Revelation 16:7 kjv
And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
Revelation 16:7 nkjv
And I heard another from the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments."
Revelation 16:7 niv
And I heard the altar respond: "Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments."
Revelation 16:7 esv
And I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!"
Revelation 16:7 nlt
And I heard a voice from the altar, saying, "Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty,
your judgments are true and just."
Revelation 16 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 16:5-6 | And I heard the angel of the waters say... they shed the blood of saints... | Immediate context for justification of judgment |
| Rev 6:9-10 | I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain... cried... | Souls of martyrs under the altar crying for justice |
| Rev 9:13 | And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns... | Another voice originating from the altar |
| Rev 1:8 | “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is... Almighty.” | God's title as Lord God Almighty |
| Rev 4:8 | Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come! | Heavenly praise for God's eternal might |
| Rev 11:17 | saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty... because You have taken Your great power.” | Thanksgiving to God Almighty for reign and power |
| Rev 15:3 | Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways... | Singing God's justice and truth |
| Rev 19:6 | And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude... “Alleluia! For the Lord God Almighty reigns!” | Praise for the reigning Lord God Almighty |
| Exod 6:3 | I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty (El Shaddai) | Old Testament name for God as all-sufficient |
| Deut 32:4 | He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice. A God of truth... | God's perfect and just nature |
| Psa 19:9 | The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. | Affirmation of God's just judgments |
| Psa 119:137 | Righteous are You, O LORD, And upright are Your judgments. | Declaration of God's righteous character and judgments |
| Isa 6:3 | And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts.” | Heavenly praise of God’s holiness and sovereignty |
| Rom 2:2 | We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those... | God's judgment based on truth |
| Rom 3:5-6 | Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? ...By no means! For then how could God judge the world? | God's righteousness in inflicting wrath |
| 2 Thes 1:5-6 | manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God... recompense tribulation | God's righteous judgment for suffering believers |
| Heb 10:30 | “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. | God’s prerogative to execute vengeance |
| Rev 18:20 | “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you...” | Rejoicing over God’s avenging judgment |
| Rev 19:2 | For true and righteous are His judgments... avenged on her the blood of His servants. | God's judgments affirmed as true and righteous |
| Job 34:10 | Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do unrighteousness. | God is incapable of unrighteousness |
| Jer 10:10 | But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God... At His wrath the earth will tremble. | God as the true God whose wrath causes tremble |
| Psa 94:1-2 | O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs... Lift Yourself up, O Judge of the earth. | Call for God to exercise His role as Judge |
| Luke 18:7 | And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him...? | God avenges His elect's cries for justice |
Revelation 16 verses
Revelation 16 7 Meaning
Revelation 16:7 describes a declaration heard from the altar in heaven, affirming God’s absolute truth and justice in the execution of His judgments, specifically the plagues of wrath currently being poured out. This voice confirms that the severe divine retribution is not arbitrary but perfectly righteous, especially against those who have shed the blood of God’s saints and prophets.
Revelation 16 7 Context
This verse is positioned amidst the outpouring of the seven bowls of God's wrath upon the earth, marking the climactic series of judgments in the book of Revelation. Immediately preceding verse 7, an angel associated with the waters declares the perfect justice of God's judgment in turning the rivers and springs into blood (Rev 16:4), stating that the wicked "deserve it" because "they have shed the blood of saints and prophets" (Rev 16:5-6). The voice from the altar in verse 7 serves as a powerful theological affirmation, confirming the truth and righteousness of these particular judgments. It underscores that God's severe actions against humanity are not capricious but a just response to the shedding of innocent blood and the rejection of His truth. This pronouncement aims to reassure John's original audience, who were facing intense persecution, that their suffering was observed and would be righteously avenged by the all-powerful and just God.
Revelation 16 7 Word analysis
- And I heard: Implies divine revelation to John, emphasizing that this declaration is not a human observation but a supernaturally conveyed truth.
- another: allos (ἄλλος). Refers to another entity or person in addition to the angel of the waters (Rev 16:5). Given the source "from the altar," it is strongly associated with the souls of the martyred saints (Rev 6:9-10) or an angelic figure acting on their behalf, further validating the statement's authority and profound significance for those who died for Christ.
- from the altar: ek tou thysiastēriou (ἐκ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου). The altar here evokes both the altar of burnt offering (sacrifices) and the altar of incense (prayers). More significantly, in Revelation 6:9, it is explicitly where the souls of martyred saints are seen crying out for justice. The voice originating from or at the altar links this divine affirmation of judgment directly to the pleas of those who died for their faith, confirming that God is now answering their prayers for retribution.
- say: legontos (λέγοντος). Indicates a declarative statement of profound theological weight, a formal affirmation.
- Yes: Nai (Ναί). A strong affirmative particle, conveying absolute agreement and confirmation. It functions as a resounding "Indeed!" or "Amen!" to the preceding divine statements concerning justice.
- Lord God Almighty: Kyrie ho Theos ho Pantokratōr (Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς ὁ Παντοκράτωρ). A supreme divine title combining Lordship (Kyrie), Divinity (Theos), and Omnipotence (Pantokratōr, literally "all-ruling" or "all-holding"). This emphasizes God’s absolute sovereignty, supreme power, and authority over all creation and all events, including these terrible judgments. It underlines that the judge is undeniably fit to judge.
- true and just: alēthinoi kai dikaioi (ἀληθινοὶ καὶ δίκαιοι). These are crucial divine attributes applied directly to God’s judgments. "True" (alēthinoi) speaks of God's perfect faithfulness to His character and word, reflecting ultimate reality. "Just" (dikaioi) speaks of God's inherent righteousness and impartiality, ensuring that His actions are always equitable, right, and aligned with His holy nature. Together, they form an unshakeable basis for the judgments.
- are your judgments!: hai kriseis sou (αἱ κρίσεις σου). "Judgments" here refers specifically to the acts of divine wrath and retribution (the bowls of wrath), especially those against those who spilled the blood of God’s people. This declaration validates these actions as righteous and merited, rather than arbitrary or excessive. The exclamation mark in English translations conveys the fervor and emphatic nature of the declaration.
Revelation 16 7 Bonus section
The affirmation in Rev 16:7 echoes the declaration of the King of the Ages (the Lamb) in Revelation 15:3, "Just and true are Your ways, King of the Saints!" This repetition strengthens the thematic link between the holiness and justice of God as revealed through both His Lamb (Jesus Christ) and His direct acts of judgment. The repeated "true and just" serves as a counter-narrative to earthly injustices, establishing divine equity as the ultimate standard. The speaker from the altar acts as a witness, providing cosmic testimony to God's character and righteous administration of judgment against sin and persecution.
Revelation 16 7 Commentary
Revelation 16:7 is a powerful theological cornerstone within the Book of Revelation, affirming the righteousness of God's eschatological judgments. It's not a voice of lament or questioning, but of enthusiastic affirmation originating from a place highly symbolic of sacrifice and petition: the heavenly altar. This voice—likely from an angel particularly tasked with attending the altar or, even more poignantly, from the collective cry of martyred saints whose prayers for justice ascend from under this very altar (Rev 6:9-10)—serves to confirm that the horrific judgments unleashed are utterly true and just. This declaration counters any human tendency to view divine wrath as vengeful caprice; instead, it underscores that every divine action, even the most severe, flows from the unchangeable character of God, who is always "true and just." For persecuted believers then and now, this verse offers immense comfort and reassurance that their suffering is not unnoticed, and God will indeed vindicate His people and judge the unrighteous with perfect equity. It solidifies the truth that God’s justice, though slow to human perception, is precise, necessary, and ultimately glorious.