A.T. Robertson Commentary Revelation 16
A.T. Robertson Commentary
Revelation 16
A.T. Robertson Commentary
Revelation 16
"And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth." — Revelation 16:1 (ASV)
A great voice (μεγαλης φωνης). Not an angel as in 5:2; 7:2; 10:3; 14:7,9,15,18, but of God as 15:8 shows, since no one could enter the ναος.
Pour out (εκχεετε). Second aorist active imperative of εκχεω (same form as present active imperative). Blass would change to εκχεατε (clearly aorist) as in verse 6.
The seven bowls (τας επτα φιαλας). The article points to verse 7.
"And the first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth; and it became a noisome and grievous sore upon the men that had the mark of the beast, and that worshipped his image." — Revelation 16:2 (ASV)
Went and poured out (απηλθεν κα εξεχεεν). Second aorist active indicative of απερχομα (redundant use like υπαγετε with εκχεετε, "go and pour out," in verse 1) and of εκχεω. Each angel "went off" to perform his task. For εξεχεεν see it repeated in verses 3,4,8,10,12,17.
Into the earth (εις την γην). This same use of εις after εξεχεεν in verses 3,4.
It became (εγενετο). "There came" (second aorist middle indicative of γινομα).
A noisome and grievous sore (ελκος κακον κα πονηρον). "Bad and malignant sore." Hελκος is old word for a suppurated wound (Latin ulcus), here, verse 11; Luke 16:21. See the sixth Egyptian plague (Exodus 9:10; Deuteronomy 28:27,35) and Job 2:7. The magicians were attacked in Egypt and the worshippers of Caesar here (13:17; 14:9,11; 19:20).
"And the second poured out his bowl into the sea; and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living soul died, [even] the things that were in the sea." — Revelation 16:3 (ASV)
Into the sea (εις την θαλασσαν). Like the first Egyptian plague (Exodus 7:12-41) though only the Nile affected then.
Blood as of a dead man (αιμα ως νεκρου). At the trumpet (8:11) the water becomes wormwood. Here ως νεκρου is added to Ex 7:19, "the picture of a murdered man weltering in his blood" (Swete). "Coagulated blood, fatal to animal life" (Moffatt).
Every living soul (πασα ψυχη ζωης). "Every soul of life" (Hebraism, Genesis 1:21, marked by life).
Even the things that were in the sea (τα εν τη θαλασση). "The things in the sea," in apposition with ψυχη. Complete destruction, not partial as in 8:9.
"And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; and it became blood." — Revelation 16:4 (ASV)
Into the rivers and the fountains of waters (εις τους ποταμους κα τας πηγας των υδατων). See 8:10 for this phrase. Contamination of the fresh-water supply by blood follows that of the sea. Complete again.
"And I heard the angel of the waters saying, Righteous art thou, who art and who wast, thou Holy One, because thou didst thus judge:" — Revelation 16:5 (ASV)
The angel of the waters (του αγγελου τον υδατων). Genitive case object of ηκουσα. See 7:1 for the four angels in control of the winds and 14:18 for the angel with power over fire. The rabbis spoke also of an angel with power over the earth and another over the sea.
Which art and which wast (ο ων κα ο ην). See this peculiar idiom for God's eternity with ο as relative before ην in 1:4,8; 4:8, but without ο ερχομενος (the coming on, the one who is to be) there for the future as in 11:17.
Thou Holy One (ο οσιος). Nominative form, but vocative case, as often. Note both δικαιος and οσιος applied to God as in 3:1; 15:3f.
Because thou didst thus judge (οτ ταυτα εκρινας). Reason for calling God δικαιος and οσιος. The punishment on the waters is deserved. First aorist active indicative of κρινω, to judge.
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