Bible Strands
Revelation 6:17
For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator reports a rhetorical question shouted by those hiding in mountains and rocks during the sixth seal judgment. The speakers voice a collective realization of imminent divine judgment rather than addressing a specific listener.
The words — ἡμέρα (hēmera) translates to "day," and ὀργῆς (orgēs) means "wrath," forming the phrase "day of wrath" that marks the culmination of the seal sequence. ἦλθεν (ēlthen) renders "has come," indicating the sudden arrival of this appointed time.
The thread — The theme of an unavoidable day of divine wrath appears in Psalms 76:7, Malachi 3:2, and Joel 2:11. These passages similarly emphasize that no human can endure or stand before God's anger when it is fully manifested.
Why it lands — The text states that a definitive day of wrath has arrived and asks who can withstand it, leaving the answer implicit. It demands a reader acknowledge the absolute inability of humanity to survive divine judgment unaided.
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
For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Cross-references
- Psalms 76:7 You alone are to be feared. When You are angry, who can stand before You?
- Malachi 3:2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap.
- Joel 2:11 The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army. Indeed, His camp is very large, for mighty are those who obey His command. For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful. Who can endure it?
- Joel 2:31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.
- Jeremiah 30:7 How awful that day will be! None will be like it! It is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved out of it.
- Revelation 16:14 These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.
- Isaiah 13:6 Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty.
- Zephaniah 1:14 The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter.
- Romans 2:5 But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
- Psalms 130:3 If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand?