third messenger did pour out his vial to the rivers, and to the fountains of the waters, and there came blood,

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Revelation 16:4

Verse

Context

The First Six Bowls of Wrath

Sermons

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Revelation 16:4

The First Six Bowls of Wrath

To Friends in the Ministry in Pennsylvania and New Jersey

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary