Revelation 16:2 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The first bowl brings painful sores upon those who bear the mark of the beast and worship its image.
What Does Revelation 16:2 Mean?
The first angel pours his bowl on the land, and a foul, painful sore breaks out. The plague falls specifically on those marked by the beast, echoing the boils that struck Egypt while Israel was spared. The judgment is targeted, falling on allegiance, not geography.
The sore lands on the very skin that had been stamped with another lord's claim. What people give themselves to leaves its mark, and that mark is what is now afflicted. The verse presses a quiet question on every reader: whose name is written upon us, and whom do we truly serve? Only those who belong to the Lamb stand outside this stroke.
Revelation 16:2 in the Original Language
helkos (ἕλκος), 'sore' -- a festering ulcer or running wound, the same word used for Egypt's boils in the Greek Old Testament.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 16:2
What does Revelation 16:2 mean?
The first bowl brings painful sores upon those who bear the mark of the beast and worship its image.