Revelation 16:11

and curse the God of heaven for their pains and sores. Yet they did not repent of their deeds.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The narrator records the human response during the pouring of the fifth bowl plague on the beast’s throne. The text states that people, enduring darkness and physical agony, direct their reaction toward God.

The words — The Greek verb ἐβλασφημέησαν (eblasphēmēsan) literally means they blasphemed, denoting a spoken assault against the divine. It is governed by the preposition ἐκ (ek), which here functions causally as on account of.

The thread — This sequence of judgment followed by unrepentant cursing repeats in Revelation 16:9, where the scorched also curse God’s name. The mention of sores links back to the first bowl plague described in Revelation 16:2.

Why it lands — The text establishes that physical suffering does not compel moral correction. It requires the reader to acknowledge that deliberate rebellion persists even when confronted with direct divine wrath.

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The Greek words

King James Version

And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

Cross-references

Revelation 16:9 And the people were scorched by intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had authority over these plagues. Yet they did not repent and give Him glory.
Revelation 11:13 And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand were killed in the quake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Revelation 16:2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and loathsome, malignant sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
Revelation 16:21 And great hailstones weighing almost a hundred pounds each rained down on them from above. And men cursed God for the plague of hail, because it was so horrendous.
Revelation 2:21 Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.
Psalms 136:26 Give thanks to the God of heaven! His loving devotion endures forever.
Ezra 1:2 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.
Ezra 5:11 And this is the answer they returned: “We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed.
Ezra 6:10 Then they will be able to offer sacrifices of a sweet aroma to the God of heaven and to pray for the lives of the king and his sons.
Ezra 7:23 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven must be done diligently for His house. For why should wrath fall on the realm of the king and his sons?