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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator records the execution of a command issued from the temple to seven angels to pour out God’s wrath. At this moment, the first angel acts upon the earth in direct response to that command.

The words — The Greek verb ἐξέχεεν (execheen) literally means "poured out," describing the angel's action of releasing the bowl's contents. The noun φιάλην (phialēn) translates directly to "bowl," identifying the specific vessel used for this judgment.

The thread — This event mirrors the first trumpet plague in Revelation 8:7, where the first angel brings destruction upon the earth. The resulting sores link directly to Revelation 16:11, where victims curse God but refuse to repent, and align with the beast's image worship described in Revelation 13:15.

Why it lands — The text states that malignant sores strike specifically those who bear the beast's mark and worship its image. It requires readers to recognize that divine judgment targets explicit allegiance, and that the afflicted respond with cursing rather than repentance.

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 first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

Cross-references

Revelation 8:7 Then the first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees and all the green grass.
Revelation 16:11 and curse the God of heaven for their pains and sores. Yet they did not repent of their deeds.
Revelation 13:15 The second beast was permitted to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed.
Exodus 9:8 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the furnace; in the sight of Pharaoh, Moses is to toss it into the air.
Deuteronomy 28:27 The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors and scabs and itch from which you cannot be cured.
Luke 16:20 And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores
Deuteronomy 7:15 And the LORD will remove from you all sickness. He will not lay upon you any of the terrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but He will inflict them on all who hate you.
1 Samuel 5:6 Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity, ravaging them and afflicting them with tumors.
1 Samuel 5:9 But after they had moved the ark to Gath, the LORD’s hand was also against that city, throwing it into great confusion and afflicting the men of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.
2 Chronicles 21:15 And day after day you yourself will suffer from a severe illness, a disease of your bowels, until it causes your bowels to come out.’”