Revelation 6:15 kjv

And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

Revelation 6:15 nkjv

And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,

Revelation 6:15 niv

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.

Revelation 6:15 esv

Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,

Revelation 6:15 nlt

Then everyone ? the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person ? all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains.

Revelation 6 verses

Heading 2: MeaningThis verse describes the immediate and universal reaction of humanity, spanning all social strata from the most powerful to the most humble, to the terrifying cosmic events unfolded during the opening of the sixth seal. Faced with the evident, inescapable wrath of God and the Lamb, they are overwhelmed by fear, seeking desperately, yet vainly, to hide in natural shelters from the divine judgment they instinctively perceive as imminent. It vividly portrays the ultimate powerlessness of humanity before God's sovereign might.

Heading 2: Cross References

Heading 2: ContextRevelation chapter 6 describes the opening of the first six of seven seals. The first four seals introduce the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," symbolizing conquest, war, famine, and death, which wreak havoc on the earth. The fifth seal reveals the souls of martyrs under the altar, crying out for vengeance. This sets the stage for the sixth seal (Rev 6:12-17), which initiates catastrophic cosmic disturbances: the sun turning black, the moon turning blood-red, stars falling, the sky vanishing like a scroll, and every mountain and island being moved. Revelation 6:15 is the immediate human response to these terrifying events. It depicts the panic and desperation that grips all segments of society when confronted with the overwhelming power and wrath of God, manifesting through these dramatic signs. Historically, John is writing to Christian communities in Asia Minor who faced persecution, conveying a message of both comfort and warning – comfort that God is in control and will bring justice, and warning about the certainty of divine judgment for the ungodly world.

Heading 2: Word analysis

• And the kings of the earth (καὶ οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς - kai hoi basileis tēs gēs): Signifies political rulers, heads of states, wielding earthly power. "Of the earth" highlights their worldly focus and authority, contrasted with God's heavenly rule. This immediately establishes that even the most powerful human beings are subject to the coming judgment.
• and the great men (καὶ οἱ μεγιστᾶνες - kai hoi megistanes): Refers to nobles, chief persons, or magnates – those of high social standing and influence, distinct from ruling monarchs. It implies prominent, powerful elites in society.
• and the rich men (καὶ οἱ πλούσιοι - kai hoi plousioi): Those possessing material wealth. Their riches, typically a source of security and power in the world, prove utterly useless in the face of divine judgment.
• and the chief captains (καὶ οἱ χιλίαρχοι - kai hoi chiliarchoi): Military commanders or tribunes, literally "commanders of a thousand." These are high-ranking military officials, representatives of earthly might and coercive force. Their strategic power and command over armies are now irrelevant.
• and the mighty men (καὶ οἱ δυνατοί - kai hoi dynatoi): Generally powerful individuals, those strong, able, or potent in various respects, not necessarily military. This term captures general influence, physical strength, or societal power.
• and every bondman (καὶ πᾶς δοῦλος - kai pas doulos): Refers to a slave or servant, someone without personal freedom or societal standing. This marks the lowest rung of society, highlighting the absolute inclusivity of this judgment.
• and every free man (καὶ πᾶς ἐλεύθερος - kai pas eleutheros): Individuals who possess personal liberty and civil rights, representing the non-slave, common citizen. This completes the spectrum of human social status.
• hid themselves (ἔκρυψαν ἑαυτοὺς - ekrypsan heautous): An active verb, meaning they physically concealed themselves. It conveys a desperate and instinctual action motivated by overwhelming fear, indicating their profound awareness of danger and guilt.
• in the dens (εἰς τὰ σπήλαια - eis ta spēlaia): In caves or grottoes. These are natural hiding places, often used for refuge during invasions or natural disasters in ancient times.
• and in the rocks of the mountains (καὶ εἰς τὰς πέτρας τῶν ὀρέων - kai eis tas petras tōn oreōn): In the rocky clefts, cliffs, and formidable formations of mountains. This reinforces the idea of seeking shelter in rugged, remote, and seemingly impenetrable natural strongholds, reflecting an attempt to physically disappear from God's sight.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The kings of the earth... and every free man": This comprehensive list ("kings... great men... rich men... chief captains... mighty men... every bondman... every free man") functions as a rhetorical device called a merism, covering the entire breadth of human society. It emphatically demonstrates that absolutely no one, regardless of power, wealth, status, or liberty, is exempt from or unaffected by this judgment. Earthly distinctions become meaningless before divine power.
• "hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains": This phrase emphasizes the extreme and futile desperation of those facing God's wrath. Their reliance on physical geography for concealment reveals their primal fear. The choice of deep, dark, and remote natural shelters signifies their desire to escape not only observation but also judgment itself, highlighting the terror evoked by God's manifest presence. The action is immediate, universal, and driven by an intense, inescapable sense of dread.

Heading 2: CommentaryRevelation 6:15 offers a stark and terrifying glimpse into the human response to God's climactic judgments. It portrays a scene of absolute pandemonium where every segment of humanity, from the reigning monarchs to the enslaved, collectively and desperately seeks refuge from a divine terror they cannot escape. The emphasis on hiding in caves and mountains signifies the futility of relying on physical concealment against an omnipresent and omnipotent God. Earthly power, wealth, and status, which typically provide security and influence, are shown to be utterly meaningless and worthless when confronted by the manifest wrath of God and the Lamb. This verse underscores the impartial nature of God's judgment; no one is above accountability, and all human pretensions of control are shattered. It's a foundational apocalyptic declaration of God's supreme sovereignty, His coming justice, and the inescapable reality of His ultimate dominion over all creation and humanity.

Heading 2: Bonus sectionThe concept of hiding from God is ancient, appearing in Gen 3:8 when Adam and Eve hid after their sin, yet it proved equally futile then as in Revelation. This echoes the Old Testament motif of "The Day of the Lord" (e.g., Isa 13, Joel 2, Zeph 1), a time of God's direct intervention, judgment, and cosmic upheaval. The phrase "the wrath of the Lamb" (Rev 6:16) is a powerful and intentionally shocking paradox. The Lamb, symbolizing Jesus' sacrifice and meekness (John 1:29), is also the triumphant, judging Lion of Judah. This emphasizes the gravity of the judgment: if even the "Lamb" is wroth, then there is truly no mercy or escape for those upon whom His wrath falls. The panic described is not mere natural disaster fear, but a deeper, spiritual terror recognizing a direct encounter with divine judgment, demonstrating that despite their former defiance, their consciences confirm the rightness of God's actions.