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Selected Verse: Revelation 11:6 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Re 11:6	Strong Concordance	These [3778] have [2192] power [1849] to shut [2808] heaven [3772], that [3363] it rain [1026] [5205] not [3363] in [1722] the days [2250] of their [846] prophecy [4394]: and [2532] have [2192] power [1849] over [1909] waters [5204] to turn [4762] them [846] to [1519] blood [129], and [2532] to smite [3960] the earth [1093] with all [3956] plagues [4127], as often [3740] as [1437] they will [2309].
	King James	These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
These . . . power--Greek, "authorized power." it rain not--Greek, "huetos brechee," "rain shower not," literally, "moisten" not (the earth). smite . . . with all plagues--Greek, "with (literally, 'in') every plague."

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

These . . . power--Greek, "authorized power."

it rain not--Greek, "huetos brechee," "rain shower not," literally, "moisten" not (the earth).

smite . . . with all plagues--Greek, "with (literally, 'in') every plague."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
These have power to shut heaven - That is, so far as rain is concerned - for this is immediately specified. There is probably a reference here to an ancient opinion that the rain was kept in the clouds of heaven as in reservoirs or bottles, and that when they were opened it rained; when they were closed it ceased to rain. So Job, "He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not rent under them," Job 26:8. "Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly," Job 36:28. "Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven?" Job 38:37; compare Gen 1:7; Gen 7:12; Gen 8:2; Kg2 7:2. To shut or close up the heavens, therefore, is to restrain the rain from descending, or to produce a drought. Compare notes on Jam 5:17. That it rain not in the days of their prophecy - In the time when they prophesy. Probably the allusion here is to what is said of Elijah, Kg1 17:1. This would properly refer to some miraculous power; but still it may be used to denote merely that they would be clothed with the power of causing blessings to be withheld from people, as if rain were withheld; that is, that in consequence of the calamities that would be brought upon them, and the persecutions which they would endure, God would bring judgments upon people as if they were clothed with this power. The language, therefore, it seems to me, does not necessarily imply that they would have the power of working miracles. And have power over waters to turn them to blood - The allusion here is doubtless to what occurred in Egypt, Exo 7:17. Compare the notes on Rev 8:8. This, too, would literally denote the power of working a miracle; but still it is not absolutely necessary to suppose that this is intended. Anything that would be represented by turning waters into blood, would correspond with all that is necessarily implied in the language. If any great calamity should occur in consequence of what was done to them that would be properly represented by turning the waters into blood so that they could not be used, and that was so connected with the treatment which they received as to appear to be a judgment of heaven on that account, or that would appear to have come upon the world in consequence of their imprecations, it would be all that is necessarily implied in this language. And to smite the earth with all plagues - All kinds of plague or calamity; disease, pestilence, famine, flood, etc. The word "plague" - πληγῇ plēgē - which means, properly, "stroke, stripe, blow," would include any or all of these. The meaning here is, that great calamities would follow the manner in which they were treated, as if the power were lodged in their hands. As often as they will - So that it would seem that they could exercise this power as they pleased.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

These have power to shut heaven - That is, so far as rain is concerned - for this is immediately specified. There is probably a reference here to an ancient opinion that the rain was kept in the clouds of heaven as in reservoirs or bottles, and that when they were opened it rained; when they were closed it ceased to rain. So Job, "He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not rent under them," Job 26:8. "Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly," Job 36:28. "Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven?" Job 38:37; compare Gen 1:7; Gen 7:12; Gen 8:2; Kg2 7:2. To shut or close up the heavens, therefore, is to restrain the rain from descending, or to produce a drought. Compare notes on Jam 5:17.

That it rain not in the days of their prophecy - In the time when they prophesy. Probably the allusion here is to what is said of Elijah, Kg1 17:1. This would properly refer to some miraculous power; but still it may be used to denote merely that they would be clothed with the power of causing blessings to be withheld from people, as if rain were withheld; that is, that in consequence of the calamities that would be brought upon them, and the persecutions which they would endure, God would bring judgments upon people as if they were clothed with this power. The language, therefore, it seems to me, does not necessarily imply that they would have the power of working miracles.

And have power over waters to turn them to blood - The allusion here is doubtless to what occurred in Egypt, Exo 7:17. Compare the notes on Rev 8:8. This, too, would literally denote the power of working a miracle; but still it is not absolutely necessary to suppose that this is intended. Anything that would be represented by turning waters into blood, would correspond with all that is necessarily implied in the language. If any great calamity should occur in consequence of what was done to them that would be properly represented by turning the waters into blood so that they could not be used, and that was so connected with the treatment which they received as to appear to be a judgment of heaven on that account, or that would appear to have come upon the world in consequence of their imprecations, it would be all that is necessarily implied in this language.

And to smite the earth with all plagues - All kinds of plague or calamity; disease, pestilence, famine, flood, etc. The word "plague" - πληγῇ plēgē - which means, properly, "stroke, stripe, blow," would include any or all of these. The meaning here is, that great calamities would follow the manner in which they were treated, as if the power were lodged in their hands.

As often as they will - So that it would seem that they could exercise this power as they pleased.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
To shut up the heaven As Elijah, Kg1 17:1; Luk 4:25; Jam 5:17. That it rain not (ἵνα μὴ βρέχῃ ὑετὸς) Lit., that the rain may not wet. To turn them into blood Compare Exo 7:19. To smite (πατάξαι) Used by John only in Revelation, here and Rev 19:15. Compare Mat 26:31; Mar 14:27; Luk 22:49, Luk 22:50; Act 12:7, Act 12:23. With all plagues (πάσῃ πληγῇ) Singular number. Rev., correctly, with every plague. See on Mar 3:10. Not merely with the plagues with which Moses smote Egypt.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
These have power - And they use that power. See Rev 11:10. To shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophesying - During those "twelve hundred and sixty days." And have power over the waters - In and near Jerusalem. To turn them into blood - As Moses did those in Egypt. And to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will - This is not said of Moses or Elijah, or any mere man besides. And how is it possible to understand this otherwise than of two individual persons?

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
These have power to shut heaven - As Elijah did, 1 Kings 17:1-18:46. To turn them to blood - As Moses did, Exo 7:19-25. They shall have power to afflict the land with plagues, similar to those which were inflicted on the Egyptians.

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⁸ And [2532] the second [1208] angel [32] sounded [4537], and [2532] as it were [5613] a great [3173] mountain [3735] burning [2545] with fire [4442] was cast [906] into [1519] the sea [2281]: and [2532] the third part [5154] of the sea [2281] became [1096] blood [129];

¹⁷ Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068], In this thou shalt know [03045] that I am the LORD [03068]: behold, I will smite [05221] with the rod [04294] that is in mine hand [03027] upon the waters [04325] which are in the river [02975], and they shall be turned [02015] to blood [01818].

¹ And Elijah [0452] the Tishbite [08664], who was of the inhabitants [08453] of Gilead [01568], said [0559] unto Ahab [0256], As the LORD [03068] God [0430] of Israel [03478] liveth [02416], before [06440] whom I stand [05975], there shall not be dew [02919] nor rain [04306] these years [08141], but according [06310] to my word [01697].

¹⁷ Elias [2243] was [2258] a man [444] subject to like passions as [3663] we are [2254], and [2532] he prayed [4336] earnestly [4335] that it might [1026] not [3361] rain [1026]: and [2532] it rained [1026] not [3756] on [1909] the earth [1093] by the space of three [5140] years [1763] and [2532] six [1803] months [3376].

² Then a lord [07991] on whose hand [03027] the king [04428] leaned [08172] answered [06030] the man [0376] of God [0430], and said [0559], Behold, if the LORD [03068] would make [06213] windows [0699] in heaven [08064], might this thing [01697] be? And he said [0559], Behold, thou shalt see [07200] it with thine eyes [05869], but shalt not eat [0398] thereof.

² The fountains [04599] also of the deep [08415] and the windows [0699] of heaven [08064] were stopped [05534], and the rain [01653] from heaven [08064] was restrained [03607];

¹² And the rain [01653] was upon the earth [0776] forty [0705] days [03117] and forty [0705] nights [03915].

⁷ And God [0430] made [06213] the firmament [07549], and divided [0914] the waters [04325] which [0834] were under [08478] the firmament [07549] from the waters [04325] which [0834] were above [05921] the firmament [07549]: and it was so [03651].

³⁷ Who can number [05608] the clouds [07834] in wisdom [02451]? or who can stay [07901] the bottles [05035] of heaven [08064],

²⁸ Which the clouds [07834] do drop [05140] and distil [07491] upon man [0120] abundantly [07227].

⁸ He bindeth up [06887] the waters [04325] in his thick clouds [05645]; and the cloud [06051] is not rent [01234] under them.

¹⁰ For [1063] he had healed [2323] many [4183]; insomuch that [5620] they pressed upon [1968] him [846] for to [2443] touch [680] him [846], as many as [3745] had [2192] plagues [3148].

²³ And [1161] immediately [3916] the angel [32] of the Lord [2962] smote [3960] him [846], because [473] [3739] he gave [1325] not [3756] God [2316] the glory [1391]: and [2532] he was [1096] eaten of worms [4662], and gave up the ghost [1634].

⁷ And [2532], behold [2400], the angel [32] of the Lord [2962] came upon [2186] him, and [2532] a light [5457] shined [2989] in [1722] the prison [3612]: and [1161] he smote [3960] Peter [4074] on the side [4125], and raised [1453] him [846] up [1453], saying [3004], Arise up [450] quickly [1722] [5034]. And [2532] his [846] chains [254] fell off [1601] from [1537] his hands [5495].

⁵⁰ And [2532] one [1520] [5100] of [1537] them [846] smote [3960] the servant [1401] of the high priest [749], and [2532] cut off [851] his [846] right [1188] ear [3775].

⁴⁹ When [1161] they which were about [4012] him [846] saw [1492] what would follow [2071], they said [2036] unto him [846], Lord [2962], [1487] shall we smite [3960] with [1722] the sword [3162]?

²⁷ And [2532] Jesus [2424] saith [3004] unto them [846], [3754] All ye [3956] shall be offended [4624] because of [1722] me [1722] [1698] this [5026] night [3571]: for [3754] it is written [1125], I will smite [3960] the shepherd [4166], and [2532] the sheep [4263] shall be scattered [1287].

³¹ Then [5119] saith [3004] Jesus [2424] unto them [846], All [3956] ye [5210] shall be offended [4624] because [1722] of me [1722] [1698] this [5026] night [3571]: for [1063] it is written [1125], I will smite [3960] the shepherd [4166], and [2532] the sheep [4263] of the flock [4167] shall be scattered abroad [1287].

¹⁵ And [2532] out of [1537] his [846] mouth [4750] goeth [1607] a sharp [3691] sword [4501], that [2443] with [1722] it [846] he should smite [3960] the nations [1484]: and [2532] he [846] shall rule [4165] them [846] with [1722] a rod [4464] of iron [4603]: and [2532] he [846] treadeth [3961] the winepress [3025] [3631] of the fierceness [2372] and [2532] wrath [3709] of Almighty [3841] God [2316].

²⁵ But [1161] I tell [3004] you [5213] of [1909] a truth [225], many [4183] widows [5503] were [2258] in [1722] Israel [2474] in [1722] the days [2250] of Elias [2243], when [3753] the heaven [3772] was shut up [2808] [1909] three [5140] years [2094] and [2532] six [1803] months [3376], when [5613] great [3173] famine [3042] was [1096] throughout [1909] all [3956] the land [1093];

¹⁰ And [2532] they that dwell [2730] upon [1909] the earth [1093] shall rejoice [5463] over [1909] them [846], and [2532] make merry [2165], and [2532] shall send [3992] gifts [1435] one to another [240]; because [3754] these [3778] two [1417] prophets [4396] tormented [928] them that dwelt [2730] on [1909] the earth [1093].

¹⁹ And the LORD [03068] spake [0559] unto Moses [04872], Say [0559] unto Aaron [0175], Take [03947] thy rod [04294], and stretch out [05186] thine hand [03027] upon the waters [04325] of Egypt [04714], upon their streams [05104], upon their rivers [02975], and upon their ponds [098], and upon all their pools [04723] of water [04325], that they may become blood [01818]; and that there may be blood [01818] throughout all the land [0776] of Egypt [04714], both in vessels of wood [06086], and in vessels of stone [068].
²⁰ And Moses [04872] and Aaron [0175] did [06213] so, as the LORD [03068] commanded [06680]; and he lifted up [07311] the rod [04294], and smote [05221] the waters [04325] that were in the river [02975], in the sight [05869] of Pharaoh [06547], and in the sight [05869] of his servants [05650]; and all the waters [04325] that were in the river [02975] were turned [02015] to blood [01818].
²¹ And the fish [01710] that was in the river [02975] died [04191]; and the river [02975] stank [0887], and the Egyptians [04714] could [03201] not drink [08354] of the water [04325] of the river [02975]; and there was blood [01818] throughout all the land [0776] of Egypt [04714].
²² And the magicians [02748] of Egypt [04714] did [06213] so with their enchantments [03909]: and Pharaoh's [06547] heart [03820] was hardened [02388], neither did he hearken [08085] unto them; as the LORD [03068] had said [01696].
²³ And Pharaoh [06547] turned [06437] and went [0935] into his house [01004], neither did he set [07896] his heart [03820] to this [02063] also.
²⁴ And all the Egyptians [04714] digged [02658] round about [05439] the river [02975] for water [04325] to drink [08354]; for they could [03201] not drink [08354] of the water [04325] of the river [02975].
²⁵ And seven [07651] days [03117] were fulfilled [04390], after [0310] that the LORD [03068] had smitten [05221] the river [02975].