The first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth, and it became a harmful and evil sore on the people who had the mark of the beast, and who worshiped his image.
Parallel translations
- KJV 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.
- BSB 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.
- NKJV So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.
- NASB So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and a harmful and painful sore afflicted the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.
- NLT So the first angel left the Temple and poured out his bowl on the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue.
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 first bowl brings painful sores on those who bear the beast's mark and worship its image. Judgment falls specifically on committed idolaters.
Overview
Like the boils of the sixth Egyptian plague, the first bowl afflicts precisely those marked by the beast, distinguishing them from God's sealed people. The targeted judgment shows the justice of God in answering willful idolatry. It also reminds readers that the beast's mark, promising security, in fact brings ruin.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Rev 8:7The first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. One third of the earth was burned up, and one third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
- Rev 16:11and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores. They didn’t repent of their works.
- Rev 13:15–18It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn’t worship the image of the beast to be killed.
- Luke 16:20–22A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores,
- Deut 28:27Yahweh will strike you with the boils of Egypt, with the tumors, with the scurvy, and with the itch, of which you can not be healed.
- Exod 9:8–11Yahweh said to Moses and to Aaron, “Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.
- Isa 3:17therefore the Lord brings sores on the crown of the head of the women of Zion, and Yahweh will make their scalps bald.”
- 2 Chr 21:18After all this Yahweh struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
- 2 Chr 21:15and you will have great sickness with a disease of your bowels, until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by day.’”
- Job 2:7–8So Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh, and struck Job with painful sores from the sole of his foot to his head.
- 1 Sam 5:6But Yahweh’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and struck them with tumors, even Ashdod and its borders.
- Deut 7:15Yahweh will take away from you all sickness; and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you know, will he put on you, but will lay them on all those who hate you.
- Acts 12:23Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.
- 1 Sam 5:9It was so, that after they had carried it there, Yahweh’s hand was against the city with a very great confusion; and he struck the men of the city, both small and great so that tumors broke out on them.
- Isa 1:5–6Why should you be beaten more, that you revolt more and more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
- Ps 78:26He caused the east wind to blow in the sky. By his power he guided the south wind.
- Isa 3:24It shall happen that instead of sweet spices, there shall be rottenness; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well set hair, baldness; instead of a robe, a wearing of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.
- Rev 14:16He who sat on the cloud thrust his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
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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 16:2 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
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