Revelation 19:6
in Revelation 19And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunders, saying, Hallelujah: for the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigneth.
KJV
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
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This verse in Revelation 19
Commentary
13 notes on this verseThe voice of a great multitude - This is the catholic or universal Church of God gathered from among the Gentiles. The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth - Εβασιλευσε Κυριος ὁ Θεος ὁ παντοκρατωρ. Many excellent MSS., most of the versions, with Andreas and Arethas, the two most ancient commentators on this book, add ἡμων, our, after ὁ Θεος· and according to this the text reads emphatically thus: Our Lord God, the Almighty, reigneth.
This site's exposition
the twenty-four elders
on Revelation 19:4-6
The elders and living creatures, leading worship since chapter 4, fall down a final time with Amen and Hallelujah. A voice from the throne calls all His servants, small and great alike, to the same praise. The multitude gives the ground of it: the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
This site's exposition
the Almighty reigns
The Berean's our God follows the manuscripts Adam Clarke preferred, a reading Andreas and Arethas also give. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown note that the verb is literally reigned, which marks the reign as a fact already established. The song celebrates what has now taken place.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
We know that later on the apostles also [sang psalms and hymns], since not even in prison did they cease to sing. So, too, Paul speaks to the prophets of the church: "When you come together, each of you has a hymn, has an instruction, …
Just as the Seraphim before the divine prophet Isaiah, having three times cried "Holy," (Isa. 6:3) enclosed the threefold hymn into one lordship, signifying the three as to their properties and persons, whereby the hymned are called beloved, but one as to the essence of …
The trumpets signify that preaching of which Isaiah spoke, saying, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet." In this preaching the dread of the divine judgment is also indicated, which I think is also suggested by the mention of the thunder.… …
The Medieval Church2 voices
"The voice of a great multitude and of many waters and thunderpeals" signifies the piercing clarity of the hymn, for all the angelic and heavenly powers are without number, and some have interpreted these to be the waters above the heavens. With these [heavenly powers] …
And I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great trumpet and the voice of many waters, etc. The great voice of the singers is the great devotion of the heart; which, with the repeated multitude of praises, celebrates both the ruin of …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
There is no discord in heaven; the morning stars sing together; no jarring string, nor key untuned, but pure and perfect melody. The occasion of this song; and that is the reign and dominion of that omnipotent God who has redeemed his church by his own blood, and is now in a more public manner betrothing her to himself: The marriage of the Lamb has come,
And I heard the voice of a great multitude. So all his servants did praise him. The Almighty reigneth - More eminently and gloriously than ever before.
And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
This verse is the hearty response to the stirring call, "Alleluia! Praise our God" (Re 19:4, 5). the Lord God omnipotent--Greek, "the Omnipotent." reigneth--literally, "reigned": hence reigneth once for all. His reign is a fact already established.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude - In Rev 19:1 he says that he “heard a great voice of much people”; here he says he “heard as it were a voice of a great multitude.” That is, in the former case he heard a shout that he at once recognized as the voice of a great multitude of persons; here he says that he heard a sound not distinctly recognized at first as such, but which resembled such a shout of a multitude. In the former case it was distinct; here it was confused - bearing a resemblance to the sound of roaring waters, or to muttering thunder, but less distinct than the former. This phrase would imply: (a) A louder sound; and, (b) That the sound was more remote, and therefore less clear and distinct. And as the voice of many waters - The comparison of the voices of a host of people with the roar of mighty waters is not uncommon in the Scriptures. See the notes on Isa 17:12-13. So in Homer: “The monarch spoke, and straight a murmur rose, Loud as the surges when the tempest blows; That dash’d on broken rocks tumultuous roar, And foam and thunder on the stony shore.” And as the voice of mighty thunderings - The loud, deep, heavy voice of thunder. The distant shouts of a multitude may properly be represented by the sound of heavy thunder. Saying, Alleluia - See the notes on Rev 19:1. This is the fourth time in which this is uttered as expressive of the joy of the heavenly hosts in view of the overthrow of the enemies of the church. The occasion will be worthy of this emphatic expression of joy. For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth - Yahweh - God Almighty - the true God. The meaning is, that as the last enemy of the church is destroyed, he now truly reigns. […]
The words behind it
26 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἤκουσα | ekousa | I heard | G191 → | 425 times |
| ὡς | hos | [something] like | G5613 → | 500 times |
| φωνὴν | phonen | [the] voice | G5456 → | 139 times |
| ὄχλου | ochlou | of a multitude | G3793 → | 175 times |
| πολλοῦ | pollou | great | G4183 → | 367 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὡς | hos | like | G5613 → | 500 times |
| φωνὴν | phonen | [the] sound | G5456 → | 139 times |
| ὑδάτων | hudaton | of waters | G5204 → | 76 times |
| πολλῶν | pollon | many | G4183 → | 367 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὡς | hos | like | G5613 → | 500 times |
| φωνὴν | phonen | a sound | G5456 → | 139 times |
| βροντῶν | bronton | of thunders | G1027 → | 12 times |
| ἰσχυρῶν | ischuron | mighty | G2478 → | 29 times |
| λεγόντων· | legonton | saying: | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| ἁλληλουϊά· | hallelouia | Hallelujah! | G239 → | 4 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | For | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἐβασίλευσεν | ebasileusen | has reigned | G936 → | 21 times |
| κύριος | kurios | [the] Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸς | theos | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἡμῶν | hemon | of us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| παντοκράτωρ. | pantokrator | Almighty. | G3841 → | 10 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἤκουσαI heard
ekousaG191 →425 times
ὡς[something] like
hosG5613 →500 times
φωνὴν[the] voice
phonenG5456 →139 times
ὄχλουof a multitude
ochlouG3793 →175 times
πολλοῦgreat
pollouG4183 →367 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὡςlike
hosG5613 →500 times
φωνὴν[the] sound
phonenG5456 →139 times
ὑδάτωνof waters
hudatonG5204 →76 times
πολλῶνmany
pollonG4183 →367 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὡςlike
hosG5613 →500 times
φωνὴνa sound
phonenG5456 →139 times
βροντῶνof thunders
brontonG1027 →12 times
ἰσχυρῶνmighty
ischuronG2478 →29 times
λεγόντων·saying:
legontonG3004 →1325 times
ἁλληλουϊά·Hallelujah!
hallelouiaG239 →4 times
ὅτιFor
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἐβασίλευσενhas reigned
ebasileusenG936 →21 times
κύριος[the] Lord
kuriosG2962 →711 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεὸςGod
theosG2316 →1312 times
ἡμῶνof us
hemonG3165 →1936 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
παντοκράτωρ.Almighty.
pantokratorG3841 →10 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 93:1The LORD reigns! He is robed in majesty; the LORD has clothed and armed Himself with strength. The world indeed is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
it leads to
- Psalms 99:1
The LORD reigns; let the nations tremble! He is enthroned above the cherubim; let the earth quake!
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 96:10
Declare among the nations: “The LORD reigns!” The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.
- 1 Chronicles 29:12
Both riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler over all. In Your hands are power and might to exalt and give strength to all.
- Psalms 103:19
The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.
- Psalms 65:6
You formed the mountains by Your power, having girded Yourself with might.
- Psalms 99:1
Through
Psalms 99:1The LORD reigns; let the nations tremble! He is enthroned above the cherubim; let the earth quake!
it leads to
- Psalms 93:1
The LORD reigns! He is robed in majesty; the LORD has clothed and armed Himself with strength. The world indeed is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 97:1
The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the distant shores be glad.
- Psalms 93:1
Through
Psalms 97:1The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the distant shores be glad.
it leads to
- Psalms 96:10–11
Declare among the nations: “The LORD reigns!” The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.
- Psalms 96:10–11
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies17
On this verse
On this chapter
About Revelation
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:6-7; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Nicetas of Remesiana, LITURGICAL SINGING 10; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation and Primasius of Hadrumetum, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:6.