Revelation 16:4
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And the third angel poured out his vial on the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
American King James Version (AKJV)
And the third angel poured out his vial on the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
American Standard Version (ASV)
And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; and it became blood.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And the third let what was in his vessel come out into the rivers and the fountains of water; and they became blood.
Webster's Revision
And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
World English Bible
The third poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.
English Revised Version (ERV)
And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; and it became blood.
Definitions for Revelation 16:4
Clarke's Revelation 16:4 Bible Commentary
Upon the rivers and fountains of waters - This is an allusion to the first Egyptian plague, Exodus 7:20; and to those plagues in general there are allusions throughout this chapter. It is a sentiment of the rabbins that "whatever plagues God inflicted on the Egyptians in former times, he will inflict on the enemies of his people in all later times." See a long quotation on this subject from Rabbi Tanchum in Schoettgen.
Barnes's Revelation 16:4 Bible Commentary
And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters - This coincides also with the account of the sounding of the third trumpet Revelation 8:10-11; "And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters." As to the meaning of the phrase, "rivers and fountains of waters," see the notes on that passage. We found, it was supposed, in the application of that passage, that the invasion of the Roman empire by Attila, king of the Huns, was referred to, affecting mainly those parts of the empire where the rivers and streams had their origin. The analogy would lead us, in the fulfillment of the passage before us, to look for some similar desolations on those portions of Europe. See the notes at the close of Revelation 16:7.
And they became blood - This would properly mean that they became as blood; or became red with blood; and it would be fulfilled if bloody battles were fought near them, so that they seemed to run blood.
Wesley's Revelation 16:4 Bible Commentary
16:4 The third poured out his phial on the rivers and fountains of water - Which were over all the earth. And they became blood - So that none could drink thereof.
