^16:12Then³⁹ the sixth angel⁴⁰ poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates and dried up its water⁴¹ to prepare the way⁴² for the kings from the east.⁴³^16:13Then⁴⁴ I saw three unclean spirits⁴⁵ that looked like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. ^16:14For they are the spirits of the demons performing signs who go out to the kings of the earth⁴⁶ to bring them together for the battle that will take place on the great day of God, the All-Powerful.⁴⁷

^16:15(Look! I will come like a thief!

Blessed is the one who stays alert and does not lose⁴⁸ his clothes so that he will not have to walk around naked and his shameful condition⁴⁹ be seen.)⁵⁰

^16:16Now⁵¹ the spirits⁵² gathered the kings and their armies⁵³ to the place that is called Armageddon⁵⁴ in Hebrew.

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Footnotes

39 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
40 Grk “the sixth”; the referent (the sixth angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
41 Grk “and its water was dried up.” Here the passive construction has been translated as an active one.
42 Grk “in order that the way might be prepared.” Here the passive construction has been translated as an active one.
43 Grk “from the rising of the sun.” ἀνατολή 2.a takes this as a geographical direction: “ἀπὸ ἀ. ἡλίου … from the east Rv 7:2; 16:12; simply ἀπὸ ἀ.… 21:13.”
44 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
45 According to the next verse, these three unclean spirits are spirits of demons.
46 οἰκουμένη 1 states, “the inhabited earth, the world … ὅλη ἡ οἰκ. the whole inhabited earth … Mt 24:14; Ac 11:28; Rv 3:10; 16:14.”
47 On this word παντοκράτωρ states, “the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One) only of God … (ὁ) κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ π.… Rv 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7; 21:22.”
48 Grk “and keeps.” τηρέω 2.c states “of holding on to someth. so as not to give it up or lose it … τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ Rv 16:15 (or else he will have to go naked).”
49 On the translation of ἀσχημοσύνη (aschēmosunē) as “shameful condition” see L&N 25.202. The indefinite third person plural (“and they see”) has been translated as a passive here.
50 These lines are parenthetical, forming an aside to the narrative. The speaker here is the Lord Jesus Christ himself rather than the narrator. Many interpreters have seen this verse as so abrupt that it could not be an original part of the work, but the author has used such asides before (1:7; 14:13) and the suddenness here (on the eve of Armageddon) is completely parallel to Jesus’ warning in Mark 13:15–16 and parallels.
51 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the resumption and conclusion of the remarks about the pouring out of the sixth bowl.
52 Grk “they”; the referent (the demonic spirits, v. 14) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
53 Grk “gathered them”; the referent (the kings and [implied] their armies, v. 14) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
54 There are many variations in the spelling of this name among the Greek , although Ἁρμαγεδών (harmagedōn) has the best support. The usual English spelling is Armageddon, used in the translation. Or “Harmagedon” (a literal transliteration of the Greek), or “Har-Magedon” (), meaning “the Mount of Magedon” in Hebrew.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.

“Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The sixth poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east. Then I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming from the dragon’s mouth, from the beast’s mouth, and from the mouth of the false prophet. For they are demonic spirits performing signs, who travel to the kings of the whole world to assemble them for the battle on the great day of God, the Almighty. “Look, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who is alert and remains clothed so that he may not go around naked and people see his shame.” So they assembled the kings at the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

NLTNew Living Translation

Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it dried up so that the kings from the east could march their armies toward the west without hindrance. And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty.

“Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”

And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And the sixth poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, in order that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are the spirits of demons performing signs that go out to the kings of the whole inhabited world, to gather them for the battle of the great day of God the All-Powerful. (Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who is on the alert and who keeps his clothing, so that he does not walk around naked and they see his shamefulness!) And he gathered them to the place called in Hebrew Armageddon.

KJV 1900King James Version

And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

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