New Testament
Revelation 16:21
The Clear Bible Translation matches the King James Version, written at a 10th-grade reading level in plain English
At a Glance
In Revelation 16:21, we see a dramatic scene where massive hailstones, each weighing about a talent (which is roughly 75 pounds), fall from the sky.
- Author
- John the apostle
- Written
- Around AD 95
- Genre
- Apocalyptic prophecy
- Original Audience
- The seven churches of Asia Minor
Enormous hailstones, each weighing about a talent, fell from the sky onto people. They cursed God because of the plague of hail, for the devastation was beyond anything they had ever seen.
And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
Verse Analysis
Plain-English insight for readers
In Revelation 16:21, we see a dramatic scene where massive hailstones, each weighing about a talent (which is roughly 75 pounds), fall from the sky. This catastrophic event is part of a series of plagues that symbolize God's judgment. The people who experience this hailstorm respond not with repentance but with curses directed at God, showing their hardened hearts and refusal to acknowledge His power. The devastation caused by the hail is described as unprecedented, emphasizing the severity of the situation. This passage illustrates the consequences of human rebellion against God and highlights the futility of blaming God for calamities instead of recognizing His sovereignty and justice. It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of humility and repentance in the face of divine judgment.
Key themes
Related topics
Related Bible verses
How to apply Revelation 16:21 to your life
This verse challenges us to reflect on our responses to difficult situations. Instead of blaming God for our troubles, we should seek to understand His purposes and respond with humility. It encourages us to turn to God in repentance rather than hardening our hearts against Him.
Curated for this public verse page. Revelation Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick, clear answers about this verse
What does Revelation 16:21 mean about the hailstones?
Revelation 16:21 describes a catastrophic event where enormous hailstones, each weighing about a talent (approximately 75 pounds), fall from the sky as part of God's judgment. This imagery symbolizes the severity of divine punishment and the consequences of human rebellion against God. The passage emphasizes the unprecedented nature of this calamity and the refusal of the people to repent, instead cursing God for their suffering.
Why do the people in Revelation 16:21 curse God?
In Revelation 16:21, the people curse God in response to the devastating hailstorm, demonstrating their hardened hearts and refusal to acknowledge His power. Instead of repenting for their sins, they blame God for their suffering, highlighting a common human tendency to resist accountability and reject divine authority, even in the face of overwhelming evidence of God's sovereignty.
What is the significance of the weight of the hailstones in this verse?
The mention of hailstones weighing about a talent in Revelation 16:21 serves to illustrate the extraordinary and terrifying nature of this plague. A talent is roughly 75 pounds, indicating that these hailstones are not only massive but also capable of causing immense destruction. This detail underscores the severity of God's judgment and the seriousness of the consequences faced by those who rebel against Him.
How does Revelation 16:21 relate to the theme of divine judgment?
Revelation 16:21 is a vivid illustration of divine judgment, showcasing the consequences of human rebellion against God. The catastrophic hailstorm represents one of the plagues that symbolize God's wrath and justice. This verse serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the importance of recognizing God's sovereignty, urging readers to reflect on their own responses to divine authority and judgment.
The Book of Revelation
Revelation 1: The Revelation of Jesus Christ
This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gives Him to show His servants things which must shortly come to pass, sent and signified by His angel to John, who bears record of the word of God. A blessing is pronounced upon those who read and hear the words of this prophecy and keep the things written therein, for the time is at hand. John writes to the seven churches in Asia, sending grace and peace from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead, who washed us from our sins in His own blood. He declares Himself Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending. John, in the isle of Patmos for the word of God, is in the Spirit on the Lord's day and hears behind him a great voice as a trumpet. Turning, he sees seven golden candlesticks and one like the Son of man among them, clothed to the foot, His head and hairs white as wool, His eyes as a flame of fire, His feet like fine brass, His voice as the sound of many waters, seven stars in His right hand, and a sharp twoedged sword going out of His mouth. John falls at His feet as dead, and the Lord lays His right hand upon him, saying, Fear not, I am the first and the last, He that liveth and was dead and is alive for evermore. He reveals that the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven candlesticks are the seven churches.
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