Bible Strands
Revelation 16:12
And the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — John records a visionary sequence in which a sixth angel executes divine judgment by pouring a bowl of wrath upon a specific geographical landmark.
The words — ἐξέχεεν (execheen) means poured out and ἕκτος (hektos) means sixth, identifying the specific agent and the sequential timing of this action.
The thread — The drying of the Euphrates parallels the sixth trumpet’s release of bound angels at the same river (Revelation 9:14) and recalls prophetic patterns of God removing waters to enable judgment (Jeremiah 51:36; Isaiah 41:25).
Why it lands — The text states that the river’s water is removed to clear a path for eastern kings, requiring the reader to recognize the literal removal of a defensive barrier as a direct preparation for military advance.
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 sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
Cross-references
- Revelation 9:14 saying to the sixth angel with the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”
- Jeremiah 51:36 Therefore this is what the LORD says: “Behold, I will plead your case and take vengeance on your behalf; I will dry up her sea and make her springs run dry.
- Isaiah 41:25 I have raised up one from the north, and he has come—one from the east who calls on My name. He will march over rulers as if they were mortar, like a potter who treads the clay.
- Isaiah 44:27 who says to the depths of the sea, ‘Be dry, and I will dry up your currents,’
- Isaiah 11:15 The LORD will devote to destruction the gulf of the Sea of Egypt; with a scorching wind He will sweep His hand over the Euphrates. He will split it into seven streams for men to cross with dry sandals.
- Isaiah 42:15 I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation. I will turn the rivers into dry land and drain the marshes.
- Jeremiah 50:38 A drought is upon her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is a land of graven images, and the people go mad over idols.
- Isaiah 41:2 Who has aroused one from the east and called him to his feet in righteousness? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow.
- Isaiah 46:11 I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it.
- Daniel 11:43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and over all the riches of Egypt, and the Libyans and Cushites will also submit to him.