He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.
Parallel translations
- KJV And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
- BSB Then he cried out in a loud voice like the roar of a lion. And when he cried out, the seven thunders sounded their voices.
- NKJV and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices.
- NASB and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices.
- NLT And he gave a great shout like the roar of a lion. And when he shouted, the seven thunders answered.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The angel shouts like a roaring lion, and seven thunders answer. A powerful divine pronouncement is made, full of warning.
Overview
The lion-like cry conveys majesty and judgment (Amos 3:8; Hosea 11:10). The "seven thunders" speak with their own intelligible message, thunder often signaling God's voice (Psalm 29; John 12:28-29). The scene builds anticipation for a further revelation. Yet, as the next verse shows, not everything God knows is given to be disclosed, reminding us that some things remain hidden in His wisdom.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Isa 31:4For Yahweh says to me, “As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds is called together against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for their noise, so Yahweh of Armies will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its heights.
- Joel 3:16Yahweh will roar from Zion, and thunder from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth will shake; but Yahweh will be a refuge to his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel.
- Amos 1:2He said: “Yahweh will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the pastures of the shepherds will mourn, and the top of Carmel will wither.”
- Rev 4:5Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
- Isa 5:29Their roaring will be like a lioness. They will roar like young lions. Yes, they shall roar, and seize their prey and carry it off, and there will be no one to deliver.
- Prov 19:12The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
- Rev 15:1I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God’s wrath is finished.
- Rev 8:5The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it on the earth. There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake.
- Jer 25:30“Therefore prophesy you against them all these words, and tell them, “‘Yahweh will roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he will mightily roar against his fold. He will give a shout, as those who tread grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.
- Rev 14:2I heard a sound from heaven, like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of a great thunder. The sound which I heard was like that of harpists playing on their harps.
- Isa 42:13Yahweh will go out like a mighty man. He will stir up zeal like a man of war. He will raise a war cry. Yes, he will shout aloud. He will triumph over his enemies.
- Amos 3:8The lion has roared. Who will not fear? The Lord Yahweh has spoken. Who can but prophesy?
- Rev 15:7One of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 10:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.