Revelation 16:2

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.

And {G2532} the first {G4413} went {G565}, and {G2532} poured out {G1632} his {G846} vial {G5357} upon {G1909} the earth {G1093}; and {G2532} there fell {G1096} a noisome {G2556} and {G2532} grievous {G4190} sore {G1668} upon {G1519} the men {G444} which {G3588} had {G2192} the mark {G5480} of the beast {G2342}, and {G2532} upon them which worshipped {G4352} his {G846} image {G1504}.

So the first one went and poured his bowl onto the earth, and disgusting and painful sores appeared on all the people who had the mark of the beast and worshipped its image.

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.

And the first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth; and it became a noisome and grievous sore upon the men that had the mark of the beast, and that worshipped his image.

Commentary

Revelation 16:2 introduces the first of the seven "vial" or "bowl" judgments, a series of divine plagues poured out upon the earth in the final stages of the prophetic end times. This verse vividly describes a targeted and severe retribution against those who have aligned themselves with evil.

Context

This verse is part of the climactic judgments found in Revelation chapters 15 and 16. After the opening of the seven seals and the sounding of the seven trumpets, the seven vials represent the culmination of God's wrath, often described as "the seven last plagues" (Revelation 15:1). Unlike some previous judgments that affected a portion of the earth, these vials appear to be more intense, widespread, and definitive. The first vial specifically targets those who have embraced the antichrist system, setting a precedent for the precise nature of the subsequent judgments.

Key Themes

  • Divine Retribution and Justice: The most striking aspect of this plague is its specific target: "the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image." This clearly indicates that God's judgments are not arbitrary but are righteous responses to human rebellion and idolatry. It underscores the principle that choices have consequences, particularly allegiance to spiritual darkness. For more on the mark, see Revelation 13:16-18.
  • Physical Suffering as Judgment: The "noisome and grievous sore" (Greek: helkos) is a painful and repulsive affliction, reminiscent of the boils inflicted upon Egypt in Exodus 9:9-11. This physical manifestation of judgment highlights the severity of God's wrath against sin, affecting the very bodies of those who have defiled themselves by worshipping the beast.
  • Consequences of Idolatry: The plague falls specifically on those who "worshipped his image," a direct reference to the false worship demanded by the beast's system (Revelation 13:15). This emphasizes that idolatry, or giving ultimate allegiance to anything other than God, incurs severe divine displeasure.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "noisome and grievous sore" translates the Greek helkos poneros kai kakos (ἕλκος πονηρὸς καὶ κακὸς). Helkos refers to a festering ulcer or boil, indicating a painful, persistent, and often disfiguring ailment. Poneros implies something evil or malignant, while kakos denotes something bad or harmful. Together, they convey a deeply unpleasant and severe physical affliction, a direct consequence of their spiritual corruption.

Practical Application

While this prophecy speaks to future events, it carries timeless implications. It serves as a stark warning about the ultimate consequences of choosing to reject God and align with systems that oppose Him. For believers, it offers assurance that God is just and will ultimately bring retribution upon evil, providing comfort that suffering and injustice will not have the final say. It also underscores the importance of discerning spiritual allegiances and remaining faithful to Christ, regardless of worldly pressures, knowing that true security is found only in Him.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Revelation 8:7

    ¶ The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

  • Revelation 13:15

    And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

  • Revelation 13:18

    Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred threescore [and] six.

  • Revelation 16:11

    And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

  • Deuteronomy 28:27

    The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.

  • Exodus 9:8

    ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.

  • Exodus 9:11

    And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.
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