saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!”
Parallel translations
- KJV Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
- BSB saying to the sixth angel with the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”
- NKJV saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”
- NASB saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”
- NLT And the voice said to the sixth angel who held the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great Euphrates River.”
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 voice orders the release of four angels bound at the Euphrates. Restrained agents of judgment are now loosed at God's command.
Overview
The Euphrates marked the eastern boundary of the Promised Land and the direction from which Israel's great enemies came; it evokes invasion and threat. These four angels—likely fallen or destroying angels—have been "bound," again showing that judgment is held back until God's appointed time. Their release at command demonstrates God's total control over the timing of judgment. Nothing breaks loose in history except by His sovereign word.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Rev 16:12The sixth poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates. Its water was dried up, that the way might be prepared for the kings that come from the sunrise.
- 2 Sam 8:3David struck also Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion at the River.
- Rev 9:15The four angels were freed who had been prepared for that hour and day and month and year, so that they might kill one third of mankind.
- Gen 2:14The name of the third river is Hiddekel. This is the one which flows in front of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.
- Jer 51:63It shall be, when you have finished reading this book, that you shall bind a stone to it, and cast it into the middle of the Euphrates.
- Rev 8:6The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
- Rev 7:1After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree.
- Rev 8:2I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
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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 9:14 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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