Bible Strands
Revelation 16:10
And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness, and men began to gnaw their tongues in anguish
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The author records the fifth bowl judgment as the fifth angel pours his bowl on the throne of the beast, plunging its kingdom into darkness. This event occurs within a sequence of plagues where the surrounding text notes that people curse God rather than repent.
The words — The Greek term πέμπτος (pemptos) literally means fifth, marking the specific sequence of the bowl judgments. The verb ἐξέχεεν (execheen) denotes the active pouring out of the bowl directly onto the beast's throne.
The thread — The descent of darkness parallels the plague in Exodus 10:21 and the outer darkness mentioned in Matthew 8:12. The pattern of unrepentant cursing during divine judgment continues directly in Revelation 16:9 and Revelation 16:11, while the Abyss releasing darkness connects to Revelation 9:2.
Why it lands — The text states that darkness covers the beast's kingdom and people gnaw their tongues in anguish, yet they do not repent of their deeds. It asks the reader to acknowledge that severe physical suffering and judgment do not inherently produce genuine repentance or glory to God.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
Cross-references
- Revelation 9:2 The star opened the pit of the Abyss, and smoke rose out of it like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the pit.
- Matthew 8:12 But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
- Exodus 10:21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness may spread over the land of Egypt—a palpable darkness.”
- Isaiah 8:21 They will roam the land, dejected and hungry. When they are famished, they will become enraged; and looking upward, they will curse their king and their God.
- Matthew 22:13 Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
- Revelation 13:2 The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
- Revelation 17:17 For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
- Revelation 18:23 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again, and the voices of a bride and bridegroom will never call out in you again. For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.”
- Psalms 78:49 He unleashed His fury against them, wrath, indignation, and calamity—a band of destroying angels.
- Matthew 24:51 Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.