Revelation 8:5
New International Version
Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

New Living Translation
Then the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth; and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake.

English Standard Version
Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

Berean Literal Bible
And the angel took the censer, and filled it from the fire of the altar, and cast it to the earth; and there were thunders, and rumblings, and flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

King James Bible
And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

New King James Version
Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.

New American Standard Bible
Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder and sounds, and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

NASB 1995
Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

NASB 1977
And the angel took the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

Amplified Bible
So the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder and loud rumblings and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

Christian Standard Bible
The angel took the incense burner, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The angel took the incense burner, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; there were rumblings of thunder, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

American Standard Version
And the angel taketh the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it upon the earth: and there followed thunders, and voices, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

Contemporary English Version
After this, the angel filled the incense container with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth. Thunder roared, lightning flashed, and the earth shook.

English Revised Version
And the angel taketh the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it upon the earth: and there followed thunders, and voices, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The angel took the incense burner, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it on the earth. Then there was thunder, noise, lightning, and an earthquake.

Good News Translation
Then the angel took the incense container, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it on the earth. There were rumblings and peals of thunder, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

International Standard Version
The angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it on the earth. Then there were peals of thunder, noises, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

Majority Standard Bible
Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

NET Bible
Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it on the earth, and there were crashes of thunder, roaring, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

New Heart English Bible
The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it on the earth. There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it upon the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

Weymouth New Testament
So the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and flung it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder, and voices, and flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

World English Bible
The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, then threw it on the earth. Thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake followed.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the messenger took the censer, and filled it out of the fire of the altar, and cast [it] to the earth, and there came voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

Berean Literal Bible
And the angel took the censer, and filled it from the fire of the altar, and cast it to the earth; and there were thunders, and rumblings, and flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

Young's Literal Translation
and the messenger took the censer, and did fill it out of the fire of the altar, and did cast it to the earth, and there came voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the angel took the censer, and filled it from the fire of the altar, and cast into the earth: and there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the angel took the censer, and filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it on the earth, and there were thunders and voices and lightnings, and a great earthquake.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Angel received the golden censer, and he filled it from the fire of the altar, and he cast it down upon the earth, and there were thunders and voices and lightnings and a great earthquake.

New American Bible
Then the angel took the censer, filled it with burning coals from the altar, and hurled it down to the earth. There were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth; and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it upon the earth: and there were voices and thunderings and lightnings, and an earthquake.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And the Angel took the censor and filled it with fire which was upon the altar and cast it over The Earth. And there were thunders and voices and lightnings and earthquakes.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it into the earth; and there were voices and thunderings and lightnings and an earthquake.

Godbey New Testament
And the angel took the censer, and filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it to the earth: and there were thunders, and voices, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

Haweis New Testament
And the angel took the censer, and filled it from the fire of the altar, and cast it upon the earth: and there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

Mace New Testament
and the angel took the censer, and having filled it with the fire of the altar, he cast it upon the land: and there was a noise of thunders, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

Weymouth New Testament
So the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and flung it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder, and voices, and flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

Worrell New Testament
And the angel has taken the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it to the earth; and there followed thunders, and voices, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

Worsley New Testament
And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it upon the earth: and there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Seventh Seal
4And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel. 5Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder, and rumblings, and flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. 6And the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.…

Cross References
Exodus 19:16-19
On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled. / Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. / Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. ...

Ezekiel 10:2
And the LORD said to the man clothed in linen, “Go inside the wheelwork beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in.

Leviticus 16:12-13
Then he must take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and take them inside the veil. / He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat above the Testimony, so that he will not die.

Psalm 18:7-8
Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger. / Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth.

Psalm 77:18
Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.

Psalm 97:4
His lightning illuminates the world; the earth sees and trembles.

Psalm 144:5-6
Part Your heavens, O LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, that they may smoke. / Flash forth Your lightning and scatter them; shoot Your arrows and rout them.

Isaiah 6:6-7
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. / And with it he touched my mouth and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for.”

Isaiah 29:6
you will be visited by the LORD of Hosts with thunder and earthquake and loud noise, with windstorm and tempest and consuming flame of fire.

Jeremiah 10:13
When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

Jeremiah 51:16
When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

Matthew 24:27
For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Matthew 28:2
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it.

Luke 10:18
So He told them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

John 12:29
The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.


Treasury of Scripture

And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunder, and lightning, and an earthquake.

and filled.

Revelation 16:1
And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

Isaiah 66:6,14-16
A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies…

Jeremiah 51:11
Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.

into.

Revelation 4:5
And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

Revelation 11:19
And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Revelation 16:18
And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

an.

Revelation 11:13,19
And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven…

1 Kings 19:11
And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

Isaiah 29:6
Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

Jump to Previous
Altar Angel Cast Censer Earth Earthquake Fill Filled Fire Flames Flashes Flung Followed Full Hurled Lightnings Messenger Peals Rumblings Shaking Sounds Threw Thunder Thunderings Thunders Vessel Voices
Jump to Next
Altar Angel Cast Censer Earth Earthquake Fill Filled Fire Flames Flashes Flung Followed Full Hurled Lightnings Messenger Peals Rumblings Shaking Sounds Threw Thunder Thunderings Thunders Vessel Voices
Revelation 8
1. At the opening of the seventh seal,
2. Seven angels have seven trumpets given them.
6. Four of them sound their trumpets and great plagues follow.
9. Another angel puts incense to the prayers of the saints on the golden altar.














Then the angel
The word "angel" in Greek is "ἄγγελος" (angelos), meaning "messenger." In the context of Revelation, angels are often seen as divine agents executing God's will. This particular angel acts as an intermediary between the divine and earthly realms, emphasizing the heavenly authority and the seriousness of the events that are about to unfold.

took the censer
A "censer" is a vessel used for burning incense, symbolizing the prayers of the saints rising to God. In the Old Testament, censers were used in the tabernacle and temple worship (Exodus 30:1-10). The act of taking the censer signifies a transition from intercession to judgment, as the prayers of the saints are about to be answered through divine action.

filled it with fire from the altar
The "fire from the altar" represents God's holy presence and judgment. In the Old Testament, fire often symbolizes purification and divine wrath (Leviticus 9:24, 1 Kings 18:38). The altar in heaven reflects the heavenly counterpart of the earthly altar, indicating that the source of judgment is divine and pure.

and hurled it to the earth
The act of hurling the fire to the earth signifies the initiation of God's judgment upon the world. This dramatic action underscores the seriousness of the divine response to the prayers of the saints. It is a vivid portrayal of the transition from grace to judgment, as the earth is now subject to the consequences of its rebellion against God.

and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake
These phenomena are often associated with theophanies, or manifestations of God's presence (Exodus 19:16-19). They symbolize the power and majesty of God, as well as the awe-inspiring nature of His judgments. The combination of thunder, lightning, and earthquake serves as a prelude to the forthcoming judgments, highlighting the cosmic impact of divine intervention.

(5) And the angel . . .--Translate, And the angel has taken (or, took) the censer, and he filled it from the fire of the altar, and cast it (i.e., the fire or hot ashes which filled the censer) upon the earth. The prayers have gone up, and the sprinkling of the ashes earthward is the symbol of the answer descending from heaven. We may recall the similar action of Moses before Pharaoh, when he took ashes of the furnace and sprinkled it towards heaven, but it descended towards earth, as a symbol of the plague about to fall upon the land (Exodus 9:8-10). The hot ashes are the tokens of the coming judgments. As in the parallel vision in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 10:2), when the man clothed with linen is bidden to "go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill his hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the doomed city;" so here the ashes fall--the judgments are at hand

And there were voices . . .--Or, And there took place thunders, and voices, and lightnings, and an earthquake. There is some variety among the MSS. in the order of the words here used. Some place "lightnings" before "voices." These signs and sounds herald the approach of judgments. God has arisen in answer to the cry of His people. "The earth shook and trembled. There went up a smoke and a fire: coals were kindled at it. At the brightness that was before Him His thick clouds passed, hailstones and coals of fire. The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave His voice, hailstones and coals of fire. Yea, He sent out His arrows, and scattered them: He shot out lightnings and discomfited them . . . He delivered me from my strong enemy" (Psalm 18:4-19). It is a solemn thought that we may send up prayers, and the answer may come down a judgment; for often it is only through judgment that true loving-kindness can make her way.

Verse 5. - And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth; taketh the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it upon the earth (Revised Version). The angel now returns to the altar of burnt offering, whence he takes fire, which he casts upon the earth. This action denotes that God's judgments are about to descend on the earth, and it therefore forms the visible token of God's acceptance of the prayers of the saints, and his answer to them. And there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake; and there followed thunders, and voices, etc. (Revised Version). The manifestation of God's presence or of his judgments is continually accompanied by awe-striking phenomena, such as are here described (see on Revelation 6:12).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

angel
ἄγγελος (angelos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 32: From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor.

took
εἴληφεν (eilēphen)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

censer,
λιβανωτόν (libanōton)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3031: A censer. From libanos; frankincense, i.e. a censer for burning it.

filled
ἐγέμισεν (egemisen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1072: To fill, load. Transitive from gemo; to fill entirely.

it
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

with
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

fire
πυρὸς (pyros)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4442: Fire; the heat of the sun, lightning; fig: strife, trials; the eternal fire. A primary word; 'fire'.

from the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

altar,
θυσιαστηρίου (thysiastēriou)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 2379: An altar (for sacrifice). From a derivative of thusia; a place of sacrifice, i.e. An altar.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

hurled [it]
ἔβαλεν (ebalen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 906: (a) I cast, throw, rush, (b) often, in the weaker sense: I place, put, drop. A primary verb; to throw.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

earth;
γῆν (gēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1093: Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

there were
ἐγένοντο (egenonto)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

peals of thunder,
βρονταὶ (brontai)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1027: Thunder. Akin to bremo; thunder.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

rumblings,
φωναὶ (phōnai)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 5456: Probably akin to phaino through the idea of disclosure; a tone; by implication, an address, saying or language.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

flashes of lightning,
ἀστραπαὶ (astrapai)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 796: A flash of lightning, brightness, luster. From astrapto; lightning; by analogy, glare.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

an earthquake.
σεισμός (seismos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4578: A shaking (as an earthquake); a storm. From seio; a commotion, i.e. a gale, an earthquake.


Links
Revelation 8:5 NIV
Revelation 8:5 NLT
Revelation 8:5 ESV
Revelation 8:5 NASB
Revelation 8:5 KJV

Revelation 8:5 BibleApps.com
Revelation 8:5 Biblia Paralela
Revelation 8:5 Chinese Bible
Revelation 8:5 French Bible
Revelation 8:5 Catholic Bible

NT Prophecy: Revelation 8:5 The angel took the censer and he (Rev. Re Apocalypse)
Revelation 8:4
Top of Page
Top of Page