New International Versionfor they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”
New Living TranslationSince they shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, you have given them blood to drink. It is their just reward.”
English Standard VersionFor they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!”
Berean Standard BibleFor they have spilled the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink, as they deserve.”
Berean Literal Biblebecause they have poured out the blood of saints and of prophets, and You have given to them blood to drink, they are worthy."
King James BibleFor they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
New King James VersionFor they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.”
New American Standard Biblefor they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.”
NASB 1995for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.”
NASB 1977 for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and Thou hast given them blood to drink. They deserve it.”
Legacy Standard Bible for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.”
Amplified Biblefor they have poured out the blood of the saints (God’s people) and the prophets, and You [in turn] have given them blood to drink. They deserve Your judgment.”
Christian Standard BibleBecause they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, you have given them blood to drink; they deserve it!
Holman Christian Standard BibleBecause they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, You also gave them blood to drink; they deserve it!
American Standard Versionfor they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and blood hast thou given them to drink: they are worthy.
Contemporary English VersionThey poured out the blood of your people and your prophets. So you gave them blood to drink as they deserve!"
English Revised Versionfor they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and blood hast thou given them to drink: they are worthy.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationYou have given them blood to drink because they have poured out the blood of God's people and prophets. This is what they deserve."
Good News TranslationThey poured out the blood of God's people and of the prophets, and so you have given them blood to drink. They are getting what they deserve!"
International Standard VersionYou have given them blood to drink because they spilled the blood of saints and prophets. This is what they deserve."
NET Biblebecause they poured out the blood of your saints and prophets, so you have given them blood to drink. They got what they deserved!"
New Heart English BibleFor they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this."
Webster's Bible TranslationFor they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
Weymouth New TestamentFor they poured out the blood of Thy people and of the Prophets, and in return Thou hast given them blood to drink. And this they deserved." Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleFor they have spilled the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink, as they deserve.”
World English BibleFor they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionbecause they poured out [the] blood of holy ones and prophets, and You gave to them blood to drink, for they are worthy”;
Berean Literal Biblebecause they have poured out the blood of saints and of prophets, and You have given to them blood to drink, they are worthy."
Young's Literal Translation because blood of saints and prophets they did pour out, and blood to them Thou didst give to drink, for they are worthy;'
Smith's Literal TranslationFor they poured out the blood of the holy, and of the prophets, and thou didst give them blood to drink; for they are worthy. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
Catholic Public Domain VersionFor they have shed the blood of the Saints and the Prophets, and so you have given them blood to drink. For they deserve this.”
New American BibleFor they have shed the blood of the holy ones and the prophets, and you [have] given them blood to drink; it is what they deserve.”
New Revised Standard Versionbecause they shed the blood of saints and prophets, you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishBecause they have shed the blood of the Prophets and of The Holy Ones, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentFor they have shed the blood of saints and of prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink, and they are worthy.
Godbey New Testamentbecause they shed the blood of saints and of prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; they are worthy.
Haweis New TestamentFor they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
Mace New Testamentfor they have shed the blood of saints and prophets: thou hast given them blood to drink; for they have deserv'd it."
Weymouth New TestamentFor they poured out the blood of Thy people and of the Prophets, and in return Thou hast given them blood to drink. And this they deserved."
Worrell New Testamentbecause they poured out the blood of saints and of prophets, and Thou hast given them blood to drink: they are worthy!"
Worsley New Testamentand thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The First Six Bowls of Wrath… 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. 6For they have spilled the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink, as they deserve.” 7And I heard the altar reply: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are Your judgments.”…
Cross References Exodus 7:17-21This is what the LORD says: By this you will know that I am the LORD. Behold, with the staff in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will turn to blood. / The fish in the Nile will die, the river will stink, and the Egyptians will be unable to drink its water.’” / And the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over their rivers and canals and ponds and all the reservoirs—that they may become blood.’ There will be blood throughout the land of Egypt, even in the vessels of wood and stone.” ...
Exodus 7:14-25Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the people go. / Go to Pharaoh in the morning as you see him walking out to the water. Wait on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake. / Then say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened. ...
Exodus 8:22-23But on that day I will give special treatment to the land of Goshen, where My people live; no swarms of flies will be found there. In this way you will know that I, the LORD, am in the land. / I will make a distinction between My people and your people. This sign will take place tomorrow.’”
Exodus 9:14-16Otherwise, I will send all My plagues against you and your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth. / For by this time I could have stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the earth. / But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power to you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
Exodus 9:22-26Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt—on man and beast and every plant of the field throughout the land of Egypt.” / So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt. / The hail fell and the lightning continued flashing through it. The hail was so severe that nothing like it had ever been seen in all the land of Egypt from the time it became a nation. ...
Exodus 10:21-23Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness may spread over the land of Egypt—a palpable darkness.” / So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and total darkness covered all the land of Egypt for three days. / No one could see anyone else, and for three days no one left his place. Yet all the Israelites had light in their dwellings.
Exodus 12:12-13On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. / The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a sign; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
Psalm 79:3They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead.
Psalm 79:10Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations Your vengeance for the bloodshed of Your servants.
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 and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
Jeremiah 2:34Moreover, your skirts are stained with the blood of the innocent poor, though you did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things
Jeremiah 19:4because they have abandoned Me and made this a foreign place. They have burned incense in this place to other gods that neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have ever known. They have filled this place with the blood of the innocent.
Ezekiel 16:36This is what the Lord GOD says: Because you poured out your wealth and exposed your nakedness in your promiscuity with your lovers and with all your detestable idols, and because of the blood of your children which you gave to them,
Ezekiel 23:45But righteous men will sentence them to the punishment of those who commit adultery and bloodshed, because they are adulteresses with blood on their hands.
Matthew 23:35And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
Revelation 6:10,11
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? … Revelation 13:10,15
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints… Revelation 17:6,7
And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration… for they are. Revelation 11:18
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. Revelation 18:20
Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. Jeremiah 26:11,16
Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears… Jump to Previous Blood Deserve Deserved Drink Due Pour Poured Prophets Reward Right Saints Shed Stream WorthyJump to Next Blood Deserve Deserved Drink Due Pour Poured Prophets Reward Right Saints Shed Stream WorthyRevelation 16 1. The angels pour out their bowls of wrath.6. The plagues that follow.16. Armageddon.For they have spilled the blood of saints and prophetsThis phrase highlights the persecution and martyrdom of God's people throughout history. The "saints" refers to believers who have been set apart for God's purposes, while "prophets" are those who have been divinely inspired to deliver God's messages. This persecution is a recurring theme in the Bible, seen in the Old Testament with prophets like Jeremiah and in the New Testament with figures such as Stephen ( Acts 7:54-60). The shedding of their blood symbolizes the ultimate sacrifice for their faith and testimony. Historically, this reflects the hostility faced by early Christians under Roman rule and other oppressive regimes. and You have given them blood to drink
This phrase signifies divine retribution. The imagery of drinking blood is a metaphor for experiencing the consequences of one's actions. In biblical terms, it reflects the principle of "measure for measure" justice, where the punishment fits the crime. This concept is echoed in the Old Testament, such as in Exodus 7:17-21, where the Nile turns to blood as a judgment against Egypt. The idea is that those who have caused suffering will themselves endure suffering, a theme consistent with God's justice throughout scripture. as they deserve.
This phrase underscores the righteousness of God's judgment. It affirms that the punishment is just and appropriate for the actions committed. The notion of divine justice is central to the biblical narrative, where God is portrayed as a fair and impartial judge. This is supported by passages like Romans 2:6, which states that God "will repay each person according to what they have done." The phrase reassures believers that God's judgments are not arbitrary but are based on His perfect knowledge and justice. Persons / Places / Events 1. Saints and ProphetsThese are the faithful followers of God who have been martyred for their testimony and proclamation of God's truth. Throughout biblical history, prophets have often faced persecution for delivering God's messages. 2. The Angel of the WatersThis angel is responsible for pouring out the third bowl of God's wrath upon the waters, turning them into blood as a form of divine judgment. 3. GodThe righteous judge who administers justice by giving those who have shed the blood of His people blood to drink, symbolizing a fitting retribution. 4. The Third Bowl JudgmentThis is one of the seven bowl judgments described in Revelation, representing God's wrath being poured out upon the earth during the end times. 5. The EarthThe setting for the unfolding of these apocalyptic events, where God's final judgments are executed. Teaching Points Divine JusticeGod's judgments are always just and appropriate. The punishment of those who have shed innocent blood is a reflection of divine justice, ensuring that evil does not go unpunished. The Cost of DiscipleshipFollowing Christ may lead to persecution, as seen in the lives of the saints and prophets. Believers are called to remain faithful, even in the face of adversity. The Sovereignty of GodGod is in control of history and will ultimately bring about justice. Believers can trust in His sovereign plan, even when facing trials. The Reality of JudgmentThe events in Revelation remind us of the reality of God's coming judgment. This should motivate believers to live righteously and share the gospel with urgency. The Hope of VindicationFor those who suffer for their faith, there is hope in God's promise of vindication. He will right every wrong and reward those who have been faithful. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Revelation 16:6?
2. How does Revelation 16:6 demonstrate God's justice in response to bloodshed?
3. What Old Testament events parallel the judgment described in Revelation 16:6?
4. How can believers today respond to injustices, reflecting Revelation 16:6's message?
5. What does Revelation 16:6 teach about God's character and His response to sin?
6. How should Revelation 16:6 influence our understanding of divine retribution and mercy?
7. Why does Revelation 16:6 emphasize divine retribution for shedding the blood of saints and prophets?
8. How does Revelation 16:6 align with the concept of justice in the Bible?
9. What historical events might Revelation 16:6 be referencing regarding the persecution of believers?
10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Revelation 16?
11. What defines the Church Triumphant?
12. What is the Old Path (Ang Dating Daan)?
13. Why would a perfectly omniscient God, as implied in Hebrews 8:12, need to change from the old covenant to the new covenant if He supposedly foresaw everything from the beginning?
14. In Revelation 17:1-2, the 'great prostitute' is said to corrupt the earth's inhabitants; is there any historical or archaeological evidence linking a specific empire or city to this figure?What Does Revelation 16:6 Mean For they have spilled the blood of saints and prophets• John’s wording echoes the long, tragic record of persecution against God’s people. Revelation later pictures “the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses to Jesus” (Revelation 17:6), confirming that the crime is systemic and historic. • Jesus lamented, “I am sending you prophets… some of whom you will kill” (Matthew 23:34-35), identifying the guilt that stretches from Abel to Zechariah. • Old-Testament history rehearses the same pattern: “the LORD… sent word to them by His messengers, but they mocked… until there was no remedy” (2 Chronicles 36:15-16). • By affirming that the slain are “saints and prophets,” the verse underlines two truths: – The victims are holy, set apart by God. – Their message carries divine authority, so rejecting them equals rejecting God Himself. • The third bowl judgment therefore answers accumulated bloodguilt, showing that Heaven has not overlooked even one martyr’s cry (Revelation 6:10).
and You have given them blood to drink• The judgment corresponds directly to the crime—blood for blood. When the third angel “poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water… they turned to blood” (Revelation 16:4). The very source of life becomes repulsive, forcing the persecutors to face the horror they created. • This mirrors the first Egyptian plague, when Moses struck the Nile and “all the water… was turned to blood” (Exodus 7:20). God often repeats patterns to show He is consistently just. • Psalm 75:8 describes God’s cup: “Surely all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink down its dregs.” Revelation now turns that imagery into literal experience. • The purpose is not mere retribution but revelation—unmasking evil, vindicating the martyrs, and warning any who would still repent before the final bowls fall (Revelation 16:9, 11).
as they deserve• Divine justice is never arbitrary. “He will render to each one according to his deeds” (Romans 2:6). What seems severe to modern ears is measured, proportionate, and righteous. • Galatians 6:7 reminds, “Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.” The harvest principle applies globally in the Tribulation. • Revelation emphasizes this theme of recompense: “Pay her back as she has paid; repay her double for her deeds” (Revelation 18:6). When the heavenly multitude celebrates, they sing, “He has avenged the blood of His servants” (Revelation 19:2). • The clause therefore reassures believers that God’s scales are perfectly balanced. No injustice endures forever; every tear and drop of blood is noticed and will be answered.
summaryRevelation 16:6 declares that those who have relentlessly shed the blood of God’s people now face a fitting, unavoidable judgment: their water supply turns to blood. The verse affirms three linked truths—humanity’s accumulated persecution of the righteous, God’s precise and mirrored response, and the absolute fairness of His verdict. For persecuted saints across the ages, the passage offers strong comfort: the Judge of all the earth will do right, and every act of violence against His own will be answered in His perfect time. (6) For they have shed . . .--Better, Because they shed (not, "have shed," but did shed, or pour out) , and blood didst Thou give them; they are worthy. "For" is to be omitted; the sentence has a startling force without it. They-- i.e., those enemies of all righteousness--are worthy; they receive the due reward of their deeds. Verse 6. - For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. This supplies the key to the interpretation of the previous visions. The ungodly have shed the blood of saints, therefore God deals out death to them. This is the meaning signified by the "blood" of the previous verses (cf. the doom of Babylon, described in Revelation 17, especially ver. 6; and Revelation 18:6, 24. Cf. the words, "they are worthy," with Revelation 3:4). It is correct to consider that this prophecy received its first fulfilment in the violent deaths of so many of those who were the earliest Christian persecutors. On this subject see Lactantius, 'De Morte Persecutorum.'
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek Forὅτι (hoti)Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.they have spilledἐξέχεαν (exechean)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1632: Or ekchuno ek-khoo'-no from ek and cheo; to pour forth; figuratively, to bestow.[the] bloodαἷμα (haima)Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 129: Blood, literally, figuratively or specially; by implication, bloodshed, also kindred.of saintsἁγίων (hagiōn)Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 40: Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.andκαὶ (kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. prophets,προφητῶν (prophētōn)Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 4396: From a compound of pro and phemi; a foreteller; by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet.andκαὶ (kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. You have givenδέδωκας (dedōkas)Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.themαὐτοῖς (autois)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.bloodαἷμα (haima)Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 129: Blood, literally, figuratively or specially; by implication, bloodshed, also kindred.to drinkπιεῖν (piein)Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4095: To drink, imbibe. A prolonged form of pio, which poo occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses; to imbibe.as theyεἰσιν (eisin)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.deserve.”ἄξιοί (axioi)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 514: Worthy, worthy of, deserving, comparable, suitable. Probably from ago; deserving, comparable or suitable.
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NT Prophecy: Revelation 16:6 For they poured out the blood (Rev. Re Apocalypse) |
