And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

REVELATION 16:2KJV
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Revelation 16:2 (KJV)

What does Revelation 16:2 mean?

Revelation 16:2 describes the first angel pouring out his bowl on the earth, causing painful and harmful sores to break out on people who have the mark of the beast and worship its image. This verse shows a specific judgment targeting those who have chosen to align themselves with the beast, as part of a series of divine punishments.

In the book of Revelation, John is describing a vision where angels carry out God’s judgments during a time of great trouble. The “vial” (or bowl) is one of seven, each representing a different act of judgment. The people affected are those who have received the “mark of the beast,” a symbol of loyalty to a powerful, evil figure described earlier in the book. This verse sets the stage for the rest of the judgments that follow.

The Greek behind Revelation 16:2

  • The Greek word for “sore” is ἕλκος (helkos), which means an ulcer or a festering wound. This word emphasizes that the suffering is physical, severe, and visible.
  • The word for “noisome” is κακός (kakos), meaning bad, harmful, or evil. It highlights that these sores are not just painful but also morally or spiritually significant as a form of judgment.
  • The word for “grievous” is πονηρός (ponēros), which often means wicked or full of hardship. This adds to the sense that the sores are both physically and emotionally distressing.
  • The Greek word for “mark” is χάραγμα (charagma), which refers to an engraved or stamped sign. In this context, it is a visible sign of allegiance to the beast, making clear who is being judged.

Why Revelation 16:2 matters

  • This verse makes it clear that the judgment is not random but specifically targets those who have chosen to identify with the beast, showing a direct connection between allegiance and consequence.
  • The description of the sores as both “noisome” and “grievous” underlines the seriousness and intensity of the suffering, emphasizing the severity of divine judgment in this vision.
  • Revelation 16:2 connects to the larger theme of the book, where choices about worship and loyalty have real and dramatic consequences, setting the tone for the remaining bowl judgments.

Where else these words appear

“sore” Greek G1668 · used in 3 verses

  • Luke 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
  • Revelation 16:11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

“mark” Greek G5480 · used in 9 verses

  • Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
  • Revelation 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
  • Revelation 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

“vial” Greek G5357 · used in 12 verses

  • Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
  • Revelation 16:3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.
  • Revelation 16:12 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.

“image” Greek G1504 · used in 20 verses

  • Matthew 22:20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
  • 1 Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
  • Revelation 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.