Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
Parallel translations
- WEB saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Free the four angels who are bound at 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 16:12And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
- 2 Sam 8:3David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.
- Rev 9:15And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
- Gen 2:14And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.
- Jer 51:63And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates:
- Rev 8:6And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
- Rev 7:1And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
- Rev 8:2And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
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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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