the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Revelation 10:3
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He shouted loudly like the roaring of a lion. After he shouted, the voices of seven thunders spoke.
and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring; when he called out, the seven thunders sounded.
And cryed with a lowde voyce as when a lyon roreth. And when he had cryed seven thondres spake their voyces.
He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.
and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices.
Then he shouted loudly like the roaring of a lion. And when he shouted, the voices of seven thunders spoke.
and he cried with a great voice, as a lion roars: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.
And cried with a loud voice, as [when] a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.
And he cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth; and while he cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
he cried out in a loud voice which resembled the roar of a lion. And when he had cried out, each of the seven peals of thunder uttered its own message.
And he criede with a greet vois, as a lioun whanne he roreth; and whanne he hadde cried, the seuene thundris spaken her voicis.
and he cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.
Then he cried out in a loud voice like the roar of a lion. And when he cried out, the seven thunders sounded their voices.
Then he shouted with a voice that sounded like a growling lion. Thunder roared seven times.
and he shouted with a loud voice, like the roaring of a lion [compelling attention and inspiring awe]; and when he had shouted out, the seven peals of thunder spoke with their own voices [uttering their message in distinct words].
and he cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.
And he gave a loud cry, like the angry voice of a lion: and at his cry the voices of the seven thunders were sounding.
and shouted in a voice as loud as the roar of a lion; and when he shouted, seven thunderclaps sounded with voices that spoke.
and cried with a loud voice as a lion roars. And when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their own voices.
he shouted in a loud voice as a lion roars. When he shouted, the seven thunders spoke with voices of their own.Revelation 8:5;">[xr]
and cried with a great voice, as the roar of a lion. And when he had cried, seven thunders spoke their voices.
and he cried with a loud voice, as a lion roareth: and when he had cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.
And cryed with a loude voice, as when a Lion roareth: and when hee had cried, seuen thunders vttered their voices.
And he gave a great shout like the roar of a lion. And when he shouted, the seven thunders answered.
He cried with a loud voice like the sound of a lion. The seven thunders sounded.
he gave a great shout, like a lion roaring. And when he shouted, the seven thunders sounded.
and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded.
And cried with a loude voyce, as when a lyon roareth: and when he had cried, seuen thunders vttered their voyces.
And cried with a loud voice as when a lion roars, and when he had cried, seven thunders sounded their voices.
And he cried with a loud voice as when a lion roareth. And when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
And cryed with a loude voyce, as whe a Lion roreth: And when he had cryed, seuen thunders vttered their voyces.
and called out in a loud voice that sounded like the roar of lions. After he had called out, the seven thunders answered with a roar.
and he called out with a loud voice like a roaring lion. When he cried out, the seven thunders raised their voices.
And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
And he cried out with a loud voice like a lion roars, and when he cried out, the seven thunders sounded their own voices.
and cried with a great voice, as a lion roars. And when he cried, the seven thunders spoke their sounds.
and he cried with a great voice, as a lion doth roar, and when he cried, speak out did the seven thunders their voices;
And cryed with a lowde voyce, as when a lyon roreth. And when he had cryed, seue thondres spake their voyces.
his voice was as loud as the roaring of a lion: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
Then he shouted in a loud voice like a lion roaring, and when he shouted, the seven thunders sounded their voices.
and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices.
He called out in a thunderous voice that sounded like a million lions. His call was answered by the seven thunders.
and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
loud: Proverbs 19:12, Isaiah 5:29, Isaiah 31:4, Isaiah 42:13, Jeremiah 25:30, Joel 3:16, Amos 1:2, Amos 3:8
seven: Revelation 8:5, Revelation 14:2, Revelation 15:1, Revelation 15:7
Reciprocal: Joshua 6:4 - seven times Ezekiel 10:5 - the voice Daniel 4:14 - aloud Daniel 10:6 - like the voice Revelation 1:10 - as Revelation 6:1 - the noise Revelation 18:2 - cried
Cross-References
Set ye up an ensign in the earth Blow ye a horn among the nations Hallow against her - nations, Summon against her the kingdoms of Ararat Minni, and Ashkenaz, - Set in charge against her a marshal, Bring up cavalry like hairy locusts:
Some of the house of Togarmah, with horses and horsemen and mules, Took part in thy traffic:
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And cried with a loud voice,.... That all might hear, and to show earnestness and affection, and that it was a matter of great importance, as well as to denote the certainty of it; what he said is not expressed, but seems to be the book of prophecy, or what regarded the state of his church and kingdom, in the several periods of time to the blowing of the seventh trumpet, when the kingdoms of this world shall become his: and this voice of his was
as [when] a lion roareth; loud and terrible; and indeed it was the voice of the lion of the tribe of Judah, which was heard far and near, throughout the whole world, by his people, and is terrible to his enemies:
and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices; which some understand of the ministers of the Gospel in the times of the Reformation, who were "Boanergeses", sons of thunder, and think that they are the same with the angels in Revelation 14:6, &c. or rather these may signify the denunciations of God's judgments, and of his wrath, both upon the eastern and western antichrist, the Turk and pope, signified by the seven vials, hereafter to be poured out, mentioned in Revelation 16:1.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth - The lion is the monarch of the woods, and his roar is an image of terror. The point of the comparison here seems to be the loudness with which the angel cried, and the power of what he said to awe the world - as the roar of the lion keeps the dwellers of the forest in awe. What he said is not stated; nor did John attempt to record it. Prof. Stuart supposes that it was “a loud note of woe, some interjection uttered which would serve to call attention, and at the same time be indicative of the judgments which were to follow.” But it is not necessary to suppose that this particular thing was intended. Any loud utterance - any solemn command - any prediction of judgment - any declaration of truth that would arrest the attention of mankind, would be in accordance with all that is said here. As there is no application of what is said, and no explanation made by John, it is impossible to determine with any certainty what is referred to.
But, supposing that the whole refers to the Reformation, would not the loud and commanding voice of the angel properly represent the proclamation of the gospel as it began to be preached in such a manner as to command the attention of the world, and the reproof of the prevailing sins in such a manner as to keep the world in awe? The voice that sounded forth at the Reformation among the nations of Europe, breaking the slumbers of the Christian world, awaking the church to the evil of the existing corruptions and abominations, and summoning princes to the defense of the truth, might well be symbolized by the voice of an angel that was heard afar. In regard to the effect of the “theses” of Luther, in which he attacked the main doctrines of the papacy, a contemporary writer says, “In the space of a fortnight they spread over Germany, and within a month they had run through all Christendom, as if angels themselves had been the bearers of them to all men.” To John it might not be known beforehand - as it probably would not be - what this symbolized; but could we now find a more appropriate symbol to denote the Reformation than the appearance of such an angel; or better describe the impression made by the first announcement of the great doctrines of the Reformation, than by the loud voice of such an angel?
And when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices - Prof. Stuart renders this, “the seven thunders uttered their voices,” and insists that the article should be retained, which it has not been in our common version. So Elliott, Dr. Middleton, and others. Dr. Middleton says, “Why the article is inserted here I am unable to discover. It is somewhat remarkable that a few manuscripts and editions omit it in both places Revelation 10:3-4. Were the seven thunders anything well known and pre-eminent? If not, the omission must be right in the former instance, but wrong in the latter; if they were pre-eminent, then is it wrong in both. Bengel omits the article in Revelation 10:3, but has it in Revelation 10:4.” He regards the insertion of the article as the true reading in both places, and supposes that there may have been a reference to some Jewish opinion, but says that he had not been able to find a vestige of it in Lightfoot, Schoettgen, or Meuschen. Storr supposes that we are not to seek here for any Jewish notion, and that nothing is to be inferred from the article (Middleton, on the Greek Article, p. 358).
The best editions of the New Testament retain the article in both places, and indeed there is no authority for omitting it. The use of the article here naturally implies either that these seven thunders were something which had been before referred to, either expressly or impliedly; or that there was something about them which was so well known that it would be at once understood what was referred to; or that there was something in the connection which would determine the meaning. Compare the notes on Revelation 8:2. It is plain, however, that there had been no mention of “seven thunders” before, nor had anything been referred to which would at once suggest them. The reason for the insertion of the article here must, therefore, be found in some pre-eminence which these seven thunders had; in some well-known facts about them; in something which would at once suggest them when they were mentioned - as when we mention the sun, the moon, the stars, though they might not have been distinctly referred to before. The number “seven” is used here either:
(a)As a general or perfect number, as it is frequently in this book, where we have it so often repeated - seven spirits; seven angels; seven seals; seven trumpets; or,
(b)With some specific reference to the matter in hand - the case actually in view of the writer.
It cannot be doubted that it might be used in the former sense here, and that no law of language would be violated if it were so understood; as denoting many thunders; but still it is equally true that it way be used in a specific sense as denoting something that would be well understood by applying the number seven to it. Now let it be supposed, in regard to the application of this symbol, that the reference is to Rome, the seven-hilled city, and to the thunders of excommunication, anathema, and wrath that were uttered from that city against the Reformers; and would there not be all that is fairly implied in this language, and is not this such a symbol as would he appropriately used on such a supposition? The following circumstances may be referred to as worthy of notice on this point:
(a)The place which this occupies in the series of symbols - being just after the angel had uttered his voice as symbolical of the proclamation of the great truths of the gospel in the Reformation, if the interpretation above given is correct. The next event, in the order of nature and of fact, was the voice of excommunication uttered at Rome.
- The word “thunder” would appropriately denote the bulls of excommunication uttered at Rome, for the name most frequently given to the decrees of the papacy, when condemnatory, was that of papal thunders. So LeBas, in his Life of Wycliffe, p. 198, says: “The thunders which shook the world when they issued from the seven hills sent forth an uncertain sound, comparatively faint and powerless, when launched from a region of less devoted sanctity.”
- The number seven would, on such a supposition, be used here with equal propriety. Rome was built on seven hills; was known as the “seven-hilled” city, and the thunders from that city would seem to echo and re-echo from those hills. Compare Revelation 17:9.
- This supposition, also, will accord with the use of the article here, as if those thunders were something well known - “the seven thunders”; that is, the thunders which the nations were accustomed to hear.
- This will also accord with the passage before us, inasmuch as the thunders would seem to have been of the nature of a response to what the angel said, or to have been sent forth because he had uttered his loud cry.
In like manner, the anathemas were hurled from Rome because the nations had been aroused by the loud cry for reformation, as if an angel had uttered that cry. For these reasons there is a propriety in applying this language to the thunders which issued from Rome condemning the doctrines of the Reformation, and in defense of the ancient faith, and excommunicating those who embraced the doctrines of the Reformers. If we were now to attempt to devise a symbol which would be appropriate to express what actually occurred in the Reformation, we could not think of one which would be better suited to that purpose than to speak of seven thunders bellowing forth from the seven-hilled city.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Revelation 10:3. Seven thunders — Seven being a number of perfection, it may here mean many, great, loud, and strong peals of thunder, accompanied with distinct voices; but what was said, St. John was not permitted to reveal, Revelation 10:4.
