I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments.”
Parallel translations
- KJV And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
- BSB And I heard the altar reply: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are Your judgments.”
- NKJV And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”
- NASB And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”
- NLT And I heard a voice from the altar, saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, your judgments are true and just.”
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 altar affirms that God's judgments are true and righteous. Heaven doubly confirms the justice of God's wrath.
Overview
The altar, associated with the prayers and blood of the martyrs (6:9), responds 'Yes,' echoing the angel's praise of God's righteousness. This second witness underscores that the bowl-judgments fully answer the saints' longing for vindication. The Almighty's judgments are declared 'true and righteous,' silencing any charge of injustice.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Rev 19:2for true and righteous are his judgments. For he has judged the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.”
- Rev 6:9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had.
- Rev 15:3–4They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations.
- Isa 6:6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar.
- Rev 8:3–5Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.
- Rev 14:18Another angel came out from the altar, he who has power over fire, and he called with a great voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Send your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for the earth’s grapes are fully ripe!”
- Rev 14:10he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.
- Ezek 10:7The cherub stretched out his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took some of it, and put it into the hands of him who was clothed in linen, who took it and went out.
- Rev 13:10If anyone is to go into captivity, he will go into captivity. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, he must be killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints.
- Ezek 10:2He spoke to the man clothed in linen, and said, “Go in between the whirling wheels, even under the cherub, and fill both your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city.” He went in as I watched.
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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 16:7 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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